yoginimusings: Yoga and Gestational Diabetes by guest blogger, Gail Pickens-Barger, E-RYT

04/13/2009

Yoga and Gestational Diabetes by guest blogger, Gail Pickens-Barger, E-RYT

stational Diabetes - Prenatal Yoga - Walking.

Did I mention that tested positive for Gestational Diabetes at 28 weeks?

Hoo Boy! I had earlier in my pregnancy went to the diabetes nutritionist, so I had an idea
about the small meals all days long, count the carbs, etc.

But, now it was serious! No way did I want the doc to have an excuse to do a C-Section.

My fingers sure did get sore for those last weeks in pregnancy. I tested when I got up.

I tested after breakfast.
I tested after snack.
I tested after lunch.
I tested after snack.
I tested after dinner/supper, and yes, I tested after my last snack.

I did really well actually, in writing everything (yes, everything) down that I ate, the carb count etc. Whenever my blood sugars got above 160, I had to go and walk for 20 minutes, retest, and if they didn't go down, call the doctor.

Well, let me tell you, that 20 minutes of being either outside walking around in my backyard/neighboorhood or on the treadmill really did the trick.

I taught yoga 4 times a week by then, too, and I'd go in on my days that I didn't teach, and get on the recumbent bike, and then go the mats, and do more yoga stretching. I really felt strong and in control of what was going on.

Doctor said, he wished his younger patients, would get serious and take care of their health like I did at the "Advance Maternal Age" of 46!

Course he said that I had 1/3 chance of getting diabetes later in life, since I had it while pregnant, so I needed to be retested within 6 weeks, and then on a regular basis after that.

So, little Grace turned out to be the smallest baby, that I had ever had. Only 8 lbs 4 ozs. After I got to 10 cm, she was the quickest to come out.....4 pushes! The birth ball, the breathing, the redirection of sense through Yoga and Bradley Childbirth techniques really works.....even though I had to be induced....no pain meds....quick recovery too...

About Gail: I used yoga during the birth of my first child over 20 years ago. Cat/Cow poses, progressive relaxation and breathing were my friends during the birth of my four children. I stepped away from yoga a bit, during the child raising years, and and friend of mine reintroduced me to yoga several years ago, while I was going through some highly stressful times. Just after a few sessions of a regular yoga practice, I noticed my stress levels were much lower. Additionally, my upper body strength went from being able do only one push up in a minutes time to doing 19 pushups! (I now do 25 pushups in a minute.) I’ve always wanted to teach in some form, and found that I was good at teaching yoga to others.

More recently, being pregnant in my late 40’s, I was able to really draw on my yoga postures and breathing to help me enjoy 4th drug free natural delivery of my over 8 pound baby!

I’ve taught a variety of people with issues such as bad backs, fibromyalgia, arthritis, hip replacements, pregnancy ladies and even have taught yoga to people in the water! (Fun!) If you can breathe, you can do some form of yoga!!

I've been teaching yoga since 2001, and received my RYT in 2004 E-RYT in 2007. http://www.yogawithgaileee.com/

Gail Pickens-Barger, E-RYT

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yoginimusings

04/13/2009

Yoga and Gestational Diabetes by guest blogger, Gail Pickens-Barger, E-RYT

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