A healthy menstrual cycle is dependent upon normal circulation and production of qi and blood. Any factors that upset any of these over time create menstrual disorders. The major pre-requisite for a healthy pregnancy is to have a totally trouble free menstrual cycle. Attempting conception whilst experiencing major hormonal imbalances maybe seen to be a recipe for disaster, every ‘hormonal’ mechanism is under the control of the kidney complex and thus our jing.

RESONANCE			STRUCTURE
Kidney jing	Maternal blood energy	Free flowing liver qi	Well functioning three heater system	Egg & sperm

Attempting to over-ride the body which is communicating its distress by a disordered menstrual cycle will only create further qi and blood production and circulation imbalances. These may not become immediately evident, or may show themselves through other body systems. The energy imprints of any surgical or chemical intervention stay within the body.

RESONANCE			STRUCTURE
Karmic/ soul intentions	Shock & trauma	Liver qi & blood stagnation	Cold blocking normal qi & blood circulation	Physical scarring & toxic drug residues

At the point of conception, the developing baby’s jing is equally derived from both parents. From then on this template unfolds according to the environment it is placed within, that is, the maternal "fetal palace".

A healthy pregnancy unfolds in its own time to an inner clock as an indication of the strength and vitality of the mother’s jing and blood energy. The appropriate development of the fetus and the easy birthing, breast feeding and maternal health and sanity are also indicators of these.

Initially the first sign of pregnancy should only be a missed period. If the mother is in a well and vibrant state prior to conception, she should have none of the "normal" pregnancy symptoms. Nausea, lethargy, back ache, ligament and tendon problems, blood pressure and fluid retention, haemorrhoids, varicose veins, excessive weight gain, irritability, mood swings, constipation, heart burn, sciatica and anything else that will apparently disappear at birth are all indications that the body is actually out of balance and needs assistance.

In energy terms the pregnant state creates a particular pattern that is super-imposed upon the woman’s normal life. At any other time, any of these alone or in combination would be re-aligned. In pregnancy there is a relative abundance of blood, heat, dampness and liver qi, and a relative depletion of circulating kidney qi.

If the woman started pregnancy in a less than healthy state, with any of the above imbalances, she is far more likely to experience the physical symptoms normally expected of pregnant women.

The energy disturbances creating these deviations from well functioning are easily recognised and remedied when visiting health care practitioners whose frameworks allow enhancement of normal, rather than crisis management.

( Taken from "Living as Energy", by Heather Bruce, available NOW)