Participants:
Series Code: DIV
Program Code: DIV000005A
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00:20 Creation or Evolution, Design or Random Chance.
00:26 They say it all began with a Big Bang. 00:30 But when we look at the amazing human body 00:33 the answer is obvious. 00:36 The complexity of the design exceeds anything man has made. 00:40 The body, it have only been designed by the Master Designer 00:45 we read about in the Bible. 01:04 Hi, I'm Patti Barnes, Director of the Midwifery Program 01:08 at Harland College. We have been engaged in a series of 01:12 talks of God's divine design in childbirth. 01:17 Today, I'm going to talk about the eight laws of prenatal 01:21 health, that can lead to a better outcome for both mother 01:25 and baby. I like acronyms to help me to remember things 01:29 and maybe this one will help you a little. 01:32 This acronym Birthing: 01:47 Let's start with the first one, 01:54 Endorphins are hormones that act as a natural pain reliever, 01:58 women who are physically fit, have a greater release 02:02 of these hormones. This could be a real blessing 02:06 in times of discomfort and especially during labor. 02:09 Other benefits of exercise include: 02:21 And several other benefits. 02:23 Remember, those who are not accustomed to exercise 02:27 should build their endurance gradually. 02:31 In the first chapter of Exodus, Pharaoh ordered the midwives 02:36 to kill the male Hebrew babies. When they failed to do as 02:41 Pharaoh commanded, he demanded and explanation. 02:44 Their answer is found in Exodus 1:19 02:59 The Hebrew women were slaves, laboring in the field 03:02 and open air, while the Egyptian women were delicate 03:05 and confined indoors most of the time. 03:08 The Hebrew word for lively can be translated as: 03:14 So it appears, they had faster and easier deliveries. 03:19 So what is safe exercise? You can see the best exercise 03:23 is working outside in the fresh air and sunshine. 03:27 One excellent form of exercise is gardening. 03:31 Not only does it strengthen the legs, back and arms, 03:35 but squatting helps prepare the pelvic floor muscles 03:39 for the birth. Walking is another good form of exercise, 03:43 but not just walking around shopping malls. 03:46 A nice walk in the country, with fresh air and sunshine 03:50 is great for the mother's well being. 03:53 Just like an athlete prepares for a race, safe exercise 03:58 helps prepare the mother for childbirth, 04:01 and remember, it increases those pain relieving endorphins. 04:05 The next one is: 04:09 As mentioned before, the best exercise is outdoors, 04:13 this is because you want to get plenty of fresh air. 04:16 Let's look at a few things pure air can do for you. 04:35 In the book Ministry of Healing, page 272 we read: 05:04 Since we are talking abut breathing, I would like to 05:07 mention controlled breathing during labor and delivery. 05:11 We call it controlled breathing as opposed to panic breathing 05:15 which often happens during labor and contributes to stress. 05:20 Practice breathing deeply from your diaphragm, 05:24 in through your nose and out through your mouth 05:28 very slowly. This will actually help you relax and give you 05:34 more endurance because you are expending less energy, 05:38 this will also help your labor to progress easier. 05:43 Ok, now let's look at the next one: 05:46 When you are pregnant, you need to train yourself 05:49 to rest at will. In other words, you need to be able to stop 05:54 what you are doing and take a nap. 05:56 This is especially important when you get close to 05:58 going into labor. You want to be as rested as possible 06:02 for one of the most physically demanding experiences 06:06 of your life. Now here are some benefits of rest: 06:27 Did you know that by keeping regular hours for bedtime 06:31 and napping, you are helping to train your baby 06:34 before he or she is born. For example, if you are a person 06:39 who is in the habit of staying up late into the night, 06:43 your baby would probably develop the same routine, 06:47 and don't forget the old saying: 06:54 Now let's look at the importance of temperance: 06:56 Of course, 07:01 including those things that are good. 07:03 For example, exercise, don't overdo it, rest. 07:09 Don't be slothful, and when eating, don't over indulge. 07:14 Temperance is also abstinence from harmful things like: 07:22 I'd like to also mention controlling your emotions, 07:25 especially when pregnant. 07:27 In Ministry of Healing, page 373 we read: 07:44 Anger, strife, anxiety, bitterness, all affect 07:49 your baby's emotional development. 07:51 We must learn to cultivate soft tones and a pleasant 07:56 disposition. 07:58 Our next topic is: 08:01 Or the beneficial use of water. 08:03 Most people are familiar with the general rule of 08:06 eight glasses of water per day, others suggest a half 08:11 of your weight in ounces. For example, 08:13 if you weigh 120 pounds, you need about 60 ounces 08:19 of water, or about a half of a gallon. 08:21 Of course depending on the level of your activity, 08:25 and the weather, this will vary somewhat. 08:28 Now let's take a look at what water can do for you: 08:45 Let's see what the Ministry of Healing say on page 237. 09:15 The external use of water is beneficial, 09:18 especially when it comes to labor and delivery. 09:21 We all know that warm water can be both soothing and 09:25 relaxing, it can also provide a natural pain reliever 09:30 and for this reason, many women have chosen 09:34 to spend a part of their labor in warm water. 09:37 Another method is to apply hot towels, not too hot, 09:41 to the lower back, which helps relieve the pain. 09:45 Always remember to keep the brain cool by placing a cold 09:49 washcloth at the top of the head. 09:51 Next in our birthing acronym: 09:53 We tend to underestimate the positive nature of sunshine, 09:58 but our Heavenly Father did more than just put a light 10:02 in the sky for us. Consider the statement from the 10:05 pen of inspiration. 10:15 The benefits of sunshine are not as appreciated, 10:18 as they should be. Here are just a few. 10:42 Let's talk about that last point a minute. 10:45 Jaundice is a yellowing of the skin and the whites 10:48 of the eyes that often appears in newborns shortly after birth, 10:53 this is a result of a build up Bilirubin in the blood stream. 10:57 Bilirubin is a by-product of the break down of red blood cells 11:02 which are fragile in newborns. 11:04 The body produces certain enzymes designed to deal 11:10 with the Bilirubin so that it doesn't build up in the 11:12 body, but babies need a little time to produce these enzymes 11:16 and for their liver to mature to where it can break down 11:20 the Bilirubin. For this reason and estimated 60% 11:25 of full term babies, and 80% of premature babies 11:30 will show some sign of jaundice, 11:33 fortunately only about 5% need some sort of treatment. 11:37 Not only has God provided the enzyme to break down 11:41 the Bilirubin, but He has provided sunshine 11:45 to help in this process. Always remember to do this 11:49 under the supervision of your health care provider, 11:53 you don't want to over expose your baby to the sun. 11:56 Nutrition is our next on the list: 11:58 First of all, don't trust your cravings. 12:02 In the book Councils on Diet and Food, page 220 is says: 12:31 If you are eating healthy, then you are getting all the 12:34 nutrients that the baby needs. For example: 12:38 Calcium for fetal bone development as well as teeth. 12:42 Folic Acid for blood production. Iodine for thyroid function 12:48 and hormone production, and Iron for healthy blood and 12:52 liver, for baby and mom. There are many other nutrients like: 13:06 that they need for healthy development. 13:09 Last and certainly not least is: 13:12 It is not just the physical aspect that we should be 13:17 concerned about when it comes to pregnancy, 13:20 although it is very important, it is even more important 13:23 to start each day with God's word. 13:26 Spending time ready your Bible will provide spiritual strength 13:31 and guidance and places your baby under the influence 13:36 of the Holy Spirit. 13:37 Proverbs 4:20- 22 says: 13:56 During pregnancy, you and your baby 13:59 will greatly benefit from all of these eight laws of 14:02 prenatal health, and you know what? 14:05 All of these benefits are free, 14:08 a gift from our loving Heavenly Father, to you. 14:12 Join me next time for more about our Devine Design. |
Revised 2016-08-30