Prenatal
Morning sickness
Morning sickness is common and is usually limited to the first two to three months of pregnancy.
Symptoms
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Lightheadedness
- Dizziness
- Sensitivity to odors and foods
Treatment
- Eat five smaller meals throughout the day
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Vitamins B6, C and K
- Iron supplement
- Ginger
- Avoid all fast, processed, and refined foods
- Eat plain crackers
- Increase fluids
- Morning Sickness teas – mint, chamomile, fennel seed, fenugreek
- Acupuncture
- Aromatherapy -- lemon or lavender
- Have a bedtime snack
- Sleeping propped up may help
Birthing
Pro-Hospital
- Availability of medical experts and latest technology
- Medication & drugs if needed
- Insurance coverage
- Hospital takes care of paperwork
- Home births need a midwife or medical person in attendance
Con-Hospital
- Birthing too regulated
- Electronic fetal monitoring restricts movement (movement helps move labor along)
- Freedom restrictions
- Unwelcoming environment
- Lack of continuity
- Too many tests
- Loss of control
- Hospitals have more germs
- In hospital, birth is treated as a medical condition rather than a natural process
Pro-Natural Birth
- Not invasive
- Sense of empowerment and experience
- No loss of sensation or alertness
- Freedom to move around
- Share experience with your partner
- Less likely to have any kind of medication
- Fast recovery time
- Better for babies because they do not have to process any drugs, are more alert, and adapt easily to breastfeeding
- Increased endorphins – mom and baby
Pro-Medication
- No reason to feel pain
- Less stressful
Con-Medication
- Epidurals prolong birthing time
- Medicines & drugs have side effects
Cons of C-section
- Increase mother’s risk of physical problems – hemorrhaging, blood clots, bowel obstruction
- Scarring
- Increase recovery time
- Too many medications
- Less contact with baby
Labor
There are many homeopathic remedies which might be helpful in labor, but when it comes to birthing, I do not want to recommend anything because every body is different and homeopathic remedies are symptom-specific. Consult with your medical professional.
Postpartum depression – mood, anxiety, and thought disorder after birth – is common
Treatment
Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Supplements
- B-Complex
- Magnesium
- Calcium
- St. John’s Wort (hypericum perforatumm)
- Oats (Avena sativa)
- Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus)
- Gentian (Gentiana lutea)
- Hops (Humulus lupulus)
- Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)
- Peppermint (Mentha piperita)
- Chinese ginseng (Panax ginseng)
- Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
- Tyrosine
- L-Phenalalanine
Breastfeeding
Advantages:
- Easily digestible for your baby
- Perfect balance of protein, fat and nutrients
- Increases protection against infection and disease
- Lowers cholesterol levels and incidence of heart disease in adulthood
Breastfeeding Diet
- Stick to a balanced diet
- Consume organic foods if possible
- Avoid refined, fast, and processed foods
- Avoid sugary foods
- Eat more fish
- Eat more nuts
- Eat more soy (unprocessed)
- Reduce dairy
- Take B-complex and multivitamin
- Drink fennel or red raspberry tea
- Avoid alcohol, caffeine
- No smoking
- Stay away from toxic household cleaners, chemicals or solvents
Exercise
Stress & Anxiety
Sleep
Spiritual Happiness
