Yoga Teacher Training Forum

Namaskar everyone,

I am actually now in my 2nd trimester but i thought i will share my 1st trimester experience.

It took me 8 years to get pregnant. One of the reasons i joined yoga (2001) was to conceive and i got pregnant in 2004. But during my first two pregnancy(2004 & 2005), doctors advised me against practicing yoga as i was placed under the high risk pregnancy and i followed their advice.

Before this i had 2 pregnancy and delivered to 2 beautiful boys but unfortunate the first past away 1 day old & the 2nd at 66 days. The reason for their death is still unknown but a possible case of a * linked genetic disorder - carbamylase transaminase deficiency. They both had respiratory difficulty within 24 hours of birth. So for now, my 3 rd pregnancy which i never intended too but i did, the doctors have given me a 50% chance for the baby's survival.

So believe me, when i found out i was pregnant i was distressed and so was my hubby. My doc who ds not believe in abortion (until the reason is valid), convinced me to be receptive to the spiritual divines and hope the baby is a girl. But unfortunately i went for my scans and he is going to be a boy (only know this in the 14th wk or so).

All I can say, I was going through prenatal depression the first 8 weeks or so. My vomiting was bad, my appetite was poor, my attitude probably sucked. Then i requested the doc to let me go for my yoga classes, as usually i find myself happy after the regime. With some reluctance and advice he allowed. I started somewhere then but did not feel too good, so i restarted it back again some where in the 12 or 13th week. My vomiting was much less and now totally gone & appetite & mentally i am accepting with joy.

So during that 4 weeks which i cud not go for my classes, I played a few tapes which chanted some mantra by guru Dattareya Siva Baba (my iyengar yoga teacher (Devi) introduced recently) and also practiced Paul Gerards relaxation cd (read his article on sound manifestation too). What I experienced with this sound manifestation and addressing to the respective chakra and relaxation techniques was peace. My mind for some reason started to feel happier, my body (especially my hair started to grow instead of dropping) and the skin glowing and overall a sense of calmness. Instead of unnecessarily feeling anxious , i could joke. My doctor in between too did quite a bit of counseling for both me & hubby.

So all i can say for this experience, some of us do go through prenatal depression but with the practice of right relaxation techniques & meditation it ds overcome. Also not forgetting the support group - family , friends & community. My teacher Paul Gerard did mention to me to share my concerns a few mths back when i was experiencing this but i was not ready at that point, but after deep thought i realized by sharing it may help others who may have gone through similar experience or perhaps , some may share their experiences.

For now

Kind rgds,

Shanthi