Pregnancy Naturally
by: Nicole Bandes
A rush of
emotions. A little stick. Will it be pink!
Or blue? Who should you tell first? What do
you do now?
Pregnancy can
be a wonderful experience that is full of
excitement and love and anxiety and tension.
There are a lot of decisions to be made and
you must face the realization (whether it’s
your first or your 12th) that life will
never be the same.
Once you have
the details of the actual delivery, the who
(midwife or doctor), what (your baby), where
(home birth, birthing clinic or hospital)
and when (determining your due date) down,
you can get on with making sure that baby
has the best possible beginning even before
you give birth.
Nutrition will
be one of the keys to help you to keep your
growing baby healthy and safe while still in
your womb. And an extra bonus will be
helping you to keep up your energy and
minimizing the unpleasant effects of
carrying your little one inside of you.
If you have a
craving, indulge it. If you can’t eat
something, don’t worry about it. The body
has different needs during this time and
those needs show themselves in various ways.
It’s a temporary situation and nothing to be
concerned about.
Prenatal
Vitamins – While many multiple vitamins have
the necessary quantities of vitamins and
minerals for an average adult, prenatal
vitamins have the increased quantities of
those vitamins most important during this
precious time. In addition, some prenatal
vitamins have added the herb Ginger to help
with morning sickness.
Calcium and
Magnesium – These minerals are important
during pregnancy for a number of reasons. If
you don’t have enough calcium to provide to
your baby as he begins to form bones and
teeth, your body will naturally compensate
by pulling these critical minerals from your
own teeth and hair. This is why many women
get more cavities and have brittle, dull
hair during pregnancy. In addition, adequate
levels of calcium may prevent preeclampsia
during late pregnancy. Of course, there is
the added benefit of avoiding excess leg or
muscle cramps, common in pregnant women.
Red Raspberry
– This herb is commonly known as the woman’s
herb and can be taken throughout pregnancy.
It has been used traditionally to strengthen
the uterus and help women carry full-term
reducing the chances of premature birth.
5-W – This is
an herbal combination by Nature’s Sunshine
Products. Many mothers and midwife’s insist
they would not deliver without it. 5-W (five
weeks) should be taken during the last five
weeks before the scheduled due date. This
product will help to tone the uterus and
shorten the duration of labor.
Common
ailments and natural alternatives
Sometimes our
best efforts aren’t enough and we end up
getting sick or having other problems that
need to be addressed during this delicate
time. Because anything that you take will
also affect your growing baby, it’s best to
use safe, natural alternatives whenever
possible.
For almost all
of the following, the best natural
prevention is water. Pregnant women need far
more of it than the average adult. Be sure
you have water with you every where you go
and drink it by the gallon.
Allergies and
sinus congestion – Fenugreek may assist by
acting as a mild laxative (opening the
bowels to flush the irritants and mucus) and
by reducing mucus secretions. A side benefit
of fenugreek is that it promotes lactation
in nursing women.
Back pain –
See a good chiropractor and use rice pillows
to ease the pain.
Bladder
Infections – Use cranberry supplements daily
as a preventative if you are prone to
bladder infections. Should you contract a
bladder infection during pregnancy, you
could increase your dosage of cranberry and
add colloidal silver, a natural antibiotic.
Be sure to do this at the very first sign of
the infection as bladder infections that
reach the kidneys may increase the risk of
preterm labor.
Colds –
Echinacea is a safe alternative that can be
used during pregnancy. Sip on Echinacea tea
or take a few capsules several times a day.
Another herb that may be effective is Olive
Leaf. Of course, don’t forget to increase
your vitamin C.
Constipation
and hemorrhoids – This sometimes occurs due
to the extra iron in prenatal vitamins.
While it is generally not safe to take a
laxative during pregnancy, there are some
things you can do. Increase magnesium.
Magnesium is a natural muscle relaxant and
will help to relax the sphincter muscle that
allows for proper elimination. Increase
fiber. Often, due to cravings or specific
food aversions during pregnancy, women don’t
get enough fiber. Supplement if needed.
Exercise may also help.
Insomnia –
Valerian root acts as a natural sedative and
may be just enough to help induce sleep.
Nausea –
Ginger or peppermint tea can be very helpful
here. Also try aloe vera juice.
This is a time
of joy but it may take a little extra
strength and willpower to stick to your
desire to stay natural. Just remember, the
less toxins you put into your body, the
healthier your baby will be.
