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