The Gentle Birth Method: The Month-by-Month Jeyarani Way Programme

The Gentle Birth Method: The Month-by-Month Jeyarani Way Programme
Dr. Gowri Motha

Karen Swan MacLeod

Childbirth guru Dr Gowri Motha, who practises with Dr Yehudi Gordon – author of Birth and Beyond – shows women how her revolutionary method helps women carry the baby to full term, have less intervention in the birth; feel less pain in labour, and feel happy and in control.• The Gentle Birth method is a concise pregnancy programme combining diverse therapies such as ‘creative healing’ massage, a simple diet, self-hypnosis, reflexology and affirmation techniques• The method was created by Dr Gowri Motha as an alternative to conventional obstetric practise, when she became alarmed at the increasing number of women needing intervention during their births. It teaches expectant mothers how to train their bodies and minds in order to reduce or prevent complications during pregnancy and labour.• This book outlines the Method, with a month-by-month programme explaining how to rebalance the body and tailor it to the optimum condition for the birthing process. It includes guides to treating problems such as:– back pain– nausea– heartburn– fluid retention– stretch marks• The programme offers women a formal framework in which to prepare their bodies and so avoid facing a labour that is unnecessarily long, arduous and traumatic, with significantly lower uptakes of pain relief.

The Gentle Birth Method

The Month-by-Month Jeyarani Way Programme

Dr Gowri Motha and Karen Swan MacLeod

Table of Contents

Cover Page (#u7ee304c2-1FFF-11e9-9e03-0cc47a520474)

Title Page (#u7ee304c2-2FFF-11e9-9e03-0cc47a520474)

Preface by Elle Macpherson (#u7ee304c2-4FFF-11e9-9e03-0cc47a520474)

Foreword by Dr Yehudi Gordon (#u7ee304c2-5FFF-11e9-9e03-0cc47a520474)

Introduction (#u7ee304c2-6FFF-11e9-9e03-0cc47a520474)

SECTION A Preparing for Birth (#u7ee304c2-7FFF-11e9-9e03-0cc47a520474)

Physical Preparation (#u7ee304c2-8FFF-11e9-9e03-0cc47a520474)

Mental Preparation (#litres_trial_promo)

Emotional Preparation (#litres_trial_promo)

SECTION B The month-by-month programme (#litres_trial_promo)

Introduction to the Programme (#litres_trial_promo)

Getting Started (#litres_trial_promo)

First Trimester (#litres_trial_promo)

Second Trimester (#litres_trial_promo)

Third Trimester (#litres_trial_promo)

SECTION C Having Your Gentle Birth (#litres_trial_promo)

The Birth Day (#litres_trial_promo)

Established Labour: The First Stage (#litres_trial_promo)

Established Labour: The Second Stage (#litres_trial_promo)

Established Labour: The Third Stage (#litres_trial_promo)

Intervention (#litres_trial_promo)

Caesareans (#litres_trial_promo)

Post-natal Care (#litres_trial_promo)

SECTION D A-Z Guide to Symptoms and Potential Problems in Each Trimester (#litres_trial_promo)

The First Trimester (#litres_trial_promo)

The Second Trimester (#litres_trial_promo)

The Third Trimester (#litres_trial_promo)

APPENDICES (#litres_trial_promo)

Appendix A (#litres_trial_promo)

Appendix B (#litres_trial_promo)

Appendix C (#litres_trial_promo)

Websites (#litres_trial_promo)

Acknowledgements (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)

Preface by Elle Macpherson (#)

I first met Gowri when I was pregnant with my second son. My first labour had been quite long and although I knew this one was likely to be shorter, I wanted, if not a guarantee to a pain-free, 20-minute birth, at least the inside track to a shortcut. Who wouldn’t? We all want to hurry up and meet our babies, after all.

Gowri explained to me quite early on in my pregnancy that, with guided preparations, I could have as natural – and short – a birth as nature intended for me, so I was more than happy to put in the groundwork. Daily exercise and a healthy diet are a part of my lifestyle anyway, but with international travel as a regular feature in my schedule, it was really important for me to feel rooted during my pregnancy. I particularly found the visualisations and hypnotic birth rehearsals allowed me to ‘nest’ and concentrate on the baby, regardless of whether I was 35,000 feet in the air, or two days’ travel away from home.

And it worked for me! I had an incredibly positive, emotional, and nurturing waterbirth. I delivered my son on my due date after a relatively short four-hour labour. It was the most amazing experience I’ve ever had, and thanks to Gowri’s preparation I was able to cope with the pain and be 100 per cent present without drugs for the incredible moment of his birth. To add to my joy I did not tear or need to have an episiotomy.

Now I send all my girlfriends to Gowri’s clinic as soon as they tell me they’re expecting. She’s been one of my best-kept secrets – until now.

Foreword by Dr Yehudi Gordon (#)

It is a great pleasure to write the foreword for Gowri Motha’s book on Gentle Birth. As a fellow obstetrician with a similar passion for natural, active and water births, I believe that Gowri’s philosophy, approach and incredible enthusiasm are an inspiration and great help for women. I can vouch through experience that women who have met and worked with Gowri and her team are far more likely to have a gentle, natural birth.

Gowri is a fully trained obstetrician and gynaecologist. Gowri was born in Sri Lanka and completed her training in India, so the principles and practices of Ayurveda are second nature to her. In her birth preparation work she teams up with a group of like-minded women. Gowri is, above all, a team player, with each pregnant woman and her baby taking centre stage.