All Paths Naturopathy

Category: maternity care

  • The Sun Shines On

    The sun shines on,
    Even in the darkest of times.
    Lighting the path,
    Illuminating the shadows
    We wait for you,
    We welcome you,
    We are blessed that you choose us.
    I open my heart to the possibility of you,
    That spark of potential nestled into the dark, quiet recesses of my being.
    Waiting and growing.
    Trying not to think of not seeing you soon.  Meeting the spirits who have chosen us,
    even after all these long years of waiting.  We have learned and made changes.
    So that we can do even better by you.
    No longer will our meetings be only in dreams.
    Soon my arms will be filled with your writhing, screaming perfect little body.
    At my breast you will be nourished as I share my very being with you.
    We come together to worship the fertile soil, the Mati Zera Zymlia from which we are nourished.
    As the fertile soil is renewed in the spring.  As flowers and fruits
    begin to proliferate, so too does the womb in which you grow.
    The living blood in my veins, used not just by one, but which now sustains us all for a time.
    That secret time between us.
    The space when you are unknown even to me.
    The time when others begin to notice,
    To start to wonder who you are.
    So many names you already have; inspired, teacher.
    Trial maker, for what we have been through in the waiting time is nothing compared to what is yet to come.  And with a love filled heart, we look forward to all the experiences and lessons you offer.
    You are loved and always have been.
    During the days when my heart felt ripped from its cage and crushed
    With the seemingly over whelming, all consuming pain at having lost you again.
    The realization that you were only visiting, not here to stay.
    Through the nights when we cried together, mourning you.
    There will be other times even after we meet, when tears of sadness are shed,
     yet there will also be the joy filled tears.
    Watching your adventures and explorations.
    The light illuminates even the darkest of spaces.
    Slowly the pieces shift, that which appeared to be and was immovable is never truly permanent.
    Not always with the desired speed, the transformation occurs.
    There is a crack in the glacier
    And urgent movements, the weight of sorrow falls
    Revealing vulnerable new surfaces.
    Not marred with pain and loss
    Free to feel love, joy
    To know the divine bliss completely.
    In healing,
    Amanda Hochman, N.D. 

  • Air pollution, it is not just hard on the lungs

    Air pollution smoke rising from plant tower

    For families who have suffered from pregnancy related conditions such as pre-eclampsia, preterm delivery and small for gestational age babies, there may never be a good reason for why these conditions happen.  This is often in part because many factors can contribute either singly or in tandem towards the development of conditions such as pre-eclampsia, preterm delivery and babies who are small for gestational age.  This week the list of risk factors was increased to include both particulate and molecular atmospheric pollutants.  For many years, scientists and environmentalists have been concerned with the effects of increased air pollution.  Research results from the ESCALA project have observed an increased risk of death resulting from increased exposure to particulate air pollutants less than or equal to 10 micrometers and ozone.

     David Olsson and colleagues published findings this past week in the British Medical Journal Open suggesting an association between exposure to ozone during the first trimester of pregnancy and an increased risk for preterm delivery and the development of pre-eclampsia.  This comes on the heels of a second study, published by Tracey J. Woodruff, PhD, MPH  in collaboration with the International Collaboration on Air Pollution and Pregnancy Outcomes (ICAPPO) in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.  The ICAPPO researchers  saw an association between particulate air pollution and delivering babies who were born small for gestational age.  With this new research, it offers another reason to care for the environment in such a way that promotes health and well being for all. 

    For more information visit: www.all-paths.com and www.southernoregonbirthconnections.com

  • New year, new beginnings

    The new year crept quietly into our house so I took some time to craft and create.  Taking time to be with art.  Little beads strung onto wire and stretch elastic.  Bringing together so many little individual components into the formation of a cohesive, unified object.  I thought about making a resolution, about what a resolution is and who I wanted to be in the next year.  In part, one of the things I realized is that I feel as though I am always thinking about the notions mentioned earlier.  I have decided that the time for thinking has drawn to a close.  The time for doing is at hand, the time for creation and living the life that is in line with my families ideals and values.  A number of smaller goals and personal experiences I desired for the next year can be summed up into the broad goals below.

    To reinvigorate my spiritual practice.

    Live up to my potential as a healer for the betterment of myself and others.

    To help in your journey towards wellness I would like to offer you a free 30 minute consultation to learn how I can assist you in becoming pregnant, our maternity services and beyond.