Published May 31, 2003 in the North Island Weekender
Problems during pregnancy can often be avoided if your
health is optimal the three months before conception. This is called preconception
care and if followed will improve the chances of getting pregnant in the
first place. This care includes 7 basic principles: 1) detoxification of heavy
metals and pesticides, 2) good nutrition, 3) screening for any genitourinary
infections, 4) avoidance of toxins and pollutants, 5) treating underlying health
imbalances and allergies, 6) exercise and 7) stress management. I wrote an
article June 17 2000,
which further explains this. In this article I want to talk about some common
complaints of pregnancy: fatigue, nausea, cramping, swollen ankles, high blood
pressure, low thyroid, and post delivery complaints of hemorrhoids and
swelling.
If women have been taking adequate B complex with vitamin B6
often the nausea and vomiting of pregnancy can be reduced. Once the woman is in
the office with this complaint it can be a challenge to keep these things down
when taken in supplement form, so it is better to prevent this deficiency. A
good omega 3 and 6 combinations essential fat with DHA and EPA will ensure not
only the health of the pregnancy but also the brain and eye health of the
newborn. Clinical experience shows that women who are taking a good dose of
evening primrose oil will have shorter labours!
Too much B6 can suppress lactation so higher doses are reduced once the nausea
and vomiting has passed, usually after the first trimester. Nausea can also
arise due a gallbladder problem so it is best to do detoxifications before
pregnancy to clear out thick sluggish toxic bile from the gallbladder. However
if this does occur there are remedies containing beets and milk thistle, which
are safe to take during pregnancy.
The rule of thumb is not to take many herbal remedies during
pregnancy, as there are too many contraindications. The herbs considered to be
safe include raspberry leaf, peppermint, nettles, ginger, chaste tree, gingko,
milk thistle and Echinacea.
A good pre- and post- natal vitamin will contain 1000mg of calcium, 50mg of
iron, 1-5 mg of folic acid, 500mg of magnesium
and so all you have to take in addition is a good omega 3/6 essential
fat combination. Good supplementation such as this will ensure the health of
the placenta, prevent fatigue, provide healthy breast milk, and of course help
produce healthy babies! If fatigue persists anemia, low thyroid and other
factors need to be ruled out. See your physician for a diagnosis.
Swollen ankles can be due to a deficiency of vitamin B6, or
minerals and taking a tea with nettles and horsetail will provide minerals as
well as act a gentle diuretic. Foods with similar effects include celery,
watermelon and parsley. Witch hazel applied topically to hemorrhoids tends to
shrink and heal them and there are other effective herbs used topically such as
calendula and horse chestnut.
Avoiding high blood pressure during pregnancy can usually be done by making
sure enough protein is ingested. I recommend 60 grams per day until end of 4th
month then 100 grams per day until delivery. This is considerably more than the
40 grams normally recommended for women on a daily basis. Taking extra
magnesium can also help, but your physician should monitor this.
Jill, age 35, wanted some help in preparing for delivery. She came into see me
one month before her due date. I always recommend Arnica 200ch for mom during
delivery and for mom and babe after delivery. This remedy will reduce swelling
and bruising and speed healing all over! Jill was getting more abdominal and
leg cramps in her last trimester so we increased her calcium and magnesium a
little with good effect. The herbs I use in the last month as well as the first
month post partum are called collectively the “mother’s cordial”: mitchella,
viburnum, caulophylum and helonias. These herbs prepare the uterus for a
vaginal delivery as well as help it return to normal more quickly after
delivery. Post partum Jill had trouble with milk production so chaste tree
helped with this; otherwise Jill did very well with delivery for a woman of 35!
Dr. Pincott has been practicing naturopathic medicine since 1985 and is currently practicing in Campbell River. She can be reached at (250) 286-3655 or www.DrPincott.com