I am very excited to announce the beginning of what will be an ongoing and productive partnership with professional lactation consultants. On April 28, 2009, I will be presenting at a meeting of lactation consultants at Kaiser Hospital in Oakland, California.
The presentation will include: --a basic introduction to polycystic ovary syndrome --the importance of nutrition for minimizing risks of pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, and premature delivery --the importance of nutrition for minimizing risks of lactation problems, postpartum depression, and sleep issues in newborn babies.
Lactation consultants are a crucial link in the identification and management of PCOS, and I am thrilled to be able to meet with this group in California to begin networking and learning how we can support each other in our respective work.
I will be posting more information about this presentation on my website as it becomes available: www.afterthediet.com/inCYST.htm.
I am especially grateful to Pat Ross, who has orchestrated this meeting and laid the groundwork for it to happen. Here's to our two heads being a whole lot better than just one…Pat, thank you much, see you in April!
As you have seen me allude to in previous posts, and which you will begin to hear a lot more about as we better network with lactation specialists, inCYST believes strongly in the importance of breastfeeding. Breast milk is where babies get their omega-3's, and a disproportionate percentage of the women we work with, it seems, were either not nursed, nursed for a shorter than ideal timespan, and bottle fed during a time when omega-3's were not to be found in formula.
It gets more complicated with PCOS, because women with PCOS, as much as they may want to nurse their babies, can't do so, because their hormone imbalance makes it impossible.
It is a crucial part of our mission to reinforce that PCOS is not just about infertility, but about many disrupted aspects of reproduction. We want to keep the disease from becoming generational.
So we'd like to encourage you to support recently introduced breastfeeding legislation.
The Breastfeeding Promotion Act (H.R. 2819, S. 1244) includes five provisions:
1. Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to protect breastfeeding women from being fired or discriminated against in the workplace. 2. Provides tax incentives for businesses that establish private lactation areas in the workplace, or provide breastfeeding equipment or consultation services to their employees. 3. Provides for a performance standard to ensure breast pumps are safe and effective. 4. Allows breastfeeding equipment and consultation services to be tax deductible for families (amends Internal Revenue Code definition of"medical care"). 5. Protects the privacy of breastfeeding mothers by ensuring they have break time and a private place to pump (applies to employers with 50 or more employees, see text of legislation for details).
All you have to do, to be sure your legislators hear your voice, is follow the instructions at this link.
This post comes from Karen Siegel in Houston, Texas. In addition to being a Registered Dietitian, she is also a Licensed Acupuncturist.
Acupuncture in Pregnancy & Childbirth
Pregnancy is an amazing time in a woman's life. Many women report feeling healthier than they have ever felt before; however, the physical growth of the baby and changes in hormone levels can bring about pain, discomfort and a variety of health problems.
Acupuncture and Oriental medicine can provide a safe, effective alternative for many of the health complications that may arise before, during and after pregnancy. A growing number of women are choosing acupuncture to use throughout their pregnancy and as an optional treatment for an overdue or difficult labor.
Planning for a Healthy Baby
Healthy parents produce healthy babies. With acupuncture and Oriental medicine, parents can improve their health to create the most optimal environment for their unborn child. In addition to their ability to strengthen, support, and balance overall health and well-being, acupuncture and Oriental medicine are an effective treatment for regulating menstruation and hormone levels, reducing stress and addressing any pre-existing medical conditions or concerns that a woman may have.
Acupuncture during Pregnancy
Acupuncture and Oriental medicine can play a vital role in the comfort of a pregnant woman. There is strong evidence to support that acupuncture is highly effective at treating some of the most common problems experienced during pregnancy including morning sickness, heartburn, insomnia, water retention and sciatica.
Here is a list of some of the problems that an acupuncturist often treats during pregnancy:
* Nausea and Vomiting * Heartburn * Constipation * Hemorrhoids * Edema and Swelling * Urinary Tract Infection * Pelvic Pain * Neck and Back Pain * Sciatica * Carpal Tunnel Syndrome * Leg Cramps * Fatigue and Exhaustion * Insomnia * Anxiety and Depression
Acupuncture for Childbirth
While there are acupuncture points that can provide natural pain relief during labor, acupuncture is more commonly used to induce labor. There are several points that stimulate contractions and influence cervical ripening. There is also an acupuncture point that has been found to turn a breech baby.
Acupuncture Postpartum
Many women feel depleted after the birth experience. Acupuncture and Oriental medicine can help the transition of those first few months after birth to ensure a quick recovery. Postpartum care focuses on the physical, emotional and psychological recovery of the mother from the effects of pregnancy and labor, as well as encouraging breast feeding.
Here are some of the postpartum disorders that can be treated with acupuncture:
* Fatigue * Postpartum Depression * Mastitis * Insufficient or Excessive Lactation * Post Operative Healing * Night Sweats
If you would like to know more how acupuncture and Oriental medicine ease discomfort and facilitate pregnancy, please call for more information.
