Michelle answers:

Sounds like a nasty infection. Do not take the risk as you don’t wan the infection to harm the baby which could if no precaution taken. Not worth it and go see doctor, at this stage i do not think home remedies will help, unless its a simple flu all by itself. Doc will prob prescribe an antibiotics safe for baby too.

Michelle answers:

31 weeks too!!yay…anywayz. I also have diahorrea for sum unknown reason and loads of ppl on here hav told me dat BRaxton Hicks can cause it, i hadn’t eaten anything weird or unusual 4 me either but just randomly had it. Just eat loads of fibre apparently n it’ll go. *says she who’s had it nearly a week now* hey look on the bright side, no piles!!

Oh, n babies r supa resiliant, i had food posioning when i was abt 15 weeks gone n she was perfectly fine…just i felt super crappy n didn’t kno wot end 2 put on the loo!! Lovely….just wot u wanted 2 kno

Michelle answers:

Every body is different. Even if you don’t want to go to the doctor you could still call and ask for advice on what to do.
Suggestions: You can still use over the counter meds to treat the yeast infection. I didn’t have it while pregnant but did with breastfeeding. My naturopath recomended probiotic pills which are sooo much stronger than yogurt. You can get these at a health supply store – they need to be refrigerated. I also took 1 pill of grapefruit seed extract. In terms of prevention, yes you are more moist down there so possibly changing underwear 2 times a day and washing in very hot water to kill the yeast. I’veh heard that yeast is incredibly difficult to kill and you want to take care of this before giving birth because transferring it to your baby during birth ups your chances of giving her or him thrush and that is just not fun to have while breastfeeding.

Michelle answers:

Yes if she hasn’t gotten menopause.

Michelle answers:

Pray and get some friends or family to help you so you can sneak in a nap here and there. Bananas seemed to help me because of the potassium. I know the feeling quite well. My daughter was 2 1/2 when I was 13 weeks along and I couldn’t keep up.

Michelle answers:

Did you just quit smoking? I have seen many women experience similar symptoms after they stop smoking. Did you inhale any fumes or chemicals? The symptoms you describe could also be caused by that as well. If you think its a cold, cough drops, a humidifier and Tylenol or Robitussin DM are considered relatively safe to take during pregnancy. I suggest you see your doctor, just to be on the safe side.

Michelle answers:

Wow…I would seek a second opinion. A bladder infection during pregnancy shouldn’t be taken lightly. Not to mention it’s painful and will get worse if left untreated. If unable to get second opinion then I would go straight to the ER.

Edit: I’d also look to change obgyns permanently what quack would want her to wait until Monday?!? That’s a joke!

Michelle answers:

Try a peace of dry bread.x

Michelle answers:

I use that site too and I love it as well. Try some of these

babyzone.com
thepregnancyforum.com
i-am-pregnant.com
baby-gaga.com

Michelle answers:

I am a mother to a beautiful 9 month old baby, and a formulation chemist for new cleaning products, so I happen to know more than a few tricks you can use.

If you want to clean your windows or counter tops or even floors try some normal white vinegar! Seriously vinegar leaves no residue and cleans really well. If you want it to dry quicker try adding some rubbing alcohol to the mix, that is what we professionals do! If the smell is too overpowering add in some water. Most vinegar you can buy in the store is only 3% actual vinegar and in the cleaning formulas you only add in about 1-2 % so you have some wiggle room adding in water or rubbing alcohol.

To clean the bathtub and even toilet bowl vinegar works great too, and you will see it on many many labels of cleaning products, but we call it Acetic Acid, or Glacial Acetic Acid.

Other things that clean great, Hydrogen peroxide! Yes the stuff that you put on cuts will be great at removing stains, just like bleach but without the harsh smell.

Never add vinegar to an ammonia cleaning product, this will cause a reaction that is REALLY not good.

Most cleaning products work the same on all surfaces, that is another industry secret. So if there was one clorox green works product that worked well I suggest you use that one for everything, from bathtubs to kitchen counters, to floor cleaner. The bath and shower cleaner from clorox green works has some powerful stuff in it called glycolic acid and it is the ONLY greenworks product that didn’t pass the DFE (Designed for the Environment) screening because of the glycolic acid not being allowed. But that would be your best bet for something that works well if you need a product that you can buy at the store.

Good luck, feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions 🙂

Michelle answers:

I think it should be fine. The skin is prone to scarring and dark marks n the face during pregnancy. Some other good things you can use on the face during pregnancy is bio-oil (used for stretch marks as well) and vitamin E cream. Check the ingredients on your product.

Some ingredients to avoid while pregnant are-

Differin (adapelene)
Retin-A, Renova (tretinoin)
Retinoic acid
Retinol
Retinyl linoleate
Retinyl palmitate
Tazorac and avage (Tazarotene)
Salicylic acid
Beta hydroxy acid
BHA

Michelle answers:

Yes, it would be a new pregnancy. HCG levels have to be at 0 in order to get your period. Congrats! And good luck!

All those saying your HCG don’t have to be 0 are wrong. I had a miscarriage, I know.

Michelle answers:

Don’t panic, you are not alone and you have nothing to be ashamed of – around 15% of women suffer depression during pregnancy and around 85% of women experience postpartum depression. It’s all those hormones girl – men have no idea. The biggest thing is you need to reach out for some help NOW – don’t wait. Especially start the vitamins and minerals now as it can take up to 2 months for them to take full effect.

From my research, the best therapy available to pregnant women is a combination approach of light therapy, vitamins and minerals, exercise, support groups and cognitive therapy, plus a few other things as noted below. Just so you know, I’ve tried everything I am recommending here except the light therapy and can confirm it works.

Therapy: Cognitive therapy is the recommended treatment for all forms of depression and for a good reason – it works. Find yourself a licensed psychologist who practices cognitive therapy and has a PHD or a PsyD (or Masters if experienced and/or highly recommended) – the sooner you can start treatment, the better. Additionally, marital issues can be extremely stressful during pregnancy – if you and your husband are having issues, you should also seek couples counseling.

Support: Find a postpartum depression group that you can participate in. There are several online, but try and find one you can attend in person too. You can’t believe the relief of actually speaking with others in your same position until you experience it. And this can be a great source for additional help! Do a google or yahoo search for “post partum depression group” or “perinatal depression group” and the name of your city or other nearby cities. In the meantime, here are some links for online groups which I hope will help:
http://www.ppdsupportpage.com/
http://dailystrength.org/support/Mental_Health_Addiction/Post_Partum_Depression/
http://www.postpartum.net/brief.html
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/postpartum_depression.htm

Also, if you have not done so already, share your emotions and concerns with your husband, friends and family and ask for their help and support. Don’t be afraid to ask for specific help. Hopefully they will be there for you. If not, don’t break your heart on it – some people are so overwhelmed with their own issues they have no energy for anything else, while some are so damaged and stunted they never evolve to the point where they are capable or willing to help others – just move on and find the help you need elsewhere. Don’t be scared – help is available, you just have to find it. You might try your local library bulletin board, local church or temple too – talk to the pastor (or rabbi) – most churches have programs (or know of programs) that will help.

Physical and mental exercises: At least 1/2 hour of physical exercise every morning will do wonders – exercising when you first get up is twice as effective as at any other time during the day – try varying taking a walk with some mild yoga or pilates. Some evidence that yoga (possibly due to breathing rhythyms) is especially helpful for depression. Naturally, consult your doctor first, but in most cases exercise is good for you during pregnancy.

On the mental exercise side, try affirmations to help focus yourself on a positive outlook – affirmations are a form of self-hypnosis and cognitive therapy you can use on yourself – and there is plenty of scientific and anecdotal evidence that they really work (and again, I can personally vouch for this). Affirmations should be written down and spoken out loud every day in at least two sessions per day (best times are first thing in am and last thing at night), with at least 10 repetitions each session – stick with it, because it WILL work. Works even better when combined with relaxation and breathing techniques. Try maybe 15 to 20 sentences, like “I feel deeply happy.” and “I am full of positive energy.” I know this sounds hoaky, but do it every day and this will help. Links on how to write affirmations here (best is first, but they all have good info.):
http://healing.about.com/b/a/014041.htm
http://www.personal-development.com/chuck/affirmations.htm
http://www.mhmail.com/articles/writing-affirmations.html
http://ezinearticles.com/?Do-Affirmations-REALLY-Work?&id=579638
http://www.increasebrainpower.com/affirmations.html
http://www.squidoo.com/positive-daily-affirmations/
http://www.mindpub.com/art220.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autosuggestion

Vitamin and Mineral Supplements and Eating: Believe it or not, a huge part of your depression could be due to this! You may need iron supplements, lack of which can be a major contributor to depression – you need a blood test to identify if you are anemic and a doctor recommendation of the exact dosage of iron supplements you should take – note that there are different kinds of anemia and that iron supplements can be seriously toxic if taken in excess so you must consult a doctor and be properly tested first. If you are advised to take iron supplements, take them in the morning. Whether or not you take iron, in the morning take a good multi-vitamin, 1,000 mg of omega 3/6/9 combo, a 500 to 750 mg. Vitamin C complex, a 1,500 mg B-vitamin complex and in the evening take a 1,500 mg calcium/magnensium supplement and another 500 mg of omega 3/6/9 combo and 500 to 750 mg of Vitamin C. Calcium/ magnesium and iron block each other from absorption which is why they need to be taken at different times. The omega complex helps in absorption of most vitamins. Vitamin C greatly increases iron absorption and helps with calcium also. Get good quality vitamins from a health food store rather than low quality drugstore brands (Nature’s Plus and Kal are good, Natrol Ester-C and Solray chewable B are both excellent – don’t skimp on the omega complex; get the expensive kind which is certified mercury free and which contains BOTH fish oils and plant extracts) – I myself prefer chewable or liquid vitamins as they are easier to take and generally absorb better. Let your doctor know all supplements you are taking or plan to take, ESPECIALLY if you also take an anti-depressent or other medication.

On eating, talk to your doctor but generally plenty of fresh fruits and vegetable, protein and dairy (or good dairy substitute) is a good idea. After the pregnancy (NOT during), you could try eating soy and flax products containing natural plant estrogen to help balance your hormones, but you should talk to your doctor before doing this.

Medication: There are so many risks to yourself and your child in taking commercial anti-depressants that I cannot recommend them – try everything else first before you go that route. Unfortunately, not enough research has been done to verify whether most natural anti-depressants are safe during and after pregnancy and some supplements like 5-HTP and ashwagandha should definitely be avoided by pregnant women. If nothing else works and you feel you must take an anti-depressant, talk to your doctor – if you want to go the natural route, SAM-e is probably the safest to try, but speak to your doctor first.

The good news is there is clinical evidence that light therapy is effective for pregnant women and that certain vitamin and mineral supplements are just as effective (and even more effective) than commercial medications such as zoloft, paxil and prozac in combating depression, including fish-based omega fatty acid, vitamin c, vitamin b complex and iron. See these links:
http://depression.about.com/od/pregnancy/a/lighttherapy.htm
http://health.yahoo.com/topic/depression/resources/article/healthwise/tn9778
http://www.pregnancylight.org/
http://www.columbia.edu/~mt12/blt.htm
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/432569
http://www.mercola.com/2002/may/4/light_therapy.htm
http://www.cumc.columbia.edu/dept/nyspi/sad/preg2.html
http://www.raysahelian.com/pregnancy.html
http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/188_15755.asp
http://depression.about.com/od/altmedsjw/f/sjwpregnancy.htm
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/50001.php
http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/epcsums/samesum.htm

Some other good general links:
http://www.med.umich.edu/depression/pregnancy.htm
http://www.babycenter.com/0_depression-during-pregnancy_9179.bc?Ad=com.bc.common.AdInfo%404730308
http://www.4women.gov/FAQ/postpartum.htm
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/postpartum_depression.htm

Lastly, don’t forget to laugh! Try and do something that makes you smile at least 3 or 4 times a day (or more)!

Hope this helps – and I hope I didn’t overwhelm you with TMI (too much information!)

Michelle answers:

The cramping could be a sign, I had it for the first 8 weeks I was pregnant. The doc says it is from your uterus expanding and contracting to make room for the baby, and it is very normal. I don’t know about the other things you described, that just sounds like normal body changes to me. But good luck! Hope this helps a little bit!

Michelle answers:

The good news is you can still be pregnant, the best way to tell is to buy a pregnancy test in your local drug store. Also if you have been trying for only one month then take a little more time. Most fertility clinics will only start seeing you after two years. Take some time and enjoy sex with your partner:)

Michelle answers:

If the discharge is in pink r brown color it might b implantation bleeding …
Better if u take preg test …….wait for few more days
all the best

Michelle answers:

Man does not make up the laws of nature but rather only discovers them based on observations. The Bible does not contain any authoritative words if you speak of “natural laws”. It is merely another book of compiled texts written by countless authors over countless centuries. They were written by people who had no apparent knowledge of the world they lived in apart from the people of their time. Even Jesus wasn’t considered to be a deity by all of Christianity until hundreds of years after his death at the council of Nicene which is where Christians get their Nicene Creed.

Yes, the word natural is often substituted for the word normal which is a relative term anyway. Natural is also defined as happening outside of the influence of man. Yes, man is also a part of nature and therefore technically anything we do is “natural” in that sense of the word but as with many words there are more than just one definition and use of the word.
When we refer to incest as “unnatural” it is because we have observed that producing offspring from close relatives increases the chance that negative recessive traits will be passed down through the generations. Of course if you and your close relatives were the only people left on Earth and you wanted to repopulate the planet, incest would be necessary for a while but as the population grew it would be a good idea to refrain from it whenever possible.

Without getting into the issue of gay rights, when it comes to sexuality, the only reason we can observe for having male and female sexes is for procreation. This is one of the reasons that marriage between a man and a woman is considered sacred in most religions. Two women cannot procreate and two men cannot procreate. This does not mean that they cannot (or should not) be attracted to each other or that homosexuality is not natural. Of course it is natural, as it happens in nature as you have suggested but with that argument, murder, torture, and stealing are completely natural.

Religion is often given way more relevance than it should. Religion is simply a belief system designed to answer questions that we do not really have the answers for… Sort of a speculation, if you will that unifies various individual beliefs. The problem is that everyone has their own beliefs, even within individual sects. If I believe something that you do not who’s to say which one is correct? This is why we have societies of same-minded people. We develop values, and laws based on those values to protect the societies and their citizens.
So when it comes down to it, we create laws because we have found through observation that certain things we may do may create undesirable consequences… Like not using your stove or oven to heat your home or not sitting in a improperly ventilated garage with a gasoline engine running.

This country has incorporated a bill of rights that are inalienable and deserved by all humans. You have the freedom to express your desires so long as they do not infringe on the rights of others. Unfortunately some of our laws have not caught up with our greater understanding of our world and universe.

Be careful when you use words with multiple definitions. Saying something so definite as, “EVERYTHING that occurs in the universe is a natural phenomenon by definition. An act can ONLY be unnatural if it is physically impossible.” is an error in logic and reasoning and ignores the fact there are several definitions of the word, “natural” especially for the people with whom you are attempting to create an argument. Try to avoid using extreme and definitive statements as they are usually not entirely correct and can be misconstrued. Sort of like if I were to say that I feel blue today and you say that I am wrong because blue is a color and colors are not able to be felt as emotions.

So to answer your question, “How can man dictate natural laws?” the answer would be, “By reading them.” because the word, “dictate” has several meanings. It can mean, “to lay down authoritatively” (as you apparently have used it) as well as, “to say or read aloud”.

Michelle answers:

I’m 15 weeks pregnant with twins.
I fell after releasing 2 eggs while taking clomid.
I knew I had 2 eggs that month because they scan your ovaries before they are released.
So I guess if you really wanted twins you could ask a fertility specialist about being prescribed clomid but be sure to have the ovary scans done as you DO NOT want to fall pregnant with 5 babies… Very risky for you and the babies.

Michelle answers:

Ok thinking way back in the days of my anatomy and phisiology classes here so bear with me…..
The fact that she was actually pregnant is a good sign (3 cheers to your sperm for making it!!) Which also means your sperm has the potential to fertilize an egg, even if assisted.
You didnt say how far along she is but misscarriage to me makes me assume that she was indeed pregnant. So basically your sperm did its job and its job is complete….most likely your sperm had nothing to do with a miscarriage since its only job is to fertilize and egg.
So without coming off like I am shifting fault here but once the egg was fertilized something wrong happened with your wife’s side of it.
What that is, could be many things and without knowing how far along she was I cant really help you narrow it down. But its a strong possibility it had something to do with hormone levels in your wife’s blood and insufficient amounts to maintain the pregnancy. Progesterone is often the culprit during the first trimester (3 months) as it is left up to the mother to be able to provide enough of this hormone to make sure the uterine lining is intact (so the placenta has something to hang on to). Usually after the first trimester the baby is out of the woods because the baby itself starts producing its own progesterone.
Anyway I remember this clearly when taking A and P because the professor spoke in depth about this. Why? Because he had went through the same thing….only thing is he has a persistent fellow and it was him who made the doctors realize this problem with his own wife. This is said to be one of the most common causes of miscarriage within the first 3 months.
So in combination with your low count and possibility of hormone problems with your wife is the reason you 2 never got pregnant the natual way. During you wife’s ovulating period she may not have had sufficient progesterone to allow a fertilized egg to implant.
Anyways long story short maybe its time to look at other possible problems other that low sperm count. If she gets pregnant again insist that her hormone levels are closely monitored especially for the first 3 months. Shots can be given to her so that she has the hormones needs to sustain a pregnancy.
Wish you the best!

Michelle answers:

I think it’s none of your business. Don’t like it? Don’t clone yourself.

EDIT: Body parts can be cloned without cloning entire bodies.

Michelle answers:

Thanks for the heads up i am 39weeks today and the only thing i am going to try is sex tonight b cuz i know it’s going to be awhile before i can do it again so i am going to please hubby and if he end up wanting to come out then that would be great i just don’t want to be induce again

Michelle answers:

I had an induction with my first, that resulted in a c-section. My second came along a year later, and I did go into labor, however, I didn’t progress at all after 24 hours of labor. However, we had already scheduled a c-section for the next day, anyway with my history. Not to scare you, or anything, I am sure you will do just fine. Your body does know what to do, just sometimes you have to give it a little extra time.

Michelle answers:

Having worked in OB for 12 years, I’m quite familiar with birth plans. I will say this: the parents that bring one in that’s a standard template from a website, where they’ve simply checked off a box or filled in a blank usually end up with an epidural, augmentation of labor with pitocin, delivering on her back, legs in stirrups/calf supports, and an episiotomy. Or a c-section for failure to progress.
We (the staff) generally know these people have heard about “getting a birth plan” as the thing to do, so they jump on the internet, google birth plans and print off something that still has “enema” and “perineal shave” on it as routine things to decline. They have no intention of wanting and working towards a natural birth and we know it. While we would never say anything negative to them, it’s apparent they’re just following a trend.

Now, the mom that has educated and empowered herself on what is routinely done and what she does and doesn’t want and comes in with a custom birth plan she and her hubby/partner have written has a great chance of the birth she envisions. These moms usually have a doula and ask for the birth ball and the labor tub to be set up in their room upon arrival. These are the patients I love to work with. They know what they are capable of and will work to get it done.

You sound like you are making an informed decision about your labor and your baby’s birth and I hope that you have a nurse who will not only honor your decisions, but work with you in attaining your goal of a drug-free birth. You might look into getting a doula to assist you in labor and be an advocate for you in the unfortunate case you get a nurse that is less than supportive. Best wishes!

Michelle answers:

Spermies and orgasms.

Michelle answers:

I cant even begin to imagine what you’re going through. Please dont blame yourself for what’s happening, mother nature can be really cruel at times. Do you have children already? If not, then something really needs to be done as you cant keep going the way things are. Hope you dont mind me asking , but how old are you? I would ask to been seen by your local gynaecology unit to see if there is a reason why your body keeps rejecting the pregnancies. Just keep pushing the doctors, as somethimes with these kind of things they give the impression that they cant be bothered and they’ll keep telling you ” it’ll happen in it’s own time”. Good luck, i’m keeping my fingers crossed for you that you get good results

Michelle answers:

Pupps doesnt just go away the only way for it to go away is to deliver the baby so if you stop what ever treatment you are using to keep it at bay it will come back and be just as bad as it was before

Michelle answers:

Heath reform is supposed to be about moving forward, not backwards.

I have already said to you before that acai does not prevent disease. If I am wrong please post your published peer reviewed clinical data showing so.

Your question sounds more like an advert then anything else.

Edit:
Red raspberry leaves and drug companies – I posted this at your other question, I managed to find one study:

“Red raspberry tea is still commonly recommended for pregnant women. However, while there is weak preliminary evidence from animal studies that raspberry might have an effect on the uterus,1 the only real clinical study trial reported to date found no benefit.2 This double-blind placebo-controlled study evaluated the effects of red raspberry in 192 pregnant women. Treatment (placebo or 2.4 g of raspberry leaf daily) began at the 32nd week of pregnancy and was continued until the onset of labor. The results failed to show any statistically meaningful differences between the group. Red raspberry did not significantly shorten labor, reduce pain, or prevent complications. Thus, at present, it appears that red raspberry does not work in the manner ascribed to it by tradition.”
http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetConten…

If there is money to be made of something like raspberry leaves then the drug companies will certainly be interested – they would be keen to identify the active chemical then put it through the normal processes to produce a safe consistent drug.

Michelle answers:

You’re gonna want to buy a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. After that you’re going to want to buy a hair serum like bio silk or something similar. Any type of oil that should control frizziness and enhance shine. Apply 2 dime sizes in your hair and pay special attention to your ends and be careful with your roots because you do not want to make your hair heavy and oily with it. You also may want to buy a type of treatment such as hot oil, Castor oil, or avocado.

You could also buy some Jojoba Oil. It’s a little pricey but its an amazing product. I usually add 5 drops of it into my conditioner and shampoo. Just shake it up real quick and it should take care of your dandruff and itchy scalp.

I’ve heard of people adding mayo to their hair to make it really soft and shiny. I’ve never done it but I think it works.

Hope this helps!

Michelle answers:

As long as your cycles are regular and there is no other problems than there is no difference in the success rates between medicated and non-medicated FET’s. My RE does do medicated cycle with estradiol and progesterone. I have only done fresh cycles but I do have a friend who goes to my clinic who got a BFP doing a medicated cycle and I’m putting money on twins!

Gosh, if it were me, I would probably do a medicated cycle just for that extra support. You want your lining to be nice an snuggly and keep it that way after your transfer. One way to be certain of that is to do a medicated cycle. On the other hand, if you experience bad side effects or have a hard time with the progesterone you may go for the natural cycle to diminish some of the stress.

You can get lots more information on FET’s from other women with experience at fertilethoughts.com or ivfconnections.com. Each site has a section specifically for FET’s. I have gotten a tremendous amount of support from both!

Good luck to you!

Michelle answers:

Not a personal story – but I went through IVF in December / January (I am 34 and DH is 36 suffering from unexplained infertility). To prepare, I joined a women’s support group for infertility. It was sponsered by our IVF center. There were two women in my group who are over 40 and both had successful cycles.

One is 41, had a tubal reversal so that she could try to have a baby with her 2nd (new) husband. She was able to use her own eggs and is currently about 3 months pregnant with twins. The other is 43, ended up using a donor egg with her husband’s sperm (due to low ovarian reserve) and is about 6 months pregnant with a girl.

Hope that this gives you a bit of hope – don’t give up!

Michelle answers:

Do twins run it your family at all? I know that’s a good way otherwise I think there are some pills out there that make you have more eggs or something. Good luck twins are awesome I have twin sister in laws which means that I could very well be having twins myself one day! =D

Michelle answers:

I have just had my 2nd cycle of ivf/icsi produce a bfp, i am so excited and shocked and am still in disbelief, i to had a male factor problem, very low count, motility, etc, but the great news with icsi is you only need 1 good sperm and i am proof of that.

I tried not to let ttc take over my life, but i have to admit when you start ivf it will, but i would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

There are blood tests, injections and ultrasounds.over a couple weeks but how your doctor will start your treatment will differ from patient to patient.

Well i had a 60% chance of success and thats because there was nothing wrong with me so you to could be the same.

I looked at this way i had a better chance of it working then it not.

When my 1st cycle failed i was devasted and almost gave up, i am so glad i went ahead for one more.

I wish you lots and lots of luck in to getting that bfp you will.
It just takes a little longer for some of us and a little intervention to

Michelle answers:

I had PUPPPS when pregnant with my twins and to be perfectly honest, nothing worked all that well . . . True relief occurs about 10 – 14 days after you have the baby and the rash goes away.

If you ask your doctor, they can prescribe something stronger than over-the-counter hydrocorizone cream.

Taking a warm / cool bath with Aveeno oatmeal bath helps a bit, I found a cool damp towel over my abdomen, the worst of the rash to also help if I was just hanging out on the couch or in bed.

Congrats and best wishes!

Michelle answers:

I suffered from irregular periods as well and I started taking Vitex in November. Since then, I have been getting my period every month. I am glad because my cycles were every 45-50 days which was hard for me to pin point when or if I ovulated. Hopefully, I become pregnant soon for I am in my early 30’s. I hope that you are pregnant and if you are not, keep praying and keep trying. I also drink red raspberry leaf tea (herbal). I read that drinking red raspberry tea will strengthen your uterus.

Michelle answers:

You have to remember ‘everyone’ meaning a group of women told you their experience. Which I am beginning to learn that women have a variety of experiences while pregnant.

Such as, I myself also fall to acid indigestion frequently and I’m 8 wks. Milk kinda helps me but I swear just the slowed digestion is a big to do with it. I coat my tummy with ginger snaps and milk. And on a bad day in the end I cave and take tums. Works after 2.

Your digestion is slowed to allow for maximum absorption of nutrients for baby. My doc gave me a list of pre approved medications in fact I’ll give you the whole list. But of course feel free to check with doc and they are:

Heartburn: Maalox, Tums (work for me), and over the counter anatacids.

Constipation: Surfak and Colace. Colace is pricy. I found the grocery brand with the exact same active ingredients works and it was 1/2 the cost.

Diarreah; Pepto, Kaopectate, imodium (though most women agree just to stay hydrated as 1 pill can make you sooo constipated again you’ll wish you hadn’t.)

Colds: Dimetapp, acifed, sudafed

Cough: Cepacol and Robitussin

Headache: NO ASPRIN. Tylenol is only one. Warm towel, cool towel over eyes, or neck massage helps.

Michelle answers:

Drink some ginger tea it helps with you throat and it takes away nauseousness also or hot water with lemon and a drop of honey, rub some vapor rub lay down make yourself comfy and warm and sleep it off.

Hope you feel better

Michelle answers:

Tums

Michelle answers:

Goonhilda:
just did a little “research” myself. I googled “marijuana pregnancy” and came up with the following query page.

Http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=marijuana+pregnancy

noticed you copied & pasted the second available link. It quotes absolutely 0 sources. And contains such intelligent sentences (?) as “Pregnancy. Marijuana. Bad.”

http://www.estronaut.com/a/pregnancy_with_marijuana.htm

the third available link however, quotes a good 39 sources, and suprise suprise, the final sentence of the VERY long and well-written, well educated and non-sensationalist article says “the weight of current scientific evidence suggests that marijuana does not directly harm the human fetus.”

don’t believe me, see for yourself:
http://www.mothering.com/articles/pregnancy_birth/birth_preparation/marijuana-side4.html

i might have maybe taken your big old long tirade seriously if you had some good sources to back you up…

But anyways.

YES I feel marijuana should be reclassified as an “herbal supplement” just like St Johns Wort, Red Raspberry leaf, black & blue cohosh, etc etc. All of these are “safe” when used properly, and like any “pharmaceutical” have the potential to be dangerous if used incorrectly or if over-used.

Too many folks have indeed fallen prey to the reefer madness mentality… But only proper education of the use of these herbs will make people realise that this silly modern-day Prohibition is a scam to make money off of a natural substance & the people who use it. But no one wants to bother educating themselves, especially not when someone else “more informed” is happy to do that thinking for them and say “NO that’s bad, here take this pill instead.”

As for its use during pregnancy. I found small doses to be incredibly theraputic for 2 pregnancies thus far. One resulted in a full-term birth of a perfectly healthy baby boy (7 lbs 15 oz, 19 inches so low birthweight my a$$), the other is yet a work in progress. And NO I am not at all concerned that there is any inherent “danger” to this use of marijuana for morning sickness.

I am however, terrified to put any pharmaceutical concoctions in my body and my baby’s body. These things have only been around for a few decades at best, and they are still “working out the glitches” so to speak. Personally I don’t want to be the guinea pig, the one they go “whoops!! RECALL!!” on… AFTER the damage has been done and my baby nearly died or whatever, like Goon.. Mentioned.

Seems perfectly reasonable to appropriately use an herb that grows from the earth, and has been safely used for Centuries (not decades) for morning sickness, nausea, headaches, pain in general, etc etc.

I don’t trust pharmacy.

I do trust nature.

Obviously alot of people have things a little differently than I do, but I feel with better self-education people’s mentality might possibly just maybe *shift*…

{people, educate yourselves!!}

Michelle answers:

When do you have an ultrasound? I have a feeling you might be having twins! My cousin had 2 pregnancies where she had some morning sickness but it was bearable. Then they tried for one more, and this pregnancy from the start was horrible! She had to force herself out of bed, since she had 2 daughters to look after, but the moment her husband got home she would have to go back to bed and would cry because she felt so bad. At 10 weeks her doctor sent her for an ultrasound just to make sure that everything was okay since she was always so sick and turns out it was twins!

It could be twins or your hormone levels are really high for some reason causing the illness.

Michelle answers:

Try getting these books:

The Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Years by Susan Weed

And

Nourishing Traditions by ???(can’t remember)

Sorry I don’t have a direct answer but these are book I too have been referred to and am awaiting their arrival!

Good luck I hope you feel better.