Main description:

'This is a book about a radical revisioning of the birth process from a medical condition that requires ongoing quantitative assessments, tracking, and interventions to an awe-inspiring mystery...'
This holistic and comprehensive book guides practitioners on the journey of Taoist embryology and the development of the soul. Dr Randine Lewis delves into the theory of Taoist philosophy whilst also including its practical application in contemporary practice.
Each month of pregnancy, including the tenth postpartum month, is explained through a biomedical and philosophical lens, helping practitioners understand and treat various symptoms of pregnancy with Chinese medicine whilst never losing sight of the embodying soul. By moving away from a fear and stress-based model, this book allows practitioners to approach pregnancy with a much deeper and calmer understanding which aids pregnant clients in connecting to the cocooned inner soul.
This practical and comprehensive Taoist approach to pregnancy encourages client autonomy via self-inquiry worksheets and suggestions around diet, qi gong, lifestyle, acupuncture, and herbal therapies.

Contents:

Contents
Foreword by Lorie Dechar
Introduction
Part I - Preparing the Palace: Basics of Gynecological Obstetrics
Chapter 1 - The Origin: The Miracle of Manifestation
Conception
Jing
Fertilization
The Origin
The Soul - 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10
Curriculum
Pregnancy and Renewal
Chapter 2 - Dynamics of the Creation Process
Forward and Reverse Cycles
Ovarian Cycle
Tian Gui
Zi Gong
The Internal Kingdom - Nei Jing Tu
The Moon rises and sets within
Outer lunar cycles
Lunar and menstrual phases
How emotions impact the menstrual cycle
Hypothalamus
Menstrual Cycle phases - Menses, Follicular, Ovulation, Luteal
Chapter 3 - Preconception Preparation
Desire
Meditation
Tonifying your ancestors
3 Dan Tien
Patient Worksheets - Nutrition, Lifestyle, Self Inquiry, Soul Alignment,
Exploring Ambivalence, Exercise to keep hope alive
What are you reproducing?
Part II - Pregnancy: Occupying The Palace - The Trimester Model
Chapter 4 - First Trimester - Po: The Tao Gives Birth to One
Chapter 5 - Liver: Month One - Liver stores Blood to nourish the uterine lining to receive the expanding blastocyst as the embryo's extraordinary channels begin to develop.
Issues: Threatened miscarriage & ectopic pregnancy
Chapter 6 - Gallbladder: Month Two - Mother's Gallbladder energies enliven further embryologic development.
Issues: Developmental stalls, anemia, nausea and vomiting
Chapter 7 - Pericardium: Month Three - The Pericardium provides the calm and quiet needed to purify the embryo before it moves on to the second trimester.
Issues: Emotional lability, fatigue
Chapter 8 - Second Trimester - Shen Receives Its Program: The One Gives Birth to Two
Chapter 9 - Triple Energizer: Month Four
Issues: Fetal toxins, constipation, low back pain, varicosities, skin discoloration
Chapter 10 - Spleen: Month Five
Issues: Restless limbs, gestational diabetes
Chapter 11 - Stomach: Month Six
Issues: Abdominal discomfort, urinary symptoms
Chapter 12 - Lungs: Month Seven
Issues: Intrauterine Growth Retardation, Edema
Chapter 13 - Third Trimester - Hun Carries out the Curriculum in Time: The Two Give Birth to Three
Chapter 14 - Large Intestine: Month Eight
Issues: Obstetric cholestasis, amniotic fluid, abruptio placenta, pre-eclampsia
Chapter 15 - Kidney: Month Nine
Issues: malposition, breech presentations
Chapter 16 - Bladder: Month Ten - Bladder
Preparing for labor and exiting the Palace
Issues: Birthing delays, retained placenta, lactation difficulty, postpartum recovery