Your Questions About Natural Pregnancy Remedies

Posted on March 30, 2011 by Michelle

Helen asks…

what’s the best natural remedy to fade off dark spots on face or pigmentation after pregnancy? help please.?

Michelle answers:

You can try applying lemon juice twice a day on your face, rinse it and then moisturize. It will lighten your cloasma to some degree, but I doubt it will remove it completely. You’ll probably need something stronger than that, a lightening cream with arbutin, kojic acid, citric acid, licorice extract etc. Avoid hydroquinone. Even with these creams it will take several month to see proper results, so you have to be persistent! And, most importantly, you MUST use a very high spf sunblock every day and avoid sun as much as possible. If you go into the sun unprotected or for a long period of time, all your efforts will be in vain. Good luck!

Sharon asks…

is it posible to reduce 40cms sized tummy left due to pregnancy to go flat? if so what to do?

is it posible to reduce 40cms sized tummy left due to pregnancy to go flat? if so what to do? i don want to undergo abdominoplasty or liposection or lytectomy or any other surgery! i want natural remedy!

Michelle answers:

Eat less. Exercise more.

David asks…

How can you get rid of the pregnancy mask or melasma?

i’m 15 weeks and I’m also African American and my face and neck have darkened 5 shades darker……it’s pretty black …like the color of black tar…….are there any natural remedies for this??…..

Michelle answers:

.from personal experience it should go away when the baby is born. So stock up on those turtlenecks.

George asks…

Does anyone know any remedies for hair loss?

I suffer from heriditary hair loss. I had been using rogaine which was actually going well but now I am pregnant and can no longer use it. My new hair is almost all gone and I’m getting very anxious. Does anyone know any kind of natural or herbal remedies I can use until after my pregnancy?

Michelle answers:

I have had very good results using Nioxin . Get the shampoo, scalp conditioner, and foam. I use it everyday (for almost 2yrs} and it has helped my hereditary hair thinning. I am no longer trying to cover scalp showing! I have heard you need to continue to use it or the effects won’t continue but it is just part of a usual routine so that’s not difficult. It is not inexpensive, but not crazy expensive either. It is fairly available at salons or your hairdresser can get it. {I think I even saw it at the Walmart beauty salon in passing} I got mine as a gift and I am grateful everyday. Good Luck with your hair and the pregnancy.

Your Questions About Natural Remedies Pregnancy Nausea

Posted on March 29, 2011 by Michelle

Robert asks…

What are some foods/drinks/techniques to help combat nausea in early pregnancy?

My wife’s stomach is constantly gurgling and she has a lot of acid. I’m not so sure eating a ton of TUMS is the best thing for a pregnant woman. Any natural remedies?

Michelle answers:

Crackers, ginger that has not been processed (ginger chews, ginger tea, or ginger ale), sea bands, lots of water…

Another thing – check to see when she is getting nauseous. If she seems to get ill feeling about 2 hours after a meal and/or first thing in the morning, she is probably letting her blood sugar get too low between meals and should have small protein-rich snacks throughout the day to keep her sugars up a scoop of peanut butter, bananas, trail mix, etc..).

To keep her from having MORNING sickness, have her eat a hard-boiled egg or banana before bed and then, on waking, peanut butter on toast with a cup of ginger tea.

If she is eating greasy foods, or consuming lots of caffeine – this too can cause nausea.

Good luck, it will soon pass, hang in there you two. :o)

Charles asks…

signs of early pregnancy!!! taken from the net! a good list!!?

I am overdue for my period and experiencing cramping, headaches, pimples, fatigue, gas, going to the toilet more often and many other symptoms, Yet i am unsure whether i am just due for my period or could i be pregnant.. I am only at the 4-5 wk mark so have no real clue as yet! I came across the list below on the net! Thought this might answer a few Q’s in regards to the symptoms and the ppe who ask could they actually be pregnant or not this month!

You may start noticing pregnancy symptoms and/or be able to detect pregnancy after implantation, which occurs from around 7-10 days post ovulation. If you have conceived, the embryo starts to produce hCG after implantation and not before, so it is not possible to detect pregnancy or have pregnancy symptoms before this time. So the longer you wait to test after ovulation, the more accurate the result will be and the darker the potential positive test line may be. Pregnancy testing should ideally be done from the day your period would have been due.

What Pregnancy Symptoms Might I Experience?
Below is a list of pregnancy symptoms which you may find signal pregnancy for your own body. Remember, every woman and every pregnancy is different, so there’s no need to panic if you don’t have all of the listed pregnancy symptoms. I had absolutely no noticable symptoms (apart from not having a period) with my second pregnancy until 11 weeks.

High BBT (Basal Body Temperature)
If you regularly chart your cycle and take your temperatures, you will notice that your BBT will remain high throughout your luteal phase. Progesterone causes your BBT to rise upon ovulation and stay elevated should you be pregnant. If you are not pregnant, your BBT will drop right down and you’ll get your period as normal.

Missed / No Period
One of the first pregnancy symptoms you may notice is that your period does not arrive. While this symptom is one we most commonly associate with pregnancy, there may be other reasons why a period hasn’t arrived, for example high levels of stress, major illness or surgery. On the other hand, it’s possible to continue to have your periods during pregnancy. Some women may bleed for just a few months or even their whole pregnancy. (See our topic on Bleeding in Pregnancy for more information).

Morning Sickness
Another well known pregnancy symptom is morning sickness. Don’t let it’s name fool you – morning sickness can pay you a visit any time of day, so make sure you eat enough and avoid letting your blood sugar levels drop. Ginger is a great natural remedy for nausea so it’s worth a try, although some women find that nothing seems to help their morning sickness, which normally hangs around for the first trimester before getting better or if you are unlucky, the second trimester or even whole pregnancy. (See our topic on Common Pregnancy Ailments for more information).

Breast Changes
From very early on in pregnancy a symptom you may notice is changes in your breasts, including:

•Nipples may be tender and sensitive – some women describe their nipples to be irritatingly sensitive!
•Breast may be sore and / or lumpy
•Nipples may deepen in colour
•Veins may become more noticeable and enlarged in the breast area
•Areolas may darken (circles around your nipples)
•The little ‘bumps’ on your areolas (Montgomery’s Tubercles) may increase and / or enlargen
Increased Cervical Mucus
A surge in progesterone often results in a surge of creamy cervical mucus production. Some women may notice a little, and some notice much more.

Fatigue
When you first become pregnant, your metabolism steps up a few gears in order to support your developing baby as well as your own body, which creates one big workload! You may become so immensely tired that you feel that you need to sleep more than usual. Not only that, but the hormone progesterone which is required in high levels during pregnancy has a sedating effect. No wonder you feel so very tired! If you need to rest or sleep, don’t fight your body – it needs it!

Frequent Urination
As soon as a week after conception, you may notice yourself dashing off to the toilet more often, only to find that you’re urinating small amounts! This happens because the embryo starts to secrete the pregnancy hormone hCG, which signals for the blood supply to increase in the pelvic area. This results in the bladder becoming irritable and it passes even small amounts of urine. You may find you will wake in the night to urinate more often than usual.

Cramping
This symptom of early pregnancy can also be an unnerving one for parents-to-be, as often there is a fear of miscarriage. However even when not pregnant, your uterus is continually contracting. When pregnant, the foetus grows and pushes against the walls of your uterus, which causes it to contract – this is very normal.

If the cramping is accompanied by bleeding, see your doctor who can assess the situation to see if you may be having a miscarriage. However do n
i took a home pregnancy test a couple days ago but did it in the arvo.. showed neg… i think i will go to the drs this week if i keep feeling like i am
I guess my Main symptoms atm, are i
– have cramping, tonight its been constantly ever since i got home from work..
– i am going to the toilet to urinate More often!
– i am getting pimples
– more tired
– hot flushes
– cranky
– gone off smell of coffee and often feel ill after drinking it
think this is about it! still thinking could it all be in my head or is my period around the corner.. am doubtful as the test i did here turned out neg!

Michelle answers:

With my first pregnancy, somehow I “knew” I was pregnant. I felt fuller in my pelvic region (it was not like my stomach was full or anything), but I had only a handful of other symptoms. Going to the bathroom often is one, but it is a bit misleading – its sometimes not such a huge ‘urge’ to go like they describe in books. My basal temperature was higher, but you have to use a Basal thermometer to see it (and you need to have taken your temperature daily before getting pregs too so you can compare).
With my second, I had major fatigue right away, but no ‘feeling’ or anything. I found out I was pregnant a few days after being extremely tired (like falling asleep during dinner tired!).
Take a test – you are past your period due date, so you should get a very accurate reading.

John asks…

Nausea, low energy? can you help?

hello everyone,
for the past 2 months, i have been having a lots of trouble with my stomach. i have been to the doctor, did blood test, ultrasound, even did a pregnancy test, they all came back negatif! i am really desperate, as i still have the nausea everyday, all day long! and my stomach hurts as well, i feel low in energy, i don’t know what I have and its really scaring me now!
Has anyone had something similar?
can you recommand any natural remedy to stop the nausea?

Im 27
female
don’t smoke
don’t drink

thank you all!

Michelle answers:

I once had a similar problem. After getting all kinds of tests, it looked like I was just crazy. I finally went to see a naturopath ( a really good one) and It turned out to be a food intolerance ( for me, it was eggs). I remember she sent me to the hospital with a kit, where I had blood drawn, and then it was sent to a lab and analyzed. When the results came back, eggs were off the chart. As soon as I stopped eating eggs, it went away. Also, it could be anxiety. Are you under a lot of stress? Did you break up with your boyfriend or lose your job? Any type of change, even if it is good, can cause stress. It could be a combination of things. Maybe something (like a chemical) in your environment or food is making you nauseous. Has anything changed in your home or life? Do have new carpets or have you just recently painted the walls? Good Luck – If you know of an excellent naturopath, you have nothing to lose by paying them a visit.

Daniel asks…

The best deal for End Morning Sickness Ebook?

I have searched all over the internet for the absolute best offer.
So far the best I found was at http://moveto.ws/dmhaq91lh
Anyone know of a better deal?

I have searched:

End Morning Sickness Ebook
http://moveto.ws/dmhaq91lh

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Michelle answers:

There is a better deal!
Http://www.MyMorningSickness.com/e-book.html

Your Questions About Natural Pregnancy Products

Posted on March 28, 2011 by Michelle

Sandra asks…

Natural Calm Magnesium Powder Supplement safe during pregnancy?

I just purchased Peter Gillham’s “Natural Calm” dietary supplement to take during my pregnancy. I’m 6 weeks pregnant. I read on their website that it’s safe to take during pregnancy, however I’ve read other comments that said check with your doctor as this product ‘could’ cause loose bowls and in tern, cause premature labor. I just took the recommended dosage and now I’m a little concerned that this may in fact be harmful?

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated!

Michelle answers:

Let’s say it is doubtful you have done any damage from one dose! It is a product I have tried, though I was not pregnant at the time! When you are pregnant, you ALWAYS check with your doctor before trying something out of the ordinary, ALWAYS! You do not go by what labels or the Internet or websites tell you…anyone (even I!) can give wrong advice, and labels can also be wrong. Check with your doctor, but in the meantime, don’t worry about that small amount of it, the stress you are feeling is bad for the baby!

Sharon asks…

Besides the obvious of healthy eating, is there anything that aid in pregnancy?

I’ve had a few complications already, cramping & spotting, but we saw the baby yesterday & were told everything looks good. Have to rest for a few days & no lifting.

I know lots of protein & green vegetables are good for the baby, but I’m wondering if there are any natural products that will help us AVOID a miscarriage? We’ve been trying for this baby for so long, I’m so scared we’re going to lose him/her.

Michelle answers:

Unfortunately, there are no foods you can eat to avoid a miscarriage. In my opinion, the hardest part of being pregnant is the constant worrying, which is unfortunately unavoidable, because you’re growing a tiny family member inside of you, and you have no way of knowing or checking if everyone is okay or not. Plus, pretty much every symptom that can mean that your baby is fine can also mean that your baby is in trouble–so google is pretty much useless.

I know it’s scary, but hang in there-if you saw the baby, then everything should be fine!

Betty asks…

Are Lush bath products safe to use in pregnancy?

My other half gave me a Lish gift set for Christmas but I’m not sure on whether they are safe to use in pregnancy as they’re made with all natural ingredients including essential oils.

I’ve tried calling them but they’re closed. I was planning a bath tonight with this ballistic tonight:
https://www.lush.co.uk/products/bath/bath-ballistics/satsumo-santa_812.html

Has anyone used it or any other Lush products in pregnancy, or does anyone know that they’re safe? It contains citrus and bergamot oil.

Michelle answers:

Baths are find but i know that essential oils are not.
Many people have told me so, books and my esthetic girl.

Maria asks…

Natural way to minimize pores?

From pregnancy my skin stretched and the pores are now so big, and I was wondering…are there any natural products that minimize pores well?
The skin on my chest btw…thanks!

Michelle answers:

Witch hazel is very good

http://en.mimi.hu/beauty/witch_hazel.html
If used properly – it doesn’t harm your skin…nor does it dry it out or make it go darker

Your Questions About Natural Infertility Treatments

Posted on March 27, 2011 by Michelle

Nancy asks…

ebook on infertility?

We are trying to conceive but without any success even after more than of eight year of marriage. We have consulted doctors several times and apparently there have been no medical reason for this. I am looking for information on infertility. There is lot of information available which is actualy confusing for me. I want detailed information regarding infertility in easy manner at one place i.e ebook etc. Is there any ebook available providing detailed and easy nformation on infertility, its causes, treatment mediacally and naturally? I am paricularly interested in knowing which food items and other natural things may be helpful for improvement of sexual health.

Michelle answers:

Hi vtr,
I actually just answered a similar question for someone else, and mentioned the fact that certain foods and medicines are to be avoided when trying to conceive. So you are on the right track. You may have heard of Lisa Olson’s book, but if not, I suggest you pick it up. I recommend it to my patients who are having trouble conceiving, and I can tell you that 9 out of 10 times, your infertility is a symptom of dietary and lifestyle habits, period. You can find Lisa’s book at the link below. It is a #1 bestseller, so it may be sold out. If so, try and find a used copy online. However, Lisa offers a 2 month money back guarantee, so it’s better to try and get it from her website. This should provide you with the information you are looking for.
Http://www.fertility-foundation.org

Linda asks…

Trying to conceive for 2 years…..?

Hey Ladies! (and Men 🙂

My fiance and I have been trying to get pregnant since we got engaged. I’ve done quite a bit of research on it over time and I’m clueless as to what could be the problem.
Here’s a little background on us:
I had a rough childhood and was very irregular up until a few months ago. Doctors took ultrasounds and put me on birth control to solve it. Nothing explained it. It wasn’t until I stopped taking birth control for a few months that I recently became regular.
My fiance took Ridlin for about 6 years for his ADHD when he was a young boy (which studies are now proving that it is causing infertility in men who took the drug for several years).

At one point I thought that I could have what’s called Premature Ovarian Failure. I had all of the symptoms. But since I’ve become regular, I think this scenario is unlikely (although not impossible because it has only been a few months that I’ve been regular).

I’ve had plenty of anxious days when I thought I was pregnant, but has obviously not happened yet.

After reading up on some natural supplements, my fiance now takes Maca pills. He’s been taking them for 2 months with no success.

I think at this point in time I should turn to a doctor for professional help. I think I’m just scared to begin the long process of infertility treatments and non-stop testing. I want to exhaust all of my resources before I do so. So, with that said…..any suggestions or advice?
Also, I want to point out that my fiance takes steaming hot showers. I’ve heard that this can cause infertility in men?
My fiance and I had a long discussion about this again last night. WHat I’m most frustrated with is that I feel that if I turn to the doctor to test me and figure out what’s wrong….in order for him to do that, he is most likely going to make me do simple tests. Such as BBT to see if I’m ovulating and perhaps taking supplements like maca or clomid. My problem is that I would feel like we’re wasting more time because I’ve already done this on my own.
Since I’ve done these already – will the doctor have me re-do them, or do you think we can move past that and speed up the process?

Michelle answers:

Yes, hot showers and sperm don’t mix. It basically kills them.
I would suggest having a sperm analysis done on him and having your E2 and FSH levels tested on yourself.
The E2 and FSH should only be done on cycle day 3 to get accurate readings.
Maca is also great for women. It balances your estrogen and progesterone levels.

Lizzie asks…

dream that has to do with infertility?

Hello! I am a Pisces with my chart literally half water/air, in case that means anything to anybody.
I have been tring to get pregnant the natural way for about 10 years+ to no avail. I recently spoke to my Gyno about this and have been diagnosed PCOS. I’ve been introduced to Metformin and Clomid to get me pregnant but hav not yet started treatment.
I had 4 dreams last night, 3 bad and one good:
!st: My bf was cheating on me with an ugly woman.
2nd: I was involved in a McDonalds shootout lol but was not injured.
3rd: (The sister of my ex who i used to live with had infertility problems and overcame it and now had 3 kids from meds) She had a newborn in the dream with her.
4th: I have a 1 year old German Shepherd. In the dream she was about 5 months old and the outside of her abdomen (reproductive area) was bleeding with chunks falling off and looked like she was about to die! : (

Is this a good or bad sign about my own infertility? I usually have prophetic dreams and rely on them all my life. Any opinions are appreciated! Thanks

Michelle answers:

Well if you know you already have PCOS then you know it will be slightly more difficult for you to become pregnant. The dreams are just reflections of your thoughts, now and in the past, and it sounds like you have a great imagination. Good luck with TTC.

Daniel asks…

Prometrium, Ovulation, and BBT?

My husband and I have just started infertility treatment. once I get my next period, I’m supposed to call and schedule my HSG. Unfortunately, this cycle I had bleeding and/or spotting for 18 days. My doc put me on Prometrium to stop the bleeding so I would know when my actual period started next time.

I generally chart my temperatures, but didn’t do so this cycle. When I have long periods like that, I don’t tend to ovulate, so I decided to not worry about it. Well, out of curiosity, I checked my CP yesterday (day two of the Prometrium) and was very surprised to find it HSO, and that I also had a lot of EWCM. I didn’t think I would ovulate on the Prometrium since it is supposed to mimic the second phase of the cycle…I thought my hormones would be “off”.

So, to humor myself, I took my temperature this morning. Since it’s only the second temp I’ve taken this cycle, I know it can’t tell me much, but after 4 years of off and on charting I know what a post ovulation and a pre ovulation temperature looks like for me–it was 98.2, a post ovulation temp. Could I have actually o’d yesterday while on the Prometrium, or could the Prometrium have been the cause of my high temp? Is there any harm in ovulating while on Prometrium? We bd’d the day before and the day of my fertile cp and cm, so now I’ve gotten myself hopeful that MAYBE this time it worked….ugh.

I guess my other concern is that if I did ovulate and I stop the Prometrium in a week like I’m supposed to, could it negatively affect my progesterone levels? Like if we did conceive, the drop in progesterone could cause a chemical or miscarriage. Or should my natural progesterone (hopefully) be enough to sustain it regardless of the fact that I was taking 400mg orally?

Sorry for all the questions–I hope this makes sense!
The Prometrium (not Provera) was prescribed because after a couple of days it will stop the bleeding (and it did) and then within a few days of stopping the meds, it will cause my period to start in the form of withdrawal bleeding. I am taking 200mg/2x a day.

My abbreviations are HSO (high, soft, open cervix–the most fertile) and EWCM (eggwhite cervical mucus, the most fertile). I’ve read a little about the possibility of Prometrium causing ovulation within a couple of days of starting it, but it doesn’t seem very common. I guess all I can do is wait and see what happens when I stop it, whether my period (af) starts or not.

Thanks for the input.

Michelle answers:

Prometrium is a synthetic form of progesterone. Its generally prescribed for women who either didnt have a period in the form of Provera (take 1 pill a day, for 10 days, stop it, and then within 3 days you should start bleeding) or, women who are thought to have a progesterone defect (not enough to support pregnancy) which can result in a luteal phase defect and cause miscarriage.

Im surprised your dr. Gave it to you to stop the bleeding.

I cant disect your abbreviations, but your temp. Will slightly increase while taking prometrium, as it would had your body increased its own progesterone level naturally, as the increased progesterone (natural) indicates ovulation, which triggers your bodies temp. To become slightly elevated (about 3-5 degree points).

The trick w/ prometrium is that, if you are trying to see if you ovulated, you cant be on prometrium and get blood tested to see if you ovulated because naturally during your cycle, when your body produces an LH surge, its caused by an increase in progesterone. And by taking a progesterone therapy regime like prometrium, it increases the progesterone count they are looking for to see if you ovulated or not.

Generally before ovulation your progesterone is less than 3. After, any thing over 3 indicates you ovulated. When you get bloodwork to see if you ovulated, they are checking your progesterone level. By taking prometrium, it is increasing your number above 3 on its own, and so you will get told you ovulated even if you didnt, but the prometrium is giving a false reading.

Natural things occur when you ovulate: increased basal temp. Being one. So, any ovulation testers or labwork will show you ovulated even if you really didnt for reasons stated above.

Prometrium or progesterone helps prepare a thick lining of your uterus in case you got pregnant, the baby had a rich, thick lining to implant inside.

Your cycle goes kind of like this… You have a natural baseline temp., estrogen increases until you get an LH surge, mid cycle, which also causes your basal to increase by 3 points for 3+ days. Progesterone increases then begins to decrease. When it decreases, your basal will drop (generally the day of or before you get your period). The decrease in progesterone causes your body to trigger and release the lining of your uterus (IE: you have a period). If you are pregnant, your basal will remain elevated throughout your pregnancy until you give birth.

The prometrium is prescribed generally as 100 mg or 200 mg initially and you are told to take it from either day 16 of your cycle or when you miss a period, in case you are pregnant.

I dont know the reasons your dr. Prescribed it in this fashion, I would talk to him/her about it and how it works etc. But that is how its generally given and why.

If you have a progesterone deficency and are pregnant, stopping progesterone therapy can result in miscarriage. If you dont have a progesterone problem, but are on a therapy, it can cause similar because it drastically reduces your bodies progesterone level which can trigger your body to release the lining, which causes miscarriage.

You only need progesterone therapy until around week 12-16 of the pregnancy, when the baby doesnt need the suppliment and is pretty much independant. But, consult your dr. For specific risks.

Hope this helped some.

Your Questions About Natural Pregnancy Nutrition

Posted on March 26, 2011 by Michelle

Mark asks…

please help me with gramer and spelling in details….10 pts?

1. In your own words, what did you learn about cardiovascular exercise? (Write at least 5 sentences.)

A) Cardiovascular exercise is all kinds of exercises that make you use all of your big muscles. It also makes your lungs and heart stronger and healthier. A lot of people like it because you can loose lots of weight and it also has a lot of health benefits.

2. 2. What are two basic nutrition concepts that you learned in this course? Please describe them in detail.

A) Two basic nutrition concepts that I learned in this course would be that fats are in all kinds of food. If you were to eat a lot of fatty foods then it can cause lots of damage to your body. Sometimes fat could be good and bad. Protein is very important for your body. There are lots of food that have protein in them like meat, fish and eggs, but it’s also not good to eat a lot of it because leads to excessive acid production.

3. 3. Why is it important to properly warm-up before exercising and cool down after exercising? (Write at least 4 sentences.)

A) Its really important to properly warm-up before exercising, and cool down after exercising because if you don’t you can get serious injuries, you can also prevent bone and joint diseases when you get older. You can also become more flexible by doing stretching all the time.

4. How can strength training improve your physical level of fitness?

A) Strength training can improve your physical level of fitness by increasing your muscle mass and will help your body better achieve the same exercise the next time you do it. When you increase resistance with heavier weights, this stimulates the body to build more myofibrils. In this way you work with your body’s natural healing ability to achieve greater muscle mass and strength.

5. In general, why do you think it is beneficial for a person to be physically fit?

A) It is beneficial for a person to be physically fit because it helps your body inside and out. It’s just a really good way to keep healthy.

6. Did you find it interesting to learn about sports injuries and first aid? What was the most practical thing that you learned about them?

A) I really didn’t care for the sports injury and first aid. I learned that no matter what sport you partake in you should always have some kind of protection on.

7. Did you learn enough about stretching and flexibility to incorporate that into your own personal exercise regimen? If not, what more could you have learned that would be helpful?

A) Yes I thought I learned a lot from the stretching and flexibility to incorporate that into your own personal exercise regimen. I really am going to use many of the stretching techniques.

8. How can cardiovascular exercise improve your health?

A) Cardiovascular exercise improves your health by increasing your energy, help you live longer, and reduce the risk of some cancers.

9. Do you understand the importance of cardiovascular health to a person’s overall health and functional abilities? Do you think most people in your community also understand the importance of having a healthy cardiovascular system? What cardiovascular exercises do you see people in your community performing in order to stay healthy?

A) Yes I really do understand the importance of cardiovascular health to a person’s overall health and functional abilities, but I don’t think that people in my community also understand the importance of having a healthy cardiovascular system. Some exercise that I see being done in my newborn hood is yoga, soccer, swimming, and even tennis.

10. Do you think the lesson on pregnancy fitness and exercise was helpful to learn? Why or why not? Pretend that you have a pregnant friend who asks you for advice on how to exercise during her pregnancy. What advice would you give her about what she can do? (Please be specific.)

A) Yes I thought this lesson on pregnancy fitness and exercise was helpful to learn because I can take it and use it when I get pregnant and I can even help a friend. If my friend where to ask me about the benefits of exercising, I would tell her that it helps the baby become healthier and it even helps you become slimmer when your baby is born.

11. What ideas do you have on how to inspire young children (~ ages 8 to 13) to exercise in order to be healthier? What kinds of activities would you encourage them to do to: get cardiovascular exercise, and to gain strength?

A) Some ideas I would tell kids so that they can get into exercise and to get healthier is to show them how fun it can be to exercise, also I would teach them some good recopies that are delicious and healthy. I can also say that if you want to be strong, pretty, and smart or whatever you want to be in life or when you gro

Michelle answers:

1. In your own words, what did you learn about cardiovascular exercise? (Write at least 5 sentences.)

A) Cardiovascular exercise is all kinds of exercises that make you use (any kind of excercise) (makes) use all of your big muscles. It also makes your lungs and heart stronger and healthier. A lot of people like it because you can loose lots of weight and it also has a lot of health benefits. (lose)

(The question says 5 sentences – you have only 3).

2. 2. What are two basic nutrition concepts that you learned in this course? Please describe them in detail.

A) Two basic nutrition concepts that I learned in this course would be that fats are in all kinds of food. If you were to eat a lot of fatty foods then it can cause lots of damage to your body. (EXPLAIN WHY IT IS DAMAGING) Sometimes fat could be good and bad. (EXPLAIN WHY IT CAN BE GOOD) (fats can)
(New paragraph for protein).
Protein is very important for your body. (EXPLAIN WHY IT IS IMPORTANT) There are lots of food that have protein in them like meat, fish and eggs, but it’s also not good to eat a lot of it period here . (Leave out the but and start the new sentence with It’s not a good idea to eat a lot of it – – –
because leads to excessive acid production.
(it)

3. Why is it important to properly warm-up before exercising and cool down after exercising? (Write at least 4 sentences.)

A) Its really important to properly warm-up before exercising, and cool down after exercising because if you don’t you can get serious injuries,
period here . Start a new sentence with – You can prevent bone and joint disease, as you get older, by warming up and cooling down before and after each exercise session. (something like that.)

you can also prevent bone and joint diseases when you get older.
You can also become more flexible by doing stretching all the time.

(You will have only 3 sentences, they want 4)

4. How can strength training improve your physical level of fitness?

A) Strength training can improve your physical level of fitness by increasing your muscle mass and will help your body better achieve the same exercise the next time you do it. When you increase resistance with heavier weights, this stimulates the body to build more myofibrils. In this way you work with your body’s natural healing ability to achieve greater muscle mass and strength.

(check the spelling of myofibrils)

5. In general, why do you think it is beneficial for a person to be physically fit?

A) It is beneficial for a person to be physically fit because it helps your body inside and out. (EXPLAIN WHY)
It’s just a really good way to keep healthy.

6. Did you find it interesting to learn about sports injuries and first aid? What was the most practical thing that you learned about them?

A) I really didn’t care for the sports injury and first aid. I learned that no matter what sport you partake in you should always have some kind of protection on. ( ,such as – – – -)

7. Did you learn enough about stretching and flexibility to incorporate that into your own personal exercise regimen? If not, what more could you have learned that would be helpful?

A) Yes I thought I learned a lot from the stretching and flexibility to incorporate that into your own personal exercise regimen. I really am
(my) (sessions) (changes the wording)
going to use many of the stretching techniques.

8. How can cardiovascular exercise improve your health?

A) Cardiovascular exercise improves your health by increasing your energy, help you live longer, and reduce the risk of some
(helps) (reduces)
cancers.
(What about stamina, lung capacity and making your heart stronger?)

Richard asks…

Healthy drinks while pregnant?

I want to eat as healthy as possible while I’m pregnant (I also want to continue eating healthy when the baby is born so that all of us can remain healthy), but from the way people talk, it seems like everything is bad for you nowadays.

I can have water, as long as it’s close to freezing cold, but it’s so plain, and sometimes, I just want something with some flavor to it too.

A month or two before we started TTC, I eliminated caffiene and switched to caffeine-free sodas, but I’m trying to eliminate soda altogether (or atleast cut it back to 1 a day). But it just seems like every other alternative is bad for you, even the juices. Whether it’s because of high fructose, or added sugar, or natural sugar. I just can’t think of anything else to try. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I didn’t like milk before I was pregnant (unless I mixed in the chocolate syrup), so I’m expecting it to be cause a gag later in the pregnancy when morning sickness kicks in. I’ve been trying to stick to orange juice (Tropicana, Calcium), but I’m getting bored with the flavor. I’m not sure, but I’m afraid my Kirkland Cranberry juice (my fav) falls into the bad list with it’s sugar and who knows what else they put into it.

What juices are okay to drink? What do I need to check the label for? How much can I have of things like sugar? What if it’s natural sugar, like in apples and melons? Is it better to have food and drinks whose nutrition label lists plain old “sugar” than “aspartame”? How’s “Sucralose”?

Michelle answers:

Haha, I just read and atricle today saying now artificial sweeteners (diet colas, diet drinks, etc) are being linked to preterm births, so apparently those are on the no-no list now too. 🙂

Basically – drink plenty of water, and everything else in moderation. Don’t assume you “can’t” ever have things that are on the bad list. That would be like saying you can’t ever eat ice cream, or chips, or birthday cake. It’s commendable to commit to healthy eating – but indulging is part of enjoying life, as long as it’s well-balanced with good nutrition.

Natural sugars are not necessarily better. But they’re also not necessarily bad. An all-natural fruit juice will have lots of vitamins – but it’s not as good as fruit, which also has the same vitamins plus fiber, for a similar calorie content. But compared to something that’s a 10% juice “drink”, it’s not going to give you the same nutritional benefits… Although sugar/calorie content will usually be very similar. Sugar is not evil! But OVER-indulging in it is what’s bad for you.

I’m with you, I’m not good at just plain water. But, once I get to 48 oz a day, I let myself drink whatever else I want for the rest of the day. By the time I’m already well-hydrated, I can’t go too overboard on anything – my bladder won’t let me, LOL! But if I want a soda, I let myself. Or juice – I usually hate OJ but I drank a TON of it early on in my pregnancy. Fortunately, I do actually LIKE milk, so I tend to choose that quite often.

Honestly… Water REALLY is best. By far. Many herbal teas are also safe and a lot are caffeine-free (though I don’t care for tea, personally). Just do your best on your water, and don’t beat yourself up about your poorer choices. 🙂 You deserve a few indulgences, especially while you’re pregnant!!

Lisa asks…

Good Vitamins/Supplements for healthier breeding/babies?

Hey Everyone,
I need a few suggestions on vitamins and or supplements to give to my dogs while/before breeding them. I want it to be natural, not fake natural, real natural. I will be looking these up and looking at reviews. I want to make sure it’s the best quality. I want it to help with healthier breading, gestation, pregnancy, and healthier new born puppy life. They are medium-large sized dogs. Please help me out; I will pick a best answer! It’s an easy 10 points for those who know Dog Nutrition🙂 Any vets out there? Thanks in advance! You rock!

Michelle answers:

Vitamin supplements are probably not the best thing in most cases. You don’t know what is already in the food and you can create an imbalance. For example, too much calcium is a bad idea.

The best thing you can do is feed a high quality dog food, and supplement with quality proteins and foods that provide Omega 3s. The supplements should not be more than 20% of the diet.

Dog foods all tend to be high in Omega 6 essential fatty acids and quite low in Omega 3s. A better balance of the two is much better for the development of the puppies. Canned sardines packed in water and eggs are your best sources of quality protein and omega 3s.

Iams did an interesting study on puppies fed a diet rich in DHA, one of the omega 3s. Here is a link to their findings. Http://www.iams.com/dog-article/dha_and_your_puppy.aspx

But please note that the study refers to a diet “rich in Omega 3s.” Nowhere did they say this study compared puppies fed Iams to those fed other diets. It is very difficult to get useful omega 3s through a kibble diet. These compounds are fragile. That is why fish oil and flax oil come in packaging that is opaque to protect from light, and bulk containers must be refrigerated after opening. Even if they manage to get it into the food and it survives the manufacturing process, they will degrade as the food sits on the shelf and even more once the bag is opened.

David asks…

What do you think of this cat food based on the composition? (Mera Cat brand)?

This product is from Germany. What do you think?

preserved on a natural basis with vitamin E, no addition of chemical preservatives, no addition of artificial flavour or colour

Mera Cat is suitable for the complete life cycle:

* kitten
* adult and senior cats
* pregnancy lactation and breeding

Mera Cat is a highly digetible complete diet for a well-balanced and healthy nutrition of your cat, manufactured from high-graded raw materials. All your cat needs of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals Mera Cat provides in optimal quantity and composition.

The cats very special organism has special requirements
regarding nutrition. That is why Mera Cat has a very low degree of manganese, a very high degree of animal proteins and no soya beans are used. Furthermore Mera Cat stimulates the reception of water. All this reduces the risk of FUS (gravel)

Ingredients: Cereals, meat and aninmal derivatives, vegetable protein extracts, derivatives of vegetable origin, minerals, oils and fats, yeasts

Michelle answers:

I’m afraid that Mera cat food sounds like rubbish. The ingredient list is terrible and puposefully non-specific so you have no idea what exactly you are buying. Not that it matters so much since you should not be feeding the cat any “cereals”, no unnamed “meats” and probably none of whatever “animal derivatives” are – ugh, my cats gak up animal derivatives when they have hairball. You don’t want any “vegetable protien derivatives” either, fancy name for gluten.

You do not say from which country you are posting. If you are in Germany surely they have some good canned cat foods with named meats as the primary ingredients.

If you live in a country where good pet foods are not available at all, your best option would be to feed your cat a raw meat/bones/organs diet. If this is the case, post more questions on raw diet for cats.

Here is a site that will give you a lot of tips on choosing a good food for your cat:
http://www.catinfo.org/commercialcannedfoods.htm

No Mera Cat for your kitty. Please!

Your Questions About Natural Pregnancy Induction Methods

Posted on March 25, 2011 by Michelle

Jenny asks…

Are you finding that the unsolicited advice is getting really annoying?

I am 41 weeks 1 day today, so I know it is my hormones and just being tired of being pregnant that has got me cranky. But let me tell you, since about a week before my due date it seems like EVERYONE is saying,”Oh! You need to do this and this!’, “Have you tried this?”, “Make sure you try doing that!”…UGH! I know they mean well, but they must have forgotten what it was like to be at the end of their pregnancies! They just don’t seem to remember how much it SUCKS to hear about how someone did this and that and how it ‘worked’ for them and they had their baby in their arms, when they felt like their day would never come. I am sitting here having contractions I can’t feel, no dilation and no effacement and doing EVERYTHING I can to avoid being induced and it just seems like the longer this goes on the MORE advice I get. Not to mention it is all 99% the same advice, I just want to yell “Don’t you think I have looked into all of this and tried EVERYTHING?!?!?”. I know my son will come, and I will not be pregnant forever, but I also know that there is nothing you can make your body do that it doesn’t want to do and that these ‘natural induction‘ methods only help your body out when it is ready for labor (which my body CLEARLY is not).

I know this sounds like a rant/vent, and it maybe just a little, but I was hoping that all you you lovely women have figured out a way to avoid the frustration, and blowing up in someones face. I do the whole ‘smile and stay pleasant thing’, but that is getting REALLY hard to keep doing. I may just stop answering the phone and texts, say I dropped it in the toilet or something!

Or, does anyone have a funny story about how they ‘dealt’ with the advice? Anything to cheer me up! :o)

Thanks everyone!
Adrienne – *lol* I think I am going to keep that one in my back pocket, it is brilliant!

Sarah – Oh yeah, don’t even get me STARTED on the how to raise him advice, I am already getting it! *lol*
Oops! Sorry Adrianne, I didn’t mean to spell your name wrong. My name is Adrienne, so you can see how I just went on auto-pilot, :o).

Michelle answers:

I’m not there yet, but I remember how cranky my cousin was at the end of her pregnancy. She actually said to my grandmother, “Is it bothering you that I’m still pregnant? Because I’m really ok with it.” My gram sputtered a bit and was kind of offended, but everyone else laughed. That at least shut our family up. 🙂

Edit – No problem – you must know how often it gets misspelled!! (And how often people reference Rocky…) 😉

Donald asks…

Need your input on induction idea…HELP?

i was reading on how midwives induce labor the other day and it intrigued me.
the link to the info is below. i’d love for someone to read over it and tell me if it is something that is safe to do.
i have a obgyn and she is inducing me on the 20th even though my due date isnt until the 21st. i just figured if i could finda more natural way to get the baby on its way it would be better than pitocin or whatever she’ll give me. all these mid wives methods are natural/herbal remedies.

http://www.moondragon.org/obgyn/pregnancy/laborinitiate.html
oh im nearly 38 weeks and have had a flawless pregnancy…no complications whatsoever. my doc is inducing simply because she wants me to so it can be more “planned” on which i dont really like but she pretty much insisted. thats a whole other situation though.

Michelle answers:

Who’s body are we talking about? Yours or your doctors.
It’s so annoying to realize that doctors want to control your choices of labor, because they think they know best.
After reading the website, it sounds like a very nice solution. I’m from Europe and we do have induction, but we hardly used pitocin or any other drug, there are mainly natural births.
If you want to deliver the baby the way you want it, be very firm on what YOU want.
I believe in herbal treatment and always try to look for a natural solution over prescribed drugs.
You want the best for you baby and pitocin can be very harmful, which is not a very good start.
Good luck with your delivery and congrats to you. Stand up for your rights as a human and a mommy.

John asks…

Has anyone took castor oil to induce at 35 weeks pregnant?

I’ve had an extremely high risk pregnancy and started pre term labor at 29 weeks. Due to health conditions I knew I was going to come early, but I’ve made it to 35 weeks 🙂 and my doctors want to induce me next week. I will not let them use pictocin and will opt for a c-section if problems occur. During my entire pregnancy I refused taking certain meds and have opted not to take any pain meds while I’ve been pregnant.

My child is fine. The induction is for me and my safety. I’ve spent the last 5 months in and out of the hospital with contractions 5min apart for the last 2 months. My condition is starting to flare up and I need him out if my body as the result could end it death to me or my child.

I’m looking for natural methods. I’ve been using EPO and am 80% effaced but only 2cm dilated. If you have used this method please answer with results!

My child’s conception alone has been a blessing and the fact that I’ve been able to keep him safe this far has been a relief. Now I must take care of me.

PS-I’m not looking for any opinions or judgmental banter regarding this issue. If you don’t have anything enlightening to put fourth, please keep your comments for yourself! Again, this is for medical purposes.

Michelle answers:

TMI : i HIGHLY recommend you not drink castor oil, i took it at 39 weeks when i was 50% effaced and 1cm dilated and all it did was give me horrible diarrhea that’s it, it didn’t make me anymore dilated or effaced and it didn’t cause contractions, i later had to use pitocin and my child is just fine.

Daniel asks…

have any of you experienced this? (stripping the membranes for induction)?

This is my second pregnancy and I am so done being pregnant, lol. My doctor was talking about induction and pitocin is definitley not something I want to go through again, I was induced wtih my daughter and I was in labor for 48 hours (no pain meds so I felt every bit of it), it was horrible. I was reading that stripping the membranes (or the stretch and sweep method) when they physically stretch out your cervix and seperate the water from your cervix is the only naturla method that has enough eveidence behind it to say that it works. I am all about doing everything all natural so I was going to discuss this with my doctor, but first I want to hear any personal experiences on this subject. So…
Have you experienced this?
Did it work?
How quickley did labor start afterwards, or were you already in labor?
Was it extremely painful, like I imagine it will be?
How long were you in labor afterwards?

Michelle answers:

I have not personally had this done but a friend of mine did she was 2cm had her membranes stripped had really bad cramping and spotting but didnt go into labor so she had it done the following wee. Same thing, no labor no baby. She ended up haveing to be induced. I have also heard that sometimes while the dr is trying to do this they can accidentally break your water, so then you have to have the baby.

Your Questions About Natural Remedies For Infertility

Posted on March 24, 2011 by Michelle

Betty asks…

PCOS/Ovulation/Infertility?

I know I am definitely jumping the gun with my worry, but I would appreciate some imput/encouragement anyway. I have PCOS and have been trying to get pregnant for about 3 months now. I track my ovulation with at home, pee on stick kits, and of course – nothing. I was not on birth control pills before, but I had an IUD that I had zero problems with. I know that 3 months is too soon to start to worry or feel sorry for myself, but it is depressing as a woman to feel like you are failing and your body does not work. I read all kinds of PCOS horror stories online, and I was wondering if anyone had some light to shed on my worry? I don’t think we will go see a Dr. until a year has passed, but does anyone have any ideas on natural remedies to jump start ovulation? I am not over weight, and I have bleeding every month.. just no ovulating. Anyone have any gems to offer?

Michelle answers:

I would like to advise you to contact your physician and make them aware that you have discovered that you are not ovulating. I was diagnosed with PCOS and was given Clomid. I completed my first round this month and found out today via a blood test that I actually ovulated! I wasted approximately an entire year of trying to conceive without ovulating. More than likely you will ovulate as I did with the Clomid. Feel free to contact me for additional details. I too a not over weight and would bleed without ovulating.

Sharon asks…

How can you overcome the associated problems with PCOS and infertility?

I am a 30yo woman with PCOS and a MAJOR hormone imbalance, resulting in awful excess body hair and very irregular periods. I have been TTC for over 10 years now and have tried IVF, and natural remedies. We have consoled ourselves that we may never have children, but I hate living with the problems associated with it all.
Does anyone else have any advice on what i can take, vitamins, supplements etc ??? Or do you have any of the same problems, love to talk to you xox
p.s Yes i am overweight and have tried to lose, but very very hard to shed any kilos. Have suffered over a dozen miscarriages over the last 10 years (I know it is a lot). But we’ve kept our chins up and keep on trying 🙂

Michelle answers:

Metformin is the first prescribed med for PCOS. Presumably you are already on it (and if not, you should be). It helps manage insulin resistance which is one of the underlying cause of the hormonal imbalance. It may help bring cycles that are less irregular and ovulating more frequently. It will also cause you to lose weight. Also need to take this for the first trimester of pregnancy to minimize miscarriage risk. Other than that, can also switch to low-carb diet/lifestyle (south beach) to have same impact (but metformin is easier).

I think everything else (pre-seed, vitamins, supplements) are okay, but not going to have big impact in terms of getting pregnant and more importantly sustaining it. My wife who has PCOS (mild) tried all this but metformin is the only one that made a different and got pregnant twice (one miscarriage) within a year after almost 4 years of TTC.

Good luck.

Michael asks…

Can deep tissue abdominal massage helps unblocked the fallopian tubes?

Hi! My hubby and I been ttc for more than 2 years. I just found out a couple of months ago that my both fallopian tubes are blocked. I just want to know is there anybody on this site did any kind of deep tissue abdominal massage and got pregnant. I need a help from anybody who have the same infertility issue like me and got pregnant.

I want to try some natural remedies before a surgery or IVF. If there is any kind of herbs, please let me know too. Please help!!!

Thanks

Michelle answers:

Hello!! I do believe you can!! I personally did this for several months and then decided to have surgery! But my tubes were soooooo damaged that they had to remove them!
Do you know where the blockages are? That would help me decide if you should go for it!!

There are several herbs that can help! Also the book realityshowjunkie is talking about is awesome! She has a whole chapter on blocked tubes that is great! She even shows you the massages you can do your self to unblock your tubes and also has a list of herbs you can take!

Depending on where you live you can find an awesome massage therapist! Here is the web site for Dr Lewis the author of the infertility cure! Http://www.thefertilesoul.com

Here is the list she has on her web site for acupuncturists! Hopefully you live near one! I don’t and I had really hard time finding anyone good =((
http://www.thefertilesoul.com/treatments/local%20clinics/clinics.aspx

Please feel free to email and I can help you with what ever you need! I have a lot of good info! I also have some of the book scanned into my computer is you would like to read some of it! But by far that book helped me the most!

Good luck

Angie!

Lizzie asks…

on clomid for 3 months already and still nothing.?

I have been trying to concieve for over a year now. my doc put me on clomid and i just finished the 3rd round, and still no luck. i bought an ovulation kit as well to track my fertile days.. but nothing. what other methods can i use to improve my chances of concieving. i am going to an endo infertility specialist on monday. but i wanted to know if ne one else has had similar problems and if there are any natural remedies or methods to try that might have worked for you or someone you know. i really want to experience the joy of being a mommy. please help.

*baby dust* to all of us trying out there.

Michelle answers:

I know that 3 months seems like forever,been there, but if it isn’t working let them up the dosage, they had me up to 250mg a day for 5 days, and make sure you take all the pills they give you! And remember that sometimes God has another plan for you, for example, for us he wants us to adopt. I will still be a mommy, just another way. Don’t give up hope, but don’t stress out and put all your eggs in one basket(no pun intended) Relax, have fun and take the time to really bond with your husband/baby daddy. These hard times will make you both stronger and make the relationship stronger. And just so you know you can get a false positive ovulation if you are on fertility drugs (again trust me). If after 6 months (total) you still feel like your getting no where talk to your doctor about other options. Maybe talk to another doctor.

Your Questions About Natural Pregnancy Induction

Posted on March 23, 2011 by Michelle

Linda asks…

Pregnancy induction, or natural better?

I heard that the birthing process goes alot smoother and faster if you go into labor naturally, other than getting induced. Is this true?

Michelle answers:

I cant speak for all but from my own exp. I had a terrible time when i was induced. My little girl had not even dropped and I was not dialated at all when they broke my water and then started me on the drugs to induce. I was in labor 24 hours literally and then had to have a c-section. I think.. In all honesty.l. That natural is best but isn’t it with everything lol. I am pregnant with my second now and so sick of it I am wishing they’d induce lol but I honestly think that if he comes naturally it would be a LOT better. I am just getting impatient.
Anyways that’s my 2 cents 🙂

Lizzie asks…

Anybody had an induction for their third pregnancy?

I am scheduled for an induction tomorrow – both of my other children were born completely natural (no induction.) I’m just curious if anyone else has had a natural and then induced childbirth and can tell me how they compared. Be honest – Thanks!!

Michelle answers:

My first two were natural and my third was induced due to pre-eclampsia. Honestly, it was horrible. Started off with the pitocin and ended up only dialated to a 1-2 cm within 24 hrs so I ended up having to have a c section. It was totally unexpected and I wasn’t at all prepared, which is what made it so terrible. I felt robbed, but now pregnant with my 4th, I have time to prepare for what may happen. I am planning on a vbac, but I am also preparing for the fact that it may not go as planned. Every birth is different. I just wish I would have been more prepared for the possibility of a section than I was.

Richard asks…

Pregnancy “natural” inductions that work?

I know all of the “ideas” about inducing naturally-nipple stimulation, SEX, walking, cleaning, spicy food, chinese food, acupressure points, caster oil etc. have any of you tried any of them and they WORKED? Would you recommend them

Michelle answers:

On my 2nd child I was dialated at a 2cm and stuck…the dr wanted me to go home and call them later….so I walked the halls for hours until I induced the labor and made them admit me. Walking also just made my sis in law go into labor at 38 weeks that was not even dialated. I have also used caster oil and it did not work. Spicy foods just give you indigestion. I even tried sex and that did not work for me either.

Walk until you can walk no more…stay hydrated

Sharon asks…

How much worse does a pitocin induction hurt compared to natural labor?

I had pitocin and it hurt violently. I’ve only had one baby so I’m wondering if there’s any chance that if I avoid pitocin next time I won’t need drugs. Of course I know it’s different from woman to woman and from pregnancy to pregnancy , but I want to know different mom’s views on this, especially someone who’s had it both ways!

Michelle answers:

I have had two natural labors, and my pitocin induction was just 11 days ago. There was a big difference. My natural labors were very fast, and there was almost no break between contractions. Labor lasted about 3 hours, but hurt like hell.
With my pitocin induction, labor lasted 10 hours, but the contractions were not very painful until the very end (9+cm dilated). I got a break in between contractions so I could catch my breath, something I never got with my natural labors.

Your Questions About Natural Remedies In Pregnancy

Posted on March 22, 2011 by Michelle

Sharon asks…

Will natural progesterone help with pregnancy depression?

To start from the beginning I had never had any type of depression until after I had my first baby 2 and a half years ago. Right away I got really bad post partum depression. I tried anti-depressants and hated the side-effects. I saw natural doctors who tried diets and homeopathic remedies and vitamins. Finally I found ‘The Hotze Health and Wellness Center’ online after a year. They really helped alot. They assesed my thyroid, and hormone levels, especially progesterone (which I was taking days 15-28 of my cycle) since your progesterone drops greatly after giving birth and can sometimes have a hard time picking back up which causes the depression. Anyway–I am pregnant for the second time and I’m feeling a depressed again! I called them right away and they said for the first trimester I should continue my progesterone everyday. I started that up again and it’s helped a little but not alot and I’m scared to feel like this through out my whole pregnancy, I’m ready to be excited about this pregnancy even though it wasn’t planned. So my real question is ” Will these feelings go away” and “I thought during pregnancy progesterone was made in LARGE quantities so why should I have to take this natural progesterone?”

Michelle answers:

What the progesterone doesn’t address are two things: The energetic imbalance that resulted in your depression, and your emotional “symptoms” themselves. This response to external healing substances is not infrequent. The response is temporary, like a bandaid. But, the deeper wound still persists.

One concern when I see someone say they tried homeopathy is either it was limited to self-help home care – when a professional is required (akin to a first-aid kit v. The need to see your doctor) – or the practitioner, doctor, acupuncturist, etc. Using homeopathic remedies has a consumer-level awareness.

Homeopathy is so great for problems surrounding pregnancy. Anytime hormones shift, latent imbalances arise. This is the truth behind PMS and menopause (in health, both symptom-free).

I have three suggestions:

1. Look around my client’s favorite self-help website, http://abchomeopathy.com. It allows one to plug in symptoms for remedy suggestions. For many women, a remedy as simple as Sepia or Natrum muriaticum comes up and shifts the depression immediately. (It works when “indicated,” so a bit of sleuthing is required. If not the remedy you need, nothing happens. Think of a child’s square toy where you place shapes into their own holes. The homeopathic remedy needs to be that precise.)

2. A lovely book by a mother and homeopath, again that my moms and dads particularly love and find useful, is by Miranda Castro. It is “Homeopathy for Pregnancy, Birth & Your Baby’s First Years” (http://www.mirandacastro.com/main/books.html). You will be able to use the book now and later.

3. If you continue to have problems after a few days to a week of being on a remedy that seems to be a “match,” contact a professional homeopath. You want someone who practices classical homeopathy, and is also certified (if in N. America) through the Council for Homeopathic Certification (http://www.homeopathicdirectory.com). I think someone with kids is a benefit, because that’s part of a practitioner’s experience. Interview 2-3 for a personality match, check credentials and that the person’s practice is 100% homeopathy. You don’t want someone who blends acupuncture, or muscle testing, or hair analysis. None of those are homeopathy, and the benefits of homeopathy are most quick and precise when used alone.

So, while someone gave you one or more homeopathic remedies, you did not “receive homeopathy.” Homeopathy is the philosophy for giving a remedy – by practitioners with the qualifications I described – not the remedy itself. Without that knowledge, the remedy is useless and misleads people into ruling out homeopathy.

(For some reason, I keep getting the Yahoo! Is taking a breather message when I submit an answer. If I submit “testing,” then put in the answer, it works. So, sorry for the confusion. This has been going on for a full day.)

Nancy asks…

How can I relieve hydronephrosis pain during pregnancy?

I was just diagnosed with hydronephrosis and there is not much the doctors can do while I am pregnant. Does anyone know any natural remedies to help relieve pain? Thank you in advance!

Michelle answers:

Try acupuncture, but please! Before you use any “natural” remedies run them by your doctors. Most medicines are made of “natural” ingredients originally, it does not mean they are harmless to your baby.

Mandy asks…

help me i suffer from spider veins any natural remedies? any artificial?

i am 28 and i am going for my secong pregnancy but i am worried about the veins in my legs they look horrible

Michelle answers:

Try vitamin C, flavonoids to aid circulation, promote healing of sores, and strengthen vein walls.

B-complex to help maintain strong blood vessels.

Beta-carotene This antioxidant is a healing nutrient.

Bromelain This nutrient aids in activating a factor that promotes the breakdown of fibrin and help prevent blood clots.

Lecithin Take one tablespoon of granules (or two capsules) daily to emulsify fats and aid circulation.

Magnesium To relax the arteries and muscles in the legs.

Vitamin E Take 300 to 800 IU, in gradually increased doses, to promote and improve circulation. Vitamin E may also relieve calf pain due to narrowing of the arteries.

Zinc Take 50 mg. Daily, to assist with healing and collagen formation.

Butchers broom http://www.nutrasanus.com/butchers-broom.html

—ask doctor if these are safe during pregnancy.

Eat more ginger, garlic and onions

Vitamin K cream will help strengthen the capillaries.

Sandy asks…

can anyone help me to get rid of pimples during my pregnancy?

i am 32 weeks pregnant and i got too many pimples in my face, neck, chest and back. i didnt get the pregnancy glow at all and its sometimes painful!!!! can anyone help me with some natural remedies coz i dont want to risk anything chemically now

Michelle answers:

Ive used aveeno products while and not being pregnant, and it works wonderful! And it sounds weird but i have known people to have some kind of allergic whatever you want to call it during their pregnancy, where their body breaks out. So you may just be experiencing something along those lines. Don’t stress over it though. You are still beautiful & once baby is here, all the little pimples will be worth that gorgeous little baby! Plus try oatmeal products if you have bad scarring after the bumps go away. Good luck

Your Questions About Oldest Woman Natural Pregnancy

Posted on March 21, 2011 by Michelle

Joseph asks…

In Vitro Fertilization in a 45 year old healthy woman?

I would like to know my chances of becoming pregnant through In Vitro at the age of fourty five .I have had 3 children in the 1980’s in the natural way. I had my tubes tied in 1986 after the birth of my third child .I had three pregnancies and three healthy babies .no miscarriages ever .I don’t smoke or drink and I am perfecly healthy .
My cycles are regular and last for 5 days .My husband and I are yearning to have a child together .

Michelle answers:

Well I’ll be! Joy I would make a pro’s & con’s list and pray about it.

Sharon asks…

I’m an 18 year old woman and I know I don’t want kids. Is that so wrong?

I’ve never wanted children, my whole life my family and friends kept saying “oh you’ll change your mind when your older, all girls want to be a mother”. But I don’t, at least not the natural way. nothing scares me more than the thought of pregnancy/child birth. It’s the most horrible thing imaginable to me. I’m pretty sure I’ll just have a hysterechtomey because i’ll be free from menstration etc and plus it’s great contraceptoion!, and i’m never ever going to use it.
MAYBE I’d adopt, I don’t know, i’m not even that bothered. Some people think i’m an unnatural because I lack this desire to procreate. What are your thoughts? Am I soooo abnormal because I know I won’t have children of my own??
Thanks everyone, there’s some great advice on this page 🙂

Michelle answers:

I am 27 and feel the same way.
You are going to encounter extreme difficulty finding a doctor who will perform an elective hysterectomy on you.
I would suggest a less drastic and permenant form of birth control for now.

Charles asks…

My wife and I have been married for 19 years, but I fell for a woman I met at karaoke; any advice?

The guys and I from the tattoo shop went out for karaoke this past weekend, and I was needing to relax. The last thing I had in mind was giving my heart away, but hey, the heart wants what it wants.

We have our regular hangout and enjoy getting pissfaced drunk and singing awful karaoke. It’s all in good fun, and we really like just getting silly. Sometimes our old ladies come, but this weekend my wife wasn’t feeling well. She’s in her fourth month of pregnancy and was awful tired after working and taking care of the house and kids. I understood when she said she could sure use a break, so decided to go to karaoke and get out of her hair.

Anyway, I was having fun at karaoke, and was pretty buzzed; I had gotten up to sing my usual songs, “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” and “Living After Midnight”, when up strides a pure vision of heaven to the microphone. She was 5′ 9″ and about 190#, with a frizzy red home perm and that classy green eyeshadow like you used to see a lot of. She was wearing the tightest pair of stretch pants I ever laid my eyes on, and had a sleeveless t-shirt with the Sex Pistols on it. Before she took the microphone, she applied one more heavy layer of lipstick to her sensual lips, and grasped the microphone with a hand decorated with the finest nails to ever come out of a Korean beauty shop.

When she opened her mouth to sing, she drew her breath in with a wheeze, then let out the prettiest smoker’s hack I ever heard in my life. I tell you, it sounded like the bells of heaven. As the strains of Cher’s song “Dark Lady” filled the air, I sat hypnotized. She sang it all natural like, without any fancy embellishments like staying on key or on pitch. I almost pictured Cher herself singing it.

When she stepped down to my frantic applause, she glided by, her pants doing a swish-swish sound as the legs rubbed together. I stood up quick and said, “Pardon me, ma’am. Would you permit me the honour of buying the prettiest lady in here a drink?” “I’ll take a whiskey, and don’t get fresh, you freakin’ bastard”, she said. Not only did she have beauty, but a great personality, as well.

After that, we talked until the bar closed about bass fishing, and she gave me pointers about changing the oil in a ’52 Ford pickup. I told her I was married, and she was appalled to hear that my wife didn’t like me watching porn. She looked me dead in the eye and said, “I’d pick up my man porn on the way home from working the night shift at the loading docks.” I swear-to-gawd, I’m in love.

I can’t stop thinking about this sexy siren, and I’ve been fantasizing about her so much, my wife is growing suspicious. She caught me whacking it to “Dark Lady” and now thinks I have a thing for Cher, which kind of worries me, on account of I don’t want her getting any notions that her man has gone all lavender. I don’t know how to confess to her that I’m in love with another woman, though, and that I am seriously considering leaving her and our four kids and setting up the trailer of my dreams with the tastiest woman I ever seen. I know my wife wouldn’t understand; I mean, Lucille, the woman from karaoke, has a tat of Hank Williams on her stomach. What man can resist that?!

Any advice for my predicament?
Sheila!!! I tried to hide your identity on here, so as to protect you. Now that everyone has a look at you, I know someone will steal you away. 🙁
((((((((((Zilla-the-Thrilla))))))))))))) 🙂

Michelle answers:

“She sang it all natural like, without any fancy embellishments like staying on key or on pitch.”

LMMFAO!! You have serious issues, Jack, and I’m so glad you do LOL You always make me smile and laugh like nobody else can 🙂

(((((((((((JackDaddy)))))))))))))

Lisa asks…

Do you like the DESCRIPTION of this CHARACTER?

I’m beginning to write a story. Jamie is a 40 year old woman but she seems that is 25 years old . Jamie is a very beautiful woman that has a very hot body: she has a very pretty face with brilliant green eyes, her black hair is very long that nearly arrrived to her hips, she’s tall and has an slender body decorated with big breasts, a pretty ass and amazing legs. Although this beauty she has a lonely life.
Her “only” love is her son Kevin who was born 20 years ago when she got pregnant after a “crazy night”. For Jamie, this pregnancy wasn’t a drama, she saw her pregnancy as the possibility to have a new experience, a natural birth. Jamie is very proud that she’s probably the only 20 year old girl that had a homebirth 20 years ago in her city.
Although Jamie is clearly heterosexual, she isn’t interested in men. In some way, we could say that she hates the masculine genre except her son. But now things are changing because Jamie is showing her affection for her son’s best friend, Victor (18 year old). She frequently accompanied Victor to his home and sometimes they had gone to supper outside but Jamie’s son, Kevin, doesn’t know these escapades.
Do you like the DESCRIPTION of this CHARACTER?
Thank you !!

Michelle answers:

Yes, it was actually quite riveting for me. A suggestion, of course, if you will?

To put this candidly, i noticed that you used to adverb very…very frequently. Also, there are certain words, cliches, you might say, and ‘got’ happens to be one of them. You didn’t use it often, but it’s merely a piece of advice, since even the most excellent authors (Nicholas Spark, i might say) does indeed use ‘got.’

as an aspiring author myself, i’d also like to add that this excerpt recreated here was flummoxing at a first glance. Readers generally appreciate laconic and concise word, by the way. This isn’t the case here, but just friendly advice, you might say.

“is a 40 year old woman but she seems that is 25 years old.”

i’m not quite sure what you meant by that…

And here:

“black hair is very long that nearly arrrived to her hips”

not sure what you meant by that, but i would have thought it to be:

black hair is very long that HAS nearly arrrived to her hips

not too sure, since i’m not what you could call a stellar elite when it comes to grammar, but, ah well. Oh, and you said ‘hot.’

it isn’t a bad adjective, but while readers appreciate laconic and concise wording, for them to create a vivid image of your Jamie, ‘hot’ isn’t exactly what i would call descriptive. Description, action, and conversation (along with my absolute favorite, humor) comprise the backbone of any story. Since this is a synopsis, only description truly applies. So, more friendly counseling, be descriptive (not to an overwhelming degree, but it helps somewhat).

And things i fell in love with at first sight?:

Although Jamie is clearly heterosexual, she isn’t interested in men. In some way, we could say that she hates the masculine genre except her son

assuming that you meant GENDER, instead of GENRE, of course.

Although Jamie is clearly heterosexual, she isn’t interested in men. In some way, we could say that she hates the masculine genre except her son

these sections (plus a few others worth mentioning) are what really caught my eye. By the way, if this ever becomes anything big (which i am most certainly NOT doubtful of), then i’d like to request an email or other notification that as to the title, perhaps? Or any other information regarding your thriving story? You don’t have to, obviously, but i would certainly hold you in high esteem all the more because of it. But so far, in your post, i am utterly attracted to your story, and do wish to hear more of it.

Cheers and happy writing, o.O