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Je raba kitajske medicine varna med obdobjem dojenja?
To je običajno prvo vprašanje, ki se poraja marsikateri materi - ali je varno? Vprašanje sega preko TKM zelišč, celo preko zdravil in hrane. Res je, da lahko vse, kar pojeste ali popijete, vpliva na vaše notranje ravnovesje in za nekatere izmed substanc, bodisi dobre ali slabe, se izkaže, da se konec koncev pojavijo v materinem mleku. Torej, če se nekdo sprašuje o varnosti TKM zelišč, bi prav tako moral biti pozoren na hrano, ki jo zaužije; ne le zaradi varnosti, temveč tudi zaradi pridobitve potrebne energije za vas in za vašega otroka. [Preberite si več o TKM prehranskih nasvetih]
Kitajska zelišča za doječe matere
Večina TKM zelišč je rastlinskih in poredko povzročijo hujše stranske učinke. Izbrana zelišča so tradicionalno predpisana za pospešitev okrevanja po porodu. Običajno so ta zelišča varna za uživanje za vsakega posameznika. Na Kitajskem in v ostalih delih Azije je zelo pogosta raba proizvodov kitajske medicine ali sledenje TKM smernicam in praksam za obdobje dojenja. Pravzaprav je tako, da gre takoj po porodu večina Kitajk skozi posebno 42-dnevno obdobje - ‘’Yuezi’’. V tem času mati še posebej dobro skrbi zase in se prehranjuje po posebni dieti, ki jo bo zaščitila in pospešila njeno okrevanje po naporu nosečnosti in poroda. [Preberite si več o nasvetih za poporodno nego po načelu TKM - podpora materam med porodom]
Okrevanje po porodu
Po teoriji TKM je materino mleko pretvorjena krvna energija. Kri za dobro cirkulacijo potrebuje močno energijo (poznano kot Qi energija). Verjamejo, da se sam proces nosečnosti odraža v precejšnjem izčrpanju Qi in krvne energije, ker ko ženska rojeva, porabi ogromno energije in izgubi veliko telesnih tekočin. Kitajska zdravila, ki so rabljena za okrepitev zaloge mleka, vsebujejo zelišča, ki pomagajo telesu pri povrnitvi zdrave ravni krvne in Qi energije. [Preberite si več o pomanjkanju energije Qi in kako ga obvladati] [Preberite si še o tem kako TKM pomaga pri pomanjkanju krvi]
Krepitev imunskega sistema matere in otroka
TKM si s konvencionalno medicino deli podobna prepričanja, ko pride do materinega mleka in njegove lastnosti krepitve imunskega sistema. Namreč mleko vsebuje tudi protitelesa, kar pomeni, da imajo dojenčki, ki se dojijo, dalj časa pasivno odpornost. Gosto rumenkasto mleko (mlezivo), ki nastane v prvih dneh po porodu, je predvsem bogato s protitelesi.
Prezgodaj rojeni dojenčki so izpostavljeni višjemu tveganju za razvoj bolezni, ker njihov imunski sistem ni tako močen in ker preko njih med zadnjim trimesečjem nosečnosti ni uspelo preteči toliko protiteles.
Materino mleko vsebuje veliko protiteles, kar lahko izboljša otrokovo odpornost in zmanjša možnosti tveganja okužbe. Vendar ima tudi to svojo ceno - materino raven energije in sposobnost za proizvajanje protiteles. Pri materah, ki imajo dobro prebavno moč in dobro absorpcijo, se težave s proizvajanjem dobrega kakovostnega mleka ne bodo pojavile. Vendar če je nivo materine energije nizek, se tako količina in kakovost zmanjšata. V svoji ordinaciji pogosto v formulo vključim zelišča za preprečitev običajne gripe in prehlada.
Motnje laktacije
V TKM sta dve kategoriji motenj laktacije, in sicer majhna zaloga mleka in šibek pretok mleka. Do majhne zaloge mleka pride zaradi nezadostne količine Qi energije in slabe oskrbi s krvjo, to pa je povezano s konstitucijo njenega telesa.
Hrana, ki pomaga pri majhni zalogi mleka, zajema rdeče meso, ribe, jajca in kokošje juhe. Za vegetarijance je pomembna prehrana, ki je bogata z beljakovinami, ta pa vsebuje jajca, jogurt, lečo, kvinojo, fižol, oreščke, sojino mleko in tofu. [Preberite si več o vegetarijanski prehrani]
Akupunktura ali akupresura lahko pomagata pri stimulaciji izločanja prolaktina, ki bo tako stimuliral proizvajanje mleka. Domača akupresura ali moksanje za 5 minut na dan na empirični točki za materino mleko Shaoze - SI1 je odlično za večjo proizvodnjo mleka, tako kot je dobra akupresura na točkah Shanzhong – Ren17 in Jianjing – GB21.
Šibek pretok mleka je posledica stagnacije Qi energije in vlažnosti v telesu, kar preprečuje, da bi se mleko premikalo po žlezah navzdol in ven iz bradavice. To lahko vodi do prenapolnjenosti in napetosti prs, bolečin in otečenost. Huje oviran pretok mleka lahko hitro vodi do mastitisa.
Mastitis je vnetje in okužba tkiva dojk. Prva znaka mastitisa sta rdeč madež na prsih in običajno zamašena žleza. Vnetje se lahko hitro spremeni v okužbo, kjer običajno sledijo tresavica, vročina in simptomi, podobni simptomom običajne gripe. Namesto blaženja vnetja z antibiotiki, TKM verjame, da je pravi način obvladanja situacije povrnitev gladke cirkulacije in razstrupljanje, pri tem pa se zaščiti tako mater kot otroka. [Preberite si več o vnetju z vidika TKM]
Ključnega pomena sta preprečitev in zgodnje zdravljenje. Ob pojavu prvega znaka rdečega madeža na prsih ali prve zamašene žleze, si rezervirajte termin za zdravljenje.
Če imate vprašanje o dojenju ali kakšnem drugem zdravstvenem stanju, nas prosimo kontaktirajte.
TCM Tips for Easier Breastfeeding
Is Chinese Medicine safe while breastfeeding?
This would be the first question that comes to many mothers’ mind - is it safe? And the question goes beyond TCM herbs, even other medication or food. Indeed, everything that you eat or drink may affect your internal balance and some of those substances, whether good or bad, might turn out to be produced as part of your milk. So if one is questioning the safety of TCM herbs, you might also need to pay attention to food consumption, not just for the safety, but also for acquiring necessary energy for you and your baby. [Read more about TCM Dietary advice]
Chinese herbs for breastfeeding mums
Most TCM herbs are plant-based and rarely causing adverse side effects. Traditionally, selected herbs were prescribed to mothers to promote recovery during the confinement period. These herbs are generally safe for anyone to consume. In China and other parts of Asia, it's extremely common to use Chinese Medicine products or follow TCM practices whilst breastfeeding. In fact, right after birth, most Chinese women would go through a special 42-day period - “Yuezi”. During this period, the mother will pay extra care to herself and have special diet to protect herself and get a prompt recovery from the exhaustion of childbearing and labour. [Read more about TCM Postpartum Care Tips - Support Mothers During Confinement]
Recovery after birth
In the TCM theory, breast milk is converted from “blood energy”. Blood needs strong power (also known as ‘Qi’) for a smooth circulation. it is believed that the process of child labour results in strong exhuation of Qi and Blood energy because when you give birth you spend an enormous amount of energy and lose a lot of body fluids. Chinese Medicine that aim to boost milk supply are packed with herbs that help your body regain healthy levels of Blood and Qi. [Read more about Qi deficiency and how to manage it] [Read more about howTCM helps with Blood deficiency]
Immunity boosting for mother and child
TCM share similar beliefs with conventional medicine when it comes to the immunity-boosting ability of breast milk. Breast milk also contains antibodies, which means that babies who are breastfed have passive immunity for longer. The thick yellowish milk (colostrum) produced for the first few days following birth is particularly rich in antibodies.
Premature babies are at higher risk of developing an illness because their immune systems aren't as strong and they haven't had as many antibodies passed to them during the last trimester of pregnancy.
Breast milk contains a lot of antibodies which can raise a baby’s immunity and lower its chances of catching an infection. But it comes at a cost - the mother’s level of energy and ability to create antibody. Most mothers have strong digestive power and good absorption would have no problem in creating enough and good quality milk. But if the mother herself is low on energy, both the quantity and quality of milk might get worse. Very often in my practice, I put extra herbs for prevention of common cold and flu.
Lactation disorders
In TCM, there are two categories of lactation disorders, namely low milk supply and poor milk flow. Low milk supply is due to insufficient Qi and blood supply of the mother and is related to her body constitution.
Food which help for low milk supply includes red meats, fish, eggs and chicken soups. For vegetarians, a protein-rich diet is important with foods like eggs, yogurt, lentils, quinoa, beans, nuts, soy-milk and tofu. [Read more about vegetarian diet]
Acupuncture or acupressure can help by stimulating prolactin secretion, which in turn will stimulate an increase in milk production. Home acupressure or moxa for 5 mins a day at the empirical point for breast milk Shaoze – SI1 is excellent to encourage milk production as is acupressure at Shanzhong – Ren17 and Jianjing – GB21.
Poor milk flow is a result of stagnation of Qi and dampness in the body that prevents milk from moving down the ducts and out of the nipple. This can lead to breast fullness, distension, pain and engorgement. Severe congestion of milk could easily lead to mastitis.
Mastitis is inflammation and infection in the breast tissue. The first signs of mastitis is a red mark on the breast and usually a blocked duct. The inflammation may quickly become infected where chills, fevers and general flu like symptoms will follow. Instead of management the infection itself like the antibiotics, TCM believes that restoring a smooth flow of circulation and removing toxins is the way to manage the situation while protecting both mother and infant. [Read more about Inflammation from TCM perspective]
Prevention and early treatment is a key. At the first sign of a red mark on the breast or a duct that is not clearing, come in for treatment.
If you have any further questions about breastfeeding or other health conditions, please feel free to contact us.