5 ways to cope with complications in pregnancy July 24, 2007

Many pregnancies are blissfully uneventful. But then, there are those handful that are fraught with complications causing endless hours of worry. As a mom-to-be in the second category, I felt compelled to share my knowledge in this arena.

22% of pregnant women experience complications at some point during their pregnancy and 20% of all will be on some form of bedrest. As we await our babies from the sidelines, we have extra time to worry and obsess with every pregnant symptom and wonder if it warrants yet another 3 am call to the OB. With this pregnancy I have sustained nearly 20 weeks of modified bedrest, which means I’m allowed to shower, make a quick meal, and take care of general hygeine, but remain quiet most of the day either in bed or on the couch. Here are a few tips that I have found helpful while dealing with the stress of the unknown…

1. Positive thinking and visualization. No matter what your doctor/midwife tells you, there is always hope. The babies that develop in us are typically pretty hardy and can flourish even as moms deal with complications.
2. Visualization. Find a quiet place and focus your attention on having a healthy baby that is growing and receiving all the nourishment he/she needs. Set at least five minutes a day to devote to this empowering exercise. Banish the negative thoughts from your thinking.
3. Don’t internalize. You’re scared, you’re freaking out and no one understands. Since the minority of women have complications, you may not find the sympathy that you need or crave. I have found some wonderful forums online that have very supportive women that have helped me get through my difficult periods. Check out Sidelines for those of you on bedrest and look into forums through Yahoo.
4. Take one day at a time. If you think about dealing with your complication for the rest of your pregnancy, you could be incredibly discouraged. Instead, take a moment every day to express gratitude for another day that your baby is still growing in your belly.
5. Put your trust in your faith. Whatever your religious or spiritual beliefs are, you need to trust in something greater than you that this pregnancy will turn out just as it should. If it comes to pass that the pregnancy is not viable, you need to find a way to recognize that life will go on and maybe you will be blessed with a child at a later time. This concept is the hardest. But if you can release some of your worry, you will be less stressed allowing your baby to have a more relaxed environment increasing his chances to develop normally.

This time in our lives can be an emotional roller coaster that does end and usually results in diaper duty and 2 am feedings. Happy, healthy mommies make healthy, strong babies!

Natural childbirth, are you crazy? July 20, 2007

As a pregnant mom, I find that I’m constantly involved with conversations revolving around birth stories. I have had women say they had a natural childbirth and after further query they meant that they had a vaginal birth. So according to them natural and vaginal are one in the same. Well, I want to dispel that myth and find some helpful hints to have a beautiful childbirth where mom is in control.

First of all a natural birth really is an unmedicated, vaginal birth. To many, an unmedicated birth seems stupid. However, there are many wonderful benefits to a natural birth. Here are some tips to keep in mind while you are in the throws of birthing:

• Trust your body. Women have been giving birth for thousands of years without the help of an epidural. Listen to your body and follow your instincts.
• Avoid laying on your back. I must be honest. With my first birth I did just this and almost ended up with a c-section. Try to sit up on a birthing ball or take a walk (if you can) or even a warm shower to ease your pain.
• Have a coach or doula. I hope you will have someone with you that is educated in natural birthing techniques and is well versed in your birthing plan. As they encourage you through your birth, recognize they are there to help you. Don’t be afraid to let them help.
• Relax. Many of us want to tense up as our body experiences a lot of discomfort. Focus your energy on the muscles of your uterus as it contracts to get baby out. Take even and deep abdominal breaths to keep yourself as relaxed as possible. Try dimming the lights and putting on some Enya to get you into that zen zone.
• Don’t beat yourself up. Complications can arise no matter how hard you are trying to have your “ideal” birth. If there is a chance of having you or your baby’s life to be in danger and medical intervention is inevitable, don’t feel like you failed. Holding that precious, healthy baby in your strong arms is a success, no matter how you got there.

If you are serious about more information on natural childbirth, you can look into the Bradley Method, which is a 12 week course, or search the internet for further info. I plan on using my own advice with my birth. I’ll let you know how it goes after he makes his debut.

5 Ways to Treat Asthma Naturally… July 13, 2007

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You are running after your kids in the back yard when it strikes! You are unable to catch your breath and you start frantically looking for your inhaler. As you puff on the little device you think, “There has to be a better way to take care of this.” Asthma, a condition that affects 15 million people, is traditionally treated with bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids which can have potentially serious side effects with prolonged use.

So what can you do? Are there any natural techniques that have shown to help this epidemic? Well, as a matter of fact there are. Just take a look below.

1. Go to the chiropractor. Preliminary studies are showing that by receiving regular chiropractic adjustments have demonstrated promising results for asthma sufferers. Chiropractors will look for subluxations (misalignments in the spine) and correct them. The upper back region contain nerves that affect the lungs so this area may be of interest to your chiropractor as a potential source of subluxations.
2. Get that weight under control! When you carry extra weight on your frame your organs, including your lungs will have to work harder to keep up with the extra demand of your added girth.
3. Drink water! Many Americans are plagued with chronic dehydration, especially for our fellow caffeine addicts in which caffeine acts as a diuretic. Good old fashioned water will help rehydrate your body and restore moisture to your lungs, allowing breathing to be an easier task. Shoot for 8-10 glasses a day. Trust me, as a former Diet Coke addict, it gets easier to drink over time.
4. Stay away from the fumes! Whether you or someone around you smokes, get away from it. If you smoke you need to quit to avoid a whole host of health problems. If you are around smoke on a consistent basis – ask the person to smoke outside. Luckily, many states are starting to pass laws prohibiting smoking in bars and restaurants.
5. Use natural cleaners! Many cleaners on the market have some pretty toxic fumes that can irritate sensitive lung tissue. There are many ways to clean your house using just vinegar, some lemon juice, water and baking soda.

Try these suggestions and see how your attacks will become less severe and less frequent. Feel free to leave your story in the comments!

Another option for seizure control… July 6, 2007

Over 2.3 million people are affected with a type of seizure disorder. I personally have someone very close to me that is afflicted by significant and serious seizures. Traditionally, medications such as Phenobarbital, Depakote, and Tegretol have been given to help manage seizures. These medications have many side effects that include liver damage. Other traditional management options have included brain surgery and VNS therapy.

If you have tried some of these options with little success or the side effects have been overwhelming, I would suggest finding a chiropractor in your area that has had some experience with seizure control. How it works: seizures are a serious neurological problem where overstimulation of the brain causes the circuits to go “haywire” resulting in a seizures. Chiropractic works with the nervous system by providing adjustments to the spine in order to allow the system to function more appropriately and essentially “dial down” the overstimulated brain and nerves. There are a number of different techniques that have been shown to be effective to treat this type of disorder. Studies are constantly increasing in number of how chiropractic has successfully helped patients with seizure disorders. Why not try an option that has minimal side effects and potentially unlimited benefits.

Fertility options continue to change… July 2, 2007

A new procedure for the IVF method has recently surfaced in the news giving hope to otherwise barren women. When a woman goes through IVF she must be exposed to massive amounts of hormones to stimulate her ovaries to produce mature, viable eggs. These hormones can wreak havoc on a woman’s body and emotions. This new procedure allows for the eggs to be extracted from the ovary in its immature form, thus bypassing the need for hormone injections. The egg can then be frozen for a few months. After it has been fertilized, it is placed into the mother-to-be’s womb, just like a routine IVF. A woman in Montreal received this treatment last year and successfully birthed a little girl.

Of course, I am a big fan of letting nature run its course. However, if your body is unable to get pregnant on its own, I believe this option has so many less side effects for the mother-to-be. This procedure has many more trials to go through before it will be considered for the general population, but for a woman who cannot tolerate the hormonal rush from traditional IVF, such as those who need chemotherapy or who have polycystic ovarian syndrome, this has great potential.