How Pregnancy Affects the Mother: A Chinese Medicine Perspective

At the time of conception, both mother and father transmit their energetic state of being onto the embryo. After conception, the mother nourishes the fetus from her own blood and essence. This normally will not cause any problems in a healthy woman, as long as the mother has freely flowing blood, Qi and essence.

The mother’s blood is made from the food and drink ingested. The spleen transforms the food and drink into blood and sends it to the heart. The heart turns the blood red and then sends it to the fetus. If the woman has a pre-existing blood deficiency, this condition may become aggravated because much of the blood (and yin) goes to the fetus. The deficiency may lead to Liver Yang or Liver Wind rising.

The fetus is also nourished by the essence that is supplied by the mothers Kidneys. The kidneys store the essence that we were born with as well as the essence that is made from the daily surplus of Qi and blood. A deficiency of the mothers Kidneys often leads to a weakness of the fetus’ original Qi, while a deficiency of the mother’s kidney essence may fail to nourish the fetus.

The mothers, blood, Qi or essence may not be free flowing during pregnancy. The obstruction may be created by the fetus, especially in the later months of pregnancy. This prevents the proper ascending and descending of Qi and therefore leads to the stagnation of Qi. The stagnation may also occur due to the imbalance with in the Liver. The liver promotes the smooth flow of Qi, and Qi moves blood and essence.

The obstruction created by the developing fetus may also damage the spleen creating weakness and phlegm.

The blood that normally is discharged during menstruation now accumulates in the Chong Mai. This accumulation leads to the slippery pulse.

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