complementary therapies

When I found out our daughter had a heart defect that would require open heart surgery, I immediately started researching natural complementary treatment options for my sweet babe.  Obviously I am forever grateful for the advances in medicine which will hopefully allow J2 to grow into a lovely adult and die at a a ripe old age.  I am grateful for the drugs that she needs.  Grateful for open heart surgery.

I am one of those weird people (or more like, awesome people) who believe in the power of alternative therapies.  Of the spiritual.  Of the spiritual energy of the body.  The power of good nutrition.  All that jazz.  So I want to set J2 up for success as much as I can through alternative therapies.  Even if it costs a lot and darn insurance companies haven't realized how awesome it would be to cover these therapies.

So, here are some of the things we are doing.

1. Cranial Sacral Therapy

I got it done a few times during pregnancy by my chiropractor and now I am having J2 get it.  And- wow! I wish I would've had all my kids get it as babies.  She is much less fussy when she's worked on in this way.  Sleeps better.  And I really feel like it helps her overcome the trauma of being in the hospital on a ventilator.  We did it a few times in a row upon coming home from the hospital, and now we're slowing down a bit and then right before and after surgery we'll ramp it up again.   The therapist gave me some stuff I can do at home with her, so that's been really great!

2. Chiropractic care

Okay, so I haven't actually gotten around to this yet, but I am a strong believer in chiropractic care and had it all throughout pregnancy and need to get J2 in SOON for some adjustments.  I've honestly just been too busy with all her other appointments.

3. Traditional Chinese Medicine--- Acupuncture

I found an awesome Acupuncturist group who work specifically on children.  We'll be trying this out before surgery.  I will let you know what i think.  Did you know acupuncture can even flip breech babies?  I obviously know a lot more about this stuff as it relates to pregnancy and birth, but it's pretty powerful stuff so I think it can help send some healing energy to her little heart as well!!

4. Essential Oils

I am a huge essential oil fan.  I use them for everything and use at least a few every day.  I've been researching which oils to use on J2 now, and which ones to use on her prior to and after surgery for emotional care and also to put on her scar.  I diffused a calming oil blend in her room during our hospital stay and that same oil I've been massaging on her frequently and will probably bring it to her for post surgery.  I think it'll be good to have it be one she remembers as calming that reminds her of that special time of massage we have together.  I think diffusing oils in her room is great for ME too.... as a stressed out and worried heart baby mama!!  I use them to try to keep us all from getting sick too... because a virus would NOT be good for a little baby with a sick heart!!

5. Naturopathic medicine

We have our first naturopath appointment in a few weeks.  I will let you know what I think.  I assume since I am breastfeeding they are going to give me supplements for ME to take for her to get through me.  I've been taking stuff like probiotics and drinking some herbal infusions since she was on some pretty heavy meds including antibiotics and I want to rebuild her good gut flora.

6. Baby yoga!

I am a yoga instructor and so I know the huge benefits of yoga, but I never thought I'd love baby yoga so much!!  I wish I could go every day.  It's the one time of the day that I don't feel SO overly stressed with the weight of worry for my sick baby.  I connect with my baby and I connect with other mamas and I get onto my mat and do a few exercises for myself as well.  Deep sigh.  The other day I sat next to another heart mama and her heart baby!! And a NICU nurse at the hospital we were and will be at was across the room from us!  So cool to connect and talk about the stuff we're both going through.  Also, some of the exercises we do on baby are the SAME ones that the cranial sacral therapist recommended I do!!  So it's perfect!  We plan to go at least once a week until she's too old for it.

7.  Healing touch

Healing touch has been PROVEN scientifically to be effective.  They have Reiki and healing touch certified people employed at hospitals even!  We don't have the money to actually go see someone for this, but I've been using my own healing touch on J2.  I have been through an intro training on this and understand the energy of the body and how it all works, so we've been playing with healing touch and I plan to continue and bring this to surgery day and post-op for SURE.  R likes to rub her hands together and then place her hands just above J2s heart and say "sending you ALL the love"  it's really sweet.  I guess she GETS healing touch!  It's fun to see.

8.  Use of others

I don't know why I thought of this 8th, but we've been REALLY utilizing others prayers and sending of love and light to us!!  I hope to get together a prayer/healing circle for J2 right before her surgery.  Maybe have her in the middle of a big circle with everyone sending her prayers and healing light for her to bring with her into her surgery.  The yoga studio I work at did something similar to this during a staff meeting while I was in the hospital with J2 and it was powerful!  So how awesome would it be to gather all the people who support J2 into one room.  Then, during surgery have them all light a candle and let it burn all day and send their prayers and love to her.