This month's feature article: Taking Care of Mom and Baby

Our children change our lives forever, bringing joy and tenderness, but along with all the good times, having babies often changes our state of health.  As much as we love them, babies require a lot of energy and nutrients from mom especially during gestation and breastfeeding. Combine that with huge hormonal fluctuations and sleep deprivation and the result can be symptoms that make it hard to cope with the demands of motherhood.  As women we are taught to take it all in stride and give everything for our children, but we need to feel that it’s ok to take care of ourselves – and in fact the better we feel, the more we can give to our kids. It’s so important to rest, take breaks and find ways to nourish and heal ourselves during this time.

Acute problems that arise during pregnancy, the birth or during the recovery period often respond very well to homeopathic remedies, which are safe for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Here are just a few examples:

Angela used a remedy called Cocculus indica to relieve severe and constant nausea during pregnancy

Celia used a remedy called Kali carbonicum to help ease back pain during labour

Storm found that Phellandrium helped with her unusual symptoms of thrush that did not respond to medical treatment.

Tammy’s 3^rd baby was in breech presentation, and she used the remedy Pulsatilla to successfully - and painlessly - turn the baby.

 I took Arnica  montana right after the birth and experienced no bruising or after pains. (Arnica is a wonderful remedy for any birth, it helps control bleeding, reduces bruising and trauma to the tissues, and promotes rapid healing).

 Pam suffered from painful engorgement and found that Bryonia helped.

For other women, significant changes in overall health begin after pregnancy and don’t resolve by themselves.  Individually tailored ‘constitutional’ remedies can help:

Mindy had chronic iron and calcium depletion from several pregnancies that was not ameliorated by taking supplements, leaving her feeling weak, dizzy and exhausted. A remedy called Calcarea phosphorica was found to be her constitutional remedy and relieved the symptoms.

 Sophie suffered from severe exhaustion and depression after having 4 children over 6 years, and her hormonal cycles were much disrupted. A remedy called Sepia eased her depression and restored her energy.

You can learn to use many homeopathic remedies for acute problems, and professional homeopathic care can help with more complex constitutional problems.

Please note: It is important to distinguish between homeopathic remedies and herbal remedies, because some herbal remedies are not safe for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding, but homeopathics are safe.

 Note: the information in this article is not intended as medical advice. Consult your health professional about any health problems you are having.

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