You must be wondering why I am revisiting the subject of pregnancy once more. Well, it is because this period of procreation is crucial to mothers-to-be who are producers and carriers of future generations. It is also critical for both parents and particularly to their unborn child. When parents are hale and robust, there is a very good chance their children will be healthy and strong as well. So, we all should strive for fitness when we want to start a family in order to achieve an excellent outcome, Insha’Allah.

I am also keen on writing this series of articles today, because parents-to-be and especially young women tend to dive into pregnancies without giving much consideration to contaminants and without reviewing their general health and their nutrition. It is necessary to prepare the body and pay attention to this very demanding phenomenon of procreation, conception, and fetal development and formation, as its success depends totally on the good state of health of the young couple. After all, you want the pregnancy to have the happy ending you are hoping for, Insha’Allah. That is why I decided to write these guidelines.

In our modern days, more and more women over forty venture into conceiving their first child at this age, taking for granted that childbearing is a simple undertaking. They are oblivious of the fact that a successful pregnancy requires vigorous health to support the procreation, development, and production of a brand new healthy human being, strong enough to survive the hazards of life (injuries, contaminations, viruses, illnesses…). It is also important to understand that a pregnancy takes a toll on a woman’s body and health and weakens them and her. Unless she is in top shape, her chances of having a healthy successful pregnancy and producing a perfectly healthy baby diminish considerably.

I have just started explaining the importance of the good state of the health of a mother-to-be. Love, care, and a nutritious diet are not only essential for her body and brain, but also very vital to the success of her pregnancy and to the health and formation of her fetus. We should take into consideration that this unborn being is an absolute parasite. It takes from the host (the mother) all its nutritional needs to build its skeleton and bones, to develop the brain and central nervous system, and to make its tiny but functional organs and systems, even if it means to take the last drop of calcium from mother’s bones to build his own or pull out omega-3 fatty acids from her brain to develop his own, leaving her with decalcified bones, declining memory, and weakened body.

God describes in the Holy Qur’an the pregnancy and breastfeeding of a child as painful and weakening processes, “…We have enjoined upon man [is] goodness toward his parents. In pain did his mother bear him, and in pain did she give him birth; and her bearing him and his utter dependence [breastfeeding] on her took thirty months…” (Chapter 46; from Verse 15). Only the Creator knows what it takes to bear a child. Therefore, we should minimize pain and weakness by preparing the body for this delicate task.

The importance of nourishment also applies to the conception period for both parents-to-be in order to secure fitter sperms and ova in order to form a perfect zygote (nuthfah in Arabic), a successful process of fertilization, proper latching of the nuthfa to the wall of the uterus, development of a healthy robust baby, and a solid, stable, and successful pregnancy, free of undesirable incidents and gestation and childbirth difficulties (bleeding, miscarriages, early contraction, hypertension, gestational diabetes, premature delivery…).

A major deterrent in the conception process in women is emotional, mental, and physical stressors and pressures to get pregnant coming from the husbands or family members. The woman sometimes exercises the same kind of pressure on herself to the point that the body becomes in a state of imbalance and in a stress mode, through the excessive production or longterm release of adrenaline, cortisol, and insulin, which lead to silent inflammation inside her body. This condition disrupts the endocrinal system and hormonal balance, which affect the reproductive system, preventing conception by causing the uterus to reject the fertilized ova or even triggering miscarriage or early delivery. Research and studies have shown that stress and its major side effect, silent inflammation, are at the base of most health disorders, ranging from obesity and metabolic syndromes to hormone disruption, infertility, Alzheimer’s disease, and even cancer.

Stress can also impact breastfeeding, affecting the flow of mother’s milk. For this reason, most ancient cultures (even until recently in this country), new mothers were carefully tended to, served, and pampered by their mothers, sisters, aunts, and family for the first forty days in order to keep them peaceful, secure, relaxed, calm, and unagitated to prevent their breast milk from drying up and also to help them out with their newborns. Mothers were also allowed enough time to sleep, which increases the flow of their milk.

New mothers were well taken care of, given adequate nutrition that included leafy greens, aromatic seeds (fenugreek…) protein, and herbal infusions to increase milk flow. Tranquillity and peace of mind make the brain secrete oxytocin, a calming hormone, while breastfeeding. The hormone tranquilizes their bodies and minds and makes them focus on their infants and breastfeeding with total love, care, calmness, and affection. Oxytocin is also released during labor. Many a fathers become jealous of their wives’ shift in love and attention, not understanding that it is due to this powerful hormone.

The father-to-be has to be equally healthy and sound at least three months before the conception period in order to prevent congenital diseases (Down Syndrome…). He should have the right balance of nutrition, the adequate nutrients like folic acid, zinc, selenium and more available in his body for his sperms to be of the highest quality and numbers and of the motility needed to achieve a successful conception and a healthy child. Excess weight is also a problem; it indicates inflammation. Smoking, alcohol, and drugs should not be part of his lifestyle; these practices harm his health and reduce the quality of his sperms. Secondhand smoke is also harmful to his pregnant wife, restricting the oxygen of the fetus.

According to Dr. Catherine Shanahan’s book Deep Nutrition (I advise every mother-to-be to read it), when mother’s body is not well-nourished, the fetus will take its much needed nutrients from her blood and her bones to build its own little bones and its newly developing body and brain, leaving her weakened and depleted. The unborn fetus will take all its needs selfishly to the last drop from mom. If she is on a fast food, restrictive, slimming, or high carbohydrate diet, she will be left with junk in her body and the fetus will take whatever it needs from mother’s bones, brain, and more.

Next week, I shall disclose how the health and wellbeing of a gestating mother impact the skeletal development, health, and gene expression as well as the facial symmetry and structure of her offspring. There will be more details about the prenatal supplements mother requires for her body and brain health as well as the fetus’ needs. I shall explain ways how the father should help and support his wife through this critical and sensitive period. I shall also delve more into Shanahan’s book. It has fascinating information.

References:

Dr. Catherine Shanahan and Luke Shanahan, MD, Deep Nutrition: Why Your Genes Need Traditional Food

N.B.:

Individuals with medical conditions or on medication should consult their physicians when they decide to introduce anything new in their diet even if it is natural.

The previous Health Solutions articles are located at www. arabnews.com

—

Email: [email protected]