Pregnancy, all through a beautiful time in your life, can be a rough adjustment and hard on the body. Here are some all natural tips to help you work with your body and ease the transitions.
NAUSEA & VOMITING: Usually occurs in the early morning because, after hours without food, the blood sugar is usually low. To prevent this drop in blood sugar, eat some protein with a little natural starch or sugar immediately before going to bed. (fortified milk or cheese or fruit juice) Until nausea is over, eat again before getting up. A warm cup of peppermint or spearmint tea will help settle the stomach.
DIURETICS: During pregnancy, it is common for fluids to be retained in the body, a condition known as edema. If the diet is adequate, it can easily be prevented or quickly corrected. Obstetricians usually attempt to solve this problem by giving drugs known as diuretics, which are dangerous both to the mother and child. Unfortunately, these are often referred to as water pills – a name which sounds innocent and safe. Signs of edema: Puffiness around the eyes (especially in the morning) swelling hands, ankles may swell around the middle of the day but remain swollen, weight may increase 5 or more pounds.
A pregnant woman with edema is already suffering from a multitude of nutritional deficiencies which induced the condition. Instead of curing this by an improved diet, many women, at the advice of their Doctor, take water pills. Because of these diuretics, some 35 nutrients are lost from the body. The potassium deficiency produced by taking these pills causes listlessness, fatigue, mental depression, insomnia, constipation, general weakness, irregular heartbeat, and soft flabby muscles unfit for an easy delivery. The kidneys are said to be particularly harmed by such a loss of potassium.
A deficiency of magnesium is also quickly produced in this manner. This nutrient is essential in preventing edema because vitamin B6 cannot be utilized without it and potassium cannot be retained in the body. Furthermore, it’s lack causes the woman taking the diuretics to suffer from nervousness, tremors, jumpiness, sensitivity to noise, mental depression, and weakness. At the same time, the magnesium requirement us increased by both pregnancies and by stress. Diuretics also increase the clotting of blood and multiply the chance of developing varicose veins, phlebitis, and embolisms. Because diuretics produce so many deficiencies they can bring on toxemia and convulsions.
Before the body can maintain a normal amount of albumin (a protein) in the blood, adequate protein of high quality must be eaten. If the protein or even one amino acid, such as methionine, is supplied in too small a quantity, too little albumin can be formed, and the amount in the blood decreases. In this case, fluids containing waste products cannot be efficiently drawn into the blood; some remain in the tissues, the amount depending on the severity of the protein deficiency. To change protein into a usable form, B6 is needed. Zinc, Vitamin E, and an adequate amount of calories are also necessary.
As has been said, Toxemia may develop when multiple nutritional deficiencies exist.
SIGNS OF TOXEMIA:
1. Edema (Swollen ankles, headaches, visual disturbances)
2. High Blood Pressure (May skyrocket from low to high in a week) Dizziness, headaches, ringing in the ears, hemorrhages in the eyes.
3. Loss of albumin in urine signaling kidney damage.
TOXEMIA can quickly develop into eclampsia (convulsions)
TO HELP PREVENT TOXEMIA:
1. Take folic acid daily.
2. Take sufficient amount of Vitamin E
(check with your doctor to see the amount you personally need)
3. Consume a balanced diet so that you have no vitamin or mineral deficiencies.
*Pregnant women should take 2 B-Complex tablets after each meal to supply 1,000mg of Choline daily
VARICOSE VEINS: Varicose veins occur when a clot forms in a vein and blocks the passage of blood. In the center of the leg near the long bone is a large vein that carries blood from your feet back to your heart. If this is blocked by a clot, the blood is forced to return to the heart by what have been small, invisible veins near the surface of your legs. Because of the tremendous quantity of the blood, these veins become distended, blue, and ugly; in short, varicose veins.
TO HELP PREVENT VARICOSE VEINS: An adequate amount of vitamin E is needed. Also, 200-600 mg. of vitamin C and citrus bioflavonoids keep the walls of the capillaries elastic so they don’t as readily break and so clots will not form as easily.
ANEMIA: Also related to lack of Vitamin E is anemia, because red blood cells are rapidly destroyed by oxygen.
A proper diet is essential! Malnutrition causes poor intestinal development as well as physical development. Even when loss of appetite occurs (Due to hot weather, etc) it is essential that a proper diet is maintained.
The difference between a superior baby and a less than a healthy baby can be the difference in the mother’s diet!
Ideally, all nutrients should be obtained from natural foods. If you have your own cow or goats, can get fertile eggs, make your own breads of freshly ground whole grains, are growing your own fruits and vegetables on naturally enriched soils free of chemical fertilizers and poisonous sprays, are spending much of your time in the sun, and are avoiding all refined foods, you will progress nicely without supplements.
To assure that your diet supplies all the nutrients needed: Drink either – Fortified Milk or Pep-Up. Here is the recipe.
Using a blender – mix 2 cups of fresh whole milk, 1/2 cup powdered skim milk, 1 Tbsp. food yeast, 1 Tsp. real vanilla, 1 Tbsp. Vegetable oil, 1/2 cup fruit (Banana, pineapple, berries, or frozen orange juice), 1 or 2 raw eggs, 1 Tbsp. lecithin. Once blended add the remainder of a quart of milk.
Start by drinking 1/4 a cup at each meal and mid-meal gradually increasing quantities later. Take high-quality calcium and magnesium tablets.
Most prenatal tablets offer little supplemental value. Because of the high iron content and lack of B6, E, and Choline, they can actually be dangerous for both mother and baby.
As the mother, you hold the power of health in your hands.
Choose wisely and lovingly.
This is a follow-up post to Nutritional Tips for Mothers to Be http://drkasters.damonazdesign.com/chiropractic-blog/diet-nutition/nutritional-tips-mothers/
Chiropractor in Ft Myers, FL.
Chiropractic care is a safe, alternative treatment when applied appropriately. Chiropractic treatments help in dealing with the symptoms of many conditions. Are you going to wait for your symptoms to be felt, or are you going to prevent it as soon as possible?
Dr. Jason B. Kaster, a chiropractor, and nutritionist in Fort Myers can help you and your family achieve their optimal health.