Abrams Family World Travel

Piracanga: A Tale Of Beads & Belly Painting

The altar was laid. Offerings made to the divine, to the three birthing goddesses and the babies they each hold in their wombs. 

Men, women and children from the community gathered in a circle of light to share with the pregnant women their support, strength and love. The sound of song, the smell of incense and the gift of hugs filled the space.

Each mother-to-be was handed a bead, shell, seed or stone with a spoken blessing or affirmation for her upcoming birth.

The beads were strung on to a necklace, which then bedecked them. A small token to reconnect them to the universal circle of power during labour.  

Then the belly painting party commenced.

Claude tried his hand at womb painting.

Even Zenchai couldn't resist sponging paint onto a female's belly. 

All three women ripe with babe were brushed and stroked.

There was a whole lot of belly to go around and the painting fairies were put to the test. 

After many touches in the paint the womb art was completed. 

Our babies could meet. 

PS. Who do you think will 'pop' first? The sunflower, the hummingbird or the snake?

Buenos Aires: Pregnancy Resources

Loving all things to do with natural pregnancy, I quickly searched out some resources during my stay in Buenos Aires.  There are plenty of delicious activities for expectant mamas here. I wish I could have tried more of them, but there is only so much time in a day!

Pre/postnatal Yoga & Exercise

If you are looking for pre/postnatal yoga or other physical activities, try these: Tobinatal, Embarazo Activo (I contacted them for info on their yoga classes and they took a long time in responding and not even with the correct info.); Maternelle (your first class is free); Valle Tierra and Chris Lavalle (bilingual and she does aquatic pregnancy yoga, too).

Alternatively, use google (Argentina's version) and type "yoga para embarazadas" along with your suburb or area into the search bar and it will churn out many options.

Chiropractor

I also came across an American chiropractor, Dr. David Serio that specialises in adjusting pregnant women. I made several attempts to get an appointment, but he must be very good at what he does as he had very little availability. So, if this is the sort of thing, you need book well in advance! You will also have to commit to two visits. For both treatments it is $350 ARS (£55). His English-speaking assistant Laura can make a booking for you via email (vidachiropractic@yahoo.com).

Pregnancy/Postpartum Massage

Most of the yoga studios offer this service. However, I was fortunate enough to have a massage with Ruth from Maternelle. Ruth is the first person to ever give me a strong massage during pregnancy. It was refreshing and exactly how I like to be dug into! Her working space was nice and she even had Enya playing in the background. Be warned if you are the shy type that you un/dress in front of her and there isn't any PC draping of towels/sheets over your intimate areas during the session. My one-hour treatment came to $135 ARS (£21), which I think is really reasonable given it usually costs upwards of £60 in the UK.

Doulas & Midwives

Unfortunately, I was unable to find any midwives (parteras) during my visit here. The system here is very medicalised, which means it is totally run through obstetricians. However, Hospital Universitario Austral claim to do birth without intervention. I did email them, but never had any response. 

 

World Travel: Pregnancy, Diet & Supplements

Travelling while pregnant hasn't been terribly different than when I was not. Well, with the exception that I am more obsessed with food than normal.

It can feel like a neurosis at times. I have to always know where my next meal is coming from - whether we are self-catering or dining out. Our out-and-about bag has to always have a nibble of some kind in it, too. But it really isn't unusual for me to be carrying a stash of food anyway, especially having an active kiddie that requires frequent refuelling.

Luckily, the health food stores here in Buenos Aires (called Dieteticas) have an array of seed/nut bars, chia-based biscuits and crackers and other easily transportable munchies.

I am also not undergoing the same meticulous antenatal care that I had with Zenchai. While I would love to have that attention, the art of midwifery has become some what lost, at least here in Argentina.

Their healthcare system in regards to pregnant women is very smilier to the US's approach - medically led by obstetricians and gynaecologists. This is so far from my own belief system that I cannot even entertain the thought of seeing a doctor. I think it goes without saying that I would obviously seek medical assistance if required, but definitely not for a normal, healthy pregnancy.

From a friend's recommendation, I was able to have an antenatal appointment with a midwife while we were in Trinidad. I have had a lead on a midwifery service here in Buenos Aires, but still have not managed to receive any contact back from them. To be honest, I am not that concerned if I don't have any appointments with a midwife while I am here in Argentina. I am in super health and pretty in tune with my body, plus I can often feel this little sprout wiggling away.

However, once we get to Brazil I will have a midwife and a community of people that support pregnant women.

I recently had a question from a reader, which is another facet of how I am keeping well while travelling pregnant.

"I am curious to know if you are taking any sort of prenatal supplementation aside from your diet?" she asked.

I often get queries like this one, not only because I am a long-time vegan with a penchant for raw foods, but because of our worldly travels.

In my first pregnancy I took supplements here and there. For the most part I couldn't handle the smell of my whole foods prenatal vitamin. I would often get lazy about all the other extras, except my probiotic, which I took religiously. When I go off of taking a supplement I have always put it down to my body telling me it's not the right time for that particular thing.

This pregnancy is special in that my diet is even cleaner vegan compared to my first. Plus, I had the big bonus of spending 3 weeks during my first trimester at Hippocrates Health Institute, eating an abundant supply of the healthiest food on the planet. Hippocrates recommended several supplements for me. However, I know my inability to stick to a rigorous regime of pill-popping. But I do take the essentials.

I also think it is worth mentioning that all supplements should come from a whole foods source - not synthetically created in a lab, like Centrum or other popular cheap brands. You can read more about this in Dr. Brian Clement's riveting book Supplements Exposed.

Here are my supplements:

• LiveGive HHI- Zyme Digestive Aids - (digestive enzymes)
• LiveGive Power Powder (blue-green algae)
• Ortho Bone Vegan (calcium)
• Probiotic
• Rainbow Complete Prenatal Vitamin
• Chlorella
• B12
• Omega-Zen (marine algae based omega-3)
• Chia or Mila (for omegas etc)
• Sun Warrior Protein Powder (when I have it available to me - to help keep my blood sugar regular)

I know it looks like a long list, but I don't take them all everyday. Maybe I should, but the reality is that I don't have an easy time swallowing capsules or tablets (read below for my tip on how I make it more like child's play).

I make a blended something or other every day, in which I will break open my enzymes, power powder and calcium, plus I'll add my daily portion of chia seeds to it, too. Basically, I will open up and pour the contents of my capsules on or in food whenever/wherever possible.

Another motivation for taking these supplements is to lighten the load of our suitcases. Carrying all these little capsules adds up very quickly in the weight department, which most airlines are not sympathetic to.

Also, before leaving the UK I consulted a homeopath. During the consultation she gave me a tissue salt programme for pregnancy using the New Era biochemic salts. The tissue salt programme is followed to help both mother and baby maintain optimum nutrition and balance the mineral content of the body. So I have those to factor in as well. (Anyone interested in the programme just pop me an email at jamie at abramsfamilyworldtravel dot com and I'll send you the details.)

I feel really blessed to be in a situation where I can make so many choices and decisions about my pregnant body. I know many women the world over do not have this Western luxury even though many of them have a much better system of care for the birthing woman.

AbramsFamilyWorldTravel Tip:

Okay, for capsules place them in your mouth, take a swig of water and then take your chin towards your chest. Now swallow. Capsules hold air and will naturally float to the back of your throat, making them easier to down. I can usually take more in one go using this method.

For tablets do the opposite. Place them in your mouth, take a sip of water and your chin upwards. There is not the same amount, if any air, in a tablet. Their dense nature allows them to gravitate towards your throat, making them easier to pass.

Receiving this tip from a friend at Hippocrates was a revelation. Let me know how you get on with it!

Trinidad: Mamatoto

I had my first antenatal check-up while we were in Trinidad.

There is a lovely place called Mamatoto Resource & Birth Centre. This little birthing sanctuary opened about two years ago and has helped give Trinidadian women a safe birthing alternative to the standarized, medicalized hospital birth that is still very common there. 

Unfortunately, first-time mothers are discouraged to try for homebirth and many obstetricians will not support their birthing choice. Mamatoto gives these women a chance to have a truly natural, organic experience. Their belief is that all women should have this opportunity and in this spirit they also give pro bono care to ladies that would not otherwise be able to access their services.

In addition to the homey birthing rooms they have a library and resource room, a classroom for pre/postnatal yoga and antenatal classes and a wall dedicated to all the children that were born in their centre.

Mamatoto was all too happy to care for me just like I was one of their own. My midwife carefully went through my history, checked my fundus, weight, blood pressure and all the usual things that happen in an antenatal visit. At 14-weeks everything looked as it should and much to Claude's delight we heard the baby's heartbeat for the first time.

Our one-off visit cost us the equivelant to about £25, which we thought was very reasonable.

Now, I have the challenge of securing a visit with a patera (midwife) at some point while we are in Argentina. Wish me luck!