Start with your food

A good diet is very important throughout all phases of pregnancy.  Too many fatty foods and simple carbohydrates, plus the lack of a healthy variety of wholesome foods will undermine the body at the very time it needs to be running in top order.  At the very least become familiar with basic nutrition so that meal planning will be more effective.  Use natural or organic foods where possible, and don't forget those vegetables and fruits.

In addition to getting into optimal health nutritionally when trying for a baby, an expectant mother can take advantage of centuries of natural herbal knowledge, preparing her body and mind for the pregnancy.  There are many herbs and other preparations the mother-to-be can include in her daily routine that will enhance the body systems and create a healthy environment for nourishing her baby.

Strengthen the reproductive system with Red Raspberry.  This can be achieved by drinking a tea made from the dried leaves.  Dandelion is beneficial to the kidneys and liver, which are clearinghouses for the body.  Dandelion can be taken as a vegetable in salads, sipped as a tea and is even available as a caffeine free coffee substitute.  Nettle and Chamomile are also found in many pregnancy teas. Edema may be treated with dandelion and cleavers.

For morning sickness, both peppermint and ginger are helpful.  Slippery Elm Bark is good for this as well as for acid indigestion.   Alfalfa is a good tonic for reducing the amount of hemorrhaging after birth.  It also stimulates the production of milk, as does Malunggay, which is often taken in the form of a soup.  Blessed Thistle and fenugreek are also sometimes recommended to increase milk supply.

To help control hemorrhoids eat a diet sufficient in fiber.  Adjust your liquid intake accordingly.  Psyllium is safe to take to prevent or treat hemorrhoids.  Varicose veins can be deterred somewhat by using uva ursi and butcher's broom.  Stretch marks can be helped by massaging with oils that contain such herbs as neroli, patchouli, vitamin e, and others.

If your doctor gives you the go-ahead, give some of these natural remedies a try.  They can help create a wholesome environment for your baby to grow and prosper, and can help alleviate the common distresses that come with even the healthiest pregnancy.

Article by Rachel Goodchild

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