Fertile Ground - Pregnancy & Birth




Pregnancy Health \| Prevention and Treatment \| Birth Preparation
Pregnancy Health
Our Practitioners can recommend natural and practical steps to contribute positively to a healthy pregnancy. We believe healthy people make healthy babies and consequently your health, lifestyle and environment take on even more significance during pregnancy. You are what you eat – a principal never so important as during pregnancy. For example, we know that if your diet is lacking in certain B vitamins, and/or iron, that the quality of your blood will suffer and you may beco me anaemic. We also know that exposure to certain toxic substances can cause cellular damage – possibly affecting your fertility and the health of your baby. Good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle before and during pregnancy can make the difference between health and illness and supports the general constitution of your child for life. Preparing for your pregnancy helps you to be as healthy as possible so you can nurture the healthiest baby. Consider this During your pregnancy you will create extra kilograms of uterine muscle, the nerves, bones, organs, muscles, glands and skin of your baby, several kilograms of amniotic fluid, a placenta, and a significant increase in your own blood volume! In addition, you’ll also replace many extra kidney and liver cells used to process the waste of two beings instead of one. Consequently, you may need to make some modifications in preparation for these amazing changes. We can help you achieve a nutritious diet a healthy lifestyle a clean environment regular exercise mental, physical and emotional well-being.

Natural Medicine can also be used to prepare for an uncomplicated labour and birth, hasten recovery, promote healthy lactation and enable a smoother transition to parenthood. It is important to seek the advice of qualified and experienced practitioners to ensure safety of medicine used. All practitioners in all modalities at Fertile Ground Health Group specialise in pregnancy care, and see pregnant women as a part of their daily practice. This gives you confidence that the information and treatments you receive are well informed and applied with expert care and knowledge. Meet our Practitioners and learn more about our Natural Therapies. Top
Prevention and Treatment
Further, natural medicine approaches provide a safe and effective way of preventing, treating or alleviating the symptoms of health complaints you may experience during pregnancy. These include: nausea and vomiting anaemia constipation fatigue sleeplessness stretch marks cramping and restless legs heart burn / reflux fluid retention / oedema varicose veins breech presentation pre-eclampsia overdue for dates / natural induction high blood pressure haemorrhoids back, sciatic and other body aches and pains pelvic instability birth preparation threatened miscarriage gestational diabetes carpal tunnel syndrome premature labour Natural Medicine can also be used to prepare for an uncomplicated labour and birth, hasten recovery, promote healthy lactation and enable smoother transition to parenthood. Top
Birth Preparation
Birth preparation can be undertaken in a variety of forms. While most women undertake some type of class to give them some expectations about how the birth may go, there are many other ways to prepare for the birth of your baby. Our practitioners can help you in a variety of ways, to help you feel more confident as you approach the birth of your baby – here are just a few examples to help you choose what type of care is appropriate for you. Naturopathy: Ensures your nutritional requirements are met before going into labour. Can prepare your body for the labour and birth of your baby with herbal medicine. As you approach the birth of your child a herbal mixture specifically formulated for your needs can help to ensure good muscle tone and circulation in your uterus, soften and tone your cervix, and generally assist you in your preparation for an easier, uncomplicated labour and birth. Where appropriate, your herbal medicine can also be formulated to improve your sleep, energy and any other symptoms of pregnancy you may be experiencing. Can recommend a birth kit for you that may contain remedies to enhance the birth, assist with immediate post natal healing, encouraging milk flow and assisting sleep. Learn more about Naturopathy. Learn more about Post Partum Recovery and Baby Health. Top Acupuncture: From week 34, weekly consultations with your acupuncturist can help you prepare physically and emotionally for birth, manage stress and improve your energy and stamina. Acupuncture also assists in preparing your cervix and uterus for birth, and helping your labour to start spontaneously and on time. Our acupuncturists have great success in turning malpositioned or breech babies. This is most effective if the treatment is undertaken between 34 and 37 weeks, and the earlier you begin, the greater likelihood of success. Acupuncture is often successful in inducing labour if you are overdue for your dates. It provides an alternative step to medical induction and can help to minimise the possibility of associated interventions. Induction with acupuncture still enables a slow build to contractions, not suddenly starting intense contractions, therefore optimising your chances of an uncomplicated labour and natural birth. You can be shown acupressure points for use in labour Learn more about Acupuncture. Top Osteopathy: Can help to ensure that your body is in the best possible alignment and pain free, so that your labour is not complicated by any extra pain from your body being out of alignment or wound up with tension. Osteopathy also helps to ensure that your baby positions itself well, not being inhibited by your physical structural problems. Learn more about Osteopathy including pregnancy care, postnatal recovery and osteopathic care for children and babies. Top Massage: In the last few weeks of your pregnancy, it is ideal for you to be massaged as often as possible. Massage will help you to feel more comfortable in your body, improve your sleep and energy – something you definitely need before going into labour and birthing your baby! Our Massage Therapists are skilled at using acupressure points, relaxation techniques and essential oils application to facilitate labour if you are overdue for dates. Massage will also teach you good relaxation strategies for your labour as it is essential that you relax in-between contractions, letting go as much tension as possible, so that you are ready for the next one. Learn more about Massage Learn about our Infant Massage and Home and Hospital Visiting Services. Top Counselling: Understanding your own needs and expectations leads to wise choices for a satisfying birth experience. Explore your options for pregnancy care and birth. Understand the implications of birth place choices (hospital, birth centre, home birth) as well as understanding the role of obstetric, midwifery, independent midwifery and birth attendant care. Discover what to expect and how to deal with the strong, often painful physicality of birth. Explore breathing awareness, positions, movement, sound release, visualisation and support strategies to learn how to release and yield to body sensation. Understand psychological and relationship patterns which may affect birth dynamics. Learn more about our Counselling services. See also Birth Support for more info on the benefits of a birth attendant for your labour. Top