Natural remedies for pregnancy maladies
Fri, Jun 05 2009 at 2:00 PM EST
Read more: HEALTHY LIVING, RAISING HEALTHY KIDS
Minor conditions can become major maladies when they are combined with the discomforts and other ailments of pregnancy. Especially because you may not be able to take the over-the-counter remedies that you usually reach for treat your discomfort. Be sure to talk with your health care provider about the remedies you can use to care for some of these common ailments that occur during pregnancy. Morning sickness
The majority of pregnant women experience some degree of the nausea and vomitting of morning sickness at some point during their pregnancies. It is usually caused by a combination of low blood sugar, dehydration, and an overflow of hormones. And as any pregnant woman can tell you, despite the cute name, this malady can strike at any time of day.
The best way to ward off morning sickness is to get plenty of rest and to eat a number of small meals throughout the day to make sure that your stomach is never completely empty. Eat slowly, avoid drinking and eating at the same time, steer clear of greasy, spicy, or high fat foods that might aggravate your nausea, and avoid strong odors, overheating, and smoke. If morning sickness is still a problem, try one of these home remedies for nausea.
Heartburn
Here's a pleasant thought: as your baby grows and develops inside your uterus, the other organs inside your body will get pushed around to make room. And as your stomach gets pushed up from its normal position, you may begin to experience acid reflux, indigestion, and heartburn.
If you're feeling the sting of heartburn, try eating smaller meals throughout the day and remaining upright for an hour or two after eating. Avoid spicy and/or greasy meals and increase the amount of milk you drink throughout the day. Drink a cup of peppermint tea or eat a few spoonfuls of yogurt to settle your stomach. Also, talk to your health care provider about taking a natural, over-the-counter antacid to soothe you stomach as needed.
Constipation and hemorrhoids
Yet another happy side effect of pregnancy is that the hormonal changes occuring in your body cause food to move through your digestive system more slowly than before, leading to constipation. And the strain and pressure of constipation often leads to the development of hemorrhoids. The best remedies for these conditions? regular exercise, a high-fiber diet, and an increased intake of water. For hemorrhoids, try applying witch hazel and lemon juice to the area to reduce swelling. Or dissolve baking soda in a warm bath and soak for 15 to 20 minutes. Talk to your health care provider if you are bothered by these conditions for more than a few days, or if your symptoms increase in severity.
Headaches
Those darned pregnancy hormones can also lead to whopping headhaces and migranes. Most of the time, rest and extra water willsoothe a headache naturally. You could also try drinking lavender or chamomile tea to help you relax and ease the discomfort of a headache. If headaches continue to be a problem, talk to your health care provider about the over-the-counter remedies you can use to alleviate them.
Stretch marks and dry skin
Stretch marks are another nasty side effect of pregnancy. They're caused by changes in the elastic supportive tissue that lies just beneath the skin. Genetics plays a large role in determining whether or not you will develop stretch marks or have other skin problems during your pregnancy. If you do, try nontoxic, coconut oil lotions to help moisturize skin and promote healthy stretching. Tea tree oil may also help to reduce the appearance of blemishes and spots that can occur during pregnancy.
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