After a perfect wedding, the next thing is laying the foundation of a happy, healthier family, and pre-pregnancy planning is crucial. Pre-pregnancy planning, also known as preconception health care, involves preparing your health before conceiving a baby.
You need to be physically and emotionally prepared before getting pregnant. There are health conditions and risk factors that may affect your health as well as your unborn baby. Food, lifestyle habits, treatment and health conditions such as diabetes can affect pregnancy.
Preterm birth and low birthweight can be as a result of unplanned pregnancy. According to research 1 in 8 infants are born too early. Such problems can be prevented through fertility preparation for reproductive wellness.
The Importance of Pre-Pregnancy Health
It’s important to make lifestyle changes to prepare your body for pregnancy and increase your chances of a healthy baby and a healthy pregnancy journey.
Pre-pregnancy planning with TCM is a pre-conception method that can help with adopting better lifestyle changes. Below are some modern lifestyle factors that hinder fertility:
Stress
Stressful moments, worries and anxiety can negatively affect your emotional and physical health.
A stress-free environment leads to a healthier pregnancy. To reduce stress, try activities you enjoy, meditate and practise yoga.
When trying to get pregnant, get plenty of good quality sleep, as it helps you relax and reduce stress.
Irregular cycles
Your menstrual cycle health is an important factor during pre-conception health care. Understanding your menstrual cycle helps you with family planning as well as predicting your chances of getting pregnant.
Ovulation is the release of an egg from your ovaries every month. When the egg is released from the ovary, it stays in the fallopian tube for 24 hours waiting for the sperm to fertilise it. Tracking your cycle involves identifying your most fertile days to increase chances of getting pregnant. For example, if you have a 28-day cycle, your most fertile day is day 14.
Tracking your cycle help in identifying irregularities such as hormonal imbalances that may affect your ability to get pregnant. Pre-pregnancy planning with TCM help in improving fertility naturally and improving your reproductive wellness.
Poor diet
Poor diet negatively affects your fertility and the health of your unborn baby. The food you take prepares your body for pregnancy. Your diet should include foods rich in iron, calcium, omega-3 fatty acids and folic acid.
Prenatal vitamin supplements your diet to support the early stages of fetal development. Before you get pregnant, you should take a 400 microgram supplement of folic acid daily and continue until you are 12 weeks pregnant
Taking folic acid protects the unborn baby from getting a neural tube defect. Neural tube defect is where the foetus spinal cord form abnormally.
Besides a poor diet, smoking can lead to premature birth, miscarriage, sudden infant death syndrome and giving birth to underweight babies. Seek medical help on how to quit smoking to protect your unborn baby.
While planning to get pregnant, quit taking alcohol since it may affect your unborn baby’s ability to communicate and learn. Alcohol intake can also affect some of your baby’s organs, such as bones, joints and muscles.
Traditional Chinese Medicine and Fertility Preparation
Traditional Chinese Medicine prepares fertility through supporting all stages of hormonal health and fertility.
The Kidney is one of the main organ systems in traditional Chinese medicine. In TCM, the ‘Kidney’ is a system linked with growth and reproduction. It is not the same as the kidney organ. In medical terms, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH) are made by the pituitary gland, and oestrogen and progesterone mainly by the ovaries.
TCM for fertility improves sperm count and quality, optimises the environment for conception and regulates your menstrual cycle.
Traditional Chinese Medicine involves techniques such as Acupuncture, Chinese dietary therapy, Chinese herbal medicine, mental health support, supplements and lifestyle changes.
TCM tailors treatment according to your needs. This is because diseases manifest differently in the body as well as in response to treatment. TCM involves harmonious balancing of Yin and Yang and free flow of Qi in the body meridians.
For individualised diagnosis and treatments, unique diagnostic methods such as tongue examination, pattern differentiation and pulse diagnosis are used. The individualised diagnosis helps in developing a treatment plan to address the root causes instead of the symptoms.
Your body, mind, spirit and emotions are interconnected and should work in harmony to enhance good health.
In Chinese medicine, Qi flow influences your health. When Qi flows freely, your body remains in good health. When Qi reduces, gets stagnant or flows in the wrong direction, it can result in a disease.
Key Organs Involved in TCM Fertility:
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zang fu is a term used to describe internal organs and their functionality. Zang or yin organs play the role of storing, regulating, and producing Qi, essence and fluids. The fu or yang organs are responsible for transforming and transporting waste, food and fluids.
The 5 Zang organs include: Kidney (Shen), Liver(Gan), Spleen(Pi), Lung(Fei) and Heart(Xin).
The 6 Fu organs include: Triple Burner(San Jiao), Stomach (Wei), Gallbladder(Dan), Small intestine (Xiao Chang) and urinary bladder (Pang Guang).
Yin Organs.
Below are the Zang organs and their roles.
Heart.
The heart controls your emotions, consciousness and mental activities
Liver
Liver controls emotions, supports emotional flexibility and clear decision making.
Spleen
Spleen manages the transformation and transportation of fluids and food into the blood and Qi.
Kidney
Kidney manages growth, reproduction and ageing.
Lung
Lungs regulate the skin and immune function
Yang Organs.
Below are the Yang organs and their roles.
Urinary bladder.
Urinary bladder store and excrete urine.
Triple Burner.
Triple burner is a system that coordinates the circulation and metabolism of Qi through the lower, upper and middle parts of the body.
Small intestine.
The small intestine absorbs nutrients and releases waste to the large intestine.
Large intestine.
Large intestine absorb water and removes waste.
Gall bladder.
The gallbladder stores and excretes bile to help with digestion.
Liver
In TCM liver helps in stress regulation and emotional balance. The liver ensures that Qi flows freely in the body. Qi stagnation results in emotional problems such as irritability, anger and frustration.
Spleen
In TCM, the spleen helps in digestion, the distribution of nutrients, and supports fertility. Spleen transforms Qi and blood from food and transports them to other parts of your body.
Spleen Qi deficiency can result in loss of appetite, tiredness and loose stools
Kidneys
Kidney store jing that help in reproduction. Lack of enough kidney essence can lead to poor development and infertility.
Emotional Readiness for Pregnancy
Pregnancy journey can be emotionally challenging, it’s important to stay mentally prepared. To avoid emotional challenges, you can practise stress management methods, therapy or build a strong support system, such as friends and family.
During pre-pregnancy planning it’s important to consider if you are emotionally ready and willing to embrace parental responsibilities.
To address stressors, try journaling daily, yoga and meditation.
A good support system provides practical, physical and emotional help. Surround yourself with family and friends who can be valuable to you during pregnancy. In your support system, consider having:
- Family members who can encourage and offer assistance when needed.
- Communities for expectant mothers, eg Facebook groups for expectant mums
- A midwife whom you can trust.
Remember, mental stability will help you enjoy your pregnancy as well as bond with your baby.
Effective Pre-Pregnancy Treatments and Lifestyle Changes
Lifestyle changes and pre-pregnancy treatments can optimise fertility. Diet, supplements, and play a significant role in pre-pregnancy planning
Yin-Yang diet helps in balancing energy and preparing your body for pregnancy. Yin-Yang diet involves taking foods that warm and tonify rather than cold meals.
During pregnancy, in the first 3 months of pregnancy the woman feels cold, in the second 3 months it feels neutral, while in the last 3 months she feels hot and tonic.
Yang foods are warm foods that strengthen the body’s Qi. They include ginger, cabbage, and mustard seeds, among others.
Yin foods are cooling foods; they help balance your body’s heat. Cold foods should be avoided during pre-pregnancy to create a safe environment for the implantation of the embryo. Cold foods include ice cream and cold drinks; however, avoid raw foods during preconception.
Therapy relaxes and prepares your body for pregnancy. Tight and weak pelvic muscles are strengthened and loosened to create enough space for the baby.
It’s important to combine therapy, proper diets and exercise to enhance a safe pregnancy journey for you and the unborn baby.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnosis
In traditional Chinese Medicine, constitution refers to how you function physically and mentally. The constitution is influenced by genetics and life experiences. For example, during pregnancy, a woman faces changes due to the growing baby, and her body may also adjust after giving birth.
Chinese medicine uses 4 diagnostic methods during constitutional diagnosis: These methods include inspection, history taking, listening and smelling and feeling the pulse. The methods help the physician diagnose Qi deficiency.
During childbirth, you use a lot of energy and blood, and this leaves you physically weak. When exposed to a cold and damp environment, you are likely to get sick.
During the inspection diagnostic method, the TCM physician observes your tongue, shape of the head, face, limbs and skin to evaluate health condition and abnormal performances.
In the listening and smelling diagnostic method, the physician assesses your breath, voice, cough and vomiting. The TCM expert can also detect abnormal odour by smelling to identify a disease.
History taking diagnosis method involve asking questions to understand your medical history, assess symptoms and lifestyle habits. This helps the TCM expert understand your condition.
Palpation or feeling the pulse is a diagnostic method where the practitioner uses the hand to feel the arterial pulse by touching the skin, chest and abdomen.
Acupuncture, Herbs, and Craniosacral Therapy
Acupuncture help in addressing stress in men since it negatively affects male fertility. Acupuncture enhances a healthier environment for sperm production by reducing spleen and kidney Qi deficiency and liver Qi stagnation.
During acupuncture therapy in women, specific acupoints are stimulated to regulate hormone levels and flow of blood. This therapy improves ovulation and increases the chances of getting pregnant.
Acupuncture therapy is also recommended for women with conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome and endometriosis. These conditions affect ovulation and implantation of the embryo in the uterine wall.
Acupuncture treatments are used to control the flow of Qi between the Zang fu organs. For example if you have liver Qi stagnation, acupuncture points on the liver meridian are used to enhance the smooth flow of Qi. Acupuncture points like Taiyuan tonify lung Qi and improve respiratory function in case of Lung Qi deficiency.
TCM uses herbs to help regulate menstrual cycles, improve ovulation and follicle development.
Herbal tonics keep your body warm and supply it with Qi to create a favourable environment for implantation and pregnancy.
Chinese herbs are a good solution for your partner to improve sperm quality and quantity. Herbs such as wolfberry and Chinese dodder support the kidney and liver, while Astragalus and Codonopsis target lung Qi and the spleen.
Herbal formulas are also prescribed depending with the problem in the Zang fu organ. Gui Pi Tang is a herbal formula used for treating spleen Qi deficiency and heart blood deficiency, while Xiao Yao San treats Liver Qi stagnation.
In craniosacral therapy, the practitioner uses light touch on the head, spine and pelvis.
Practitioners describe a craniosacral system made up of the brain, spinal cord, the fluid and 3 membranes around them, and their connections to the sacrum, neck and skull.
Some women find craniosacral therapy relaxing in pregnancy. There is no good evidence that it changes the baby’s position or makes birth easier. For back or pelvic pain in pregnancy, ask your midwife or a physiotherapist.
Regular Exercise and Pelvic Strengthening
Did you know that movement supports conception? You need a strong pelvic floor to prepare you for pregnancy.
A pelvic floor physiotherapist can help with the correct training techniques to exercise your pelvic floor.
Remember that when you get pregnant, you need strong pelvic muscles that can sustain the weight and size of your growing baby in the womb. If you have weak and tight muscles before pregnancy, you are likely to experience pregnancy issues.
During pregnancy, your body changes to prepare for delivery. Imbalances in your hip, core and pelvic floor can complicate your delivery.
The best time to strengthen your pelvic floor is before pregnancy. Have a routine to exercise your pelvic floor muscles regularly. If you have weak pelvic muscles, the best exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles are Kegels.
While doing kegels, you engage your pelvic floor muscles and core abdominal muscles. Kegels feel like lifting muscles between your legs towards your head. Kegels mimic the act of trying to cut off urine and hold in some gas.
This is how you do pelvic floor exercises:
- Lie down with your knees bent
- Squeeze in and tighten the muscles around your butt passage. Do it as if you are trying to hold in some gas then relax the muscles.
- Daily, do 3 sets of 8 squeezes. A set in the morning, lunch and the evening.
- You can try this exercise at a slow pace or quickly
Warm, Nutrient-Rich Diet
TCM advises women to keep their lower abdomen warm to prevent cold womb syndrome. Warm lower abdomen helps in better blood circulation in the womb, therefore providing a better environment for implantation.
A warm lower abdomen help to regulate menstrual cycle and relieve cramps. The best way to keep a warm lower abdomen is by wearing warm clothes avoiding too tight and short clothes.
According to TCM physicians, the food you eat positively or negatively affects balance and harmony within your body which affects your reproductive health.
Food rich in unsaturated fats, whole grains, fish and vegetables improves men’s and women’s fertility, therefore increasing chances of conception,
Grains such as rice nourish the spleen, a body organ responsible for the production of enough Qi and blood that help support the proper function of body organs. Always add a small portion of rice in your meals to improve fertility.
Important Acupoint for Women’s Reproductive Health: Sanyinjiao
Sanyinjiao(SP6) acupoint is located medially, four fingers wide above your ankle. SP6 acupoint is where the liver, spleen and kidney meridians meet.
TCM physicians use it for acupressure for fertility and acupuncture to relieve gynaecological conditions such as dysmenorrhea.
TCM use Sanyinjiao in menstruation. SP6 regulate the menstrual cycle and nourishes the uterus. The main role of the spleen is to convert food into energy and blood. Sanyinjiao strengthens the spleen, therefore addressing issues on irregular menstruation, fertility and overall reproductive health.
Sp6 ensures that your body has the energy and nutrition it needs to enhance a healthy reproductive system.
Benefits of Sanyinjiao
SP6 is an acupressure point that supports reproductive health. The acupressure technique for this point is applied by applying firm pressure on the SP6 point using your thumb for 2 minutes. While applying pressure listen to your body and adjust accordingly. Important: do not press this point if you are pregnant or might be pregnant. In TCM, SP6 is avoided in pregnancy. If you are trying for a baby, ask a registered Chinese medicine practitioner before using it.
Benefits of Sanyinjiao include:
Regulates Menstruation
In TCM the liver stores and distributes blood. SP6 acupressure prevents liver Qi stagnation. Stagnation is the reason you experience menstrual pain and irregular cycles.
The spleen transforms food into Qi and blood. SP6 strengthens the Spleen to help regulate the menstrual blood.
In TCM kidney supports reproductive health. SP6 strengthen kidney for regular periods, fertility and hormonal balance.
Supports Kidney Function
Sp6 acupressure activates the kidney meridian to promote the flow of Qi and nourish kidney Yin and Essence. Kidney yin balance heat and fluids in your body.
SP6 also help in improving blood circulation to the kidney and pelvic area.
Boosts Digestion:
SP6 boosts digestion by strengthening spleen. In TCM spleen digests foods and converts them into Qi and blood.
Spleen meridian runs through SP6 and boost digestion through energy production, absorbing nutrients and fluid metabolism.
Balances Hormones
Hormonal imbalance can result in irregular menstruation or ovulation problems. When pressure is applied in the SP 6 acupressure, it may stimulate hormonal production. Production of hormones helps with regular cycles and improves your reproductive health.
According to research acupressure can target the endocrine system that promote the functioning of ovaries and pituitary gland. Hormonal balance enhances male and female fertility.
Reduces Stress
High stress levels may affect the hormonal levels. SP6 acupressure helps reduce stress, therefore promoting relaxation.
Less stress increases the chances of conceiving. Acupressure provides a calm mental environment effective for conception.
Conclusion
Pre-pregnancy planning helps you prepare mentally, physically and understand what lies ahead. Seeking guidance from a healthcare provider, such as a midwife, will help you acquire the right advice for pre-conception.
Balanced diet, healthy weight, exercise, lifestyle changes and understanding how your body works are ways of enjoying your pregnancy journey.
Traditional Chinese medicine is a natural way that solves fertility problems. It combines factors like diet, therapy, exercise, use of herbs, acupuncture and acupressure.
Early preparation is crucial for a healthy pregnancy in future.
Need help with this? Our pregnancy care team at Total Health by Hong Kong Sports Clinic can assess you and start treatment in your first session, in Central or Kai Tak. Message us on WhatsApp to book.
