Pregnancy Issues and Discomforts (Oral Presentation)

8/14/2019 Pregnancy Issues and Discomforts (Oral Presentation)

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Pregnancy Issues and DiscomfortsNausea,Vomiting & Food Cravings

Many women experience nausea and vomiting in the first trimester. It isestimated that 1 in 10 will continue to experience the symptoms beyond thefirst trimester. It is often called morning sickness but for many women persists

throughout the day.

Hyperemisis gravidarum, also known as excessive and uncontrollable vomiting is medically definedby weight loss and dehydration due the inability to retain food and fluids.

Causes/symptoms

Though the cause of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy is not greatly known it is believed to becaused by the rising hCG levels in women and the imbalance of glucose in the womans body.Estrogen has also be linked to an increased sense of smell and thus causing sensitivity which canincrease a womans symptoms. It has been shown that women with decreased levels of estrogen intheir system such as teenage girls and menopausal women have a decreased sense of smell! One studysuggested that women born with anosmia(lack of ability to smell) did not suffer from morningsickness during their pregnancy. Some people believe that women carrying multiple fetusesexperience more severe symptoms due to the increased levels of hormones. Some people havesuggested and believe that hyperemisis can be caused by stressful relationships in the womans life.By getting away from the causes of stress some womens symptoms have eased up. Low blood sugar,increased stomach acid, lack of sleep and extra protein requirements from the fetus are some otherpossible causes.

Holistic Method

Eat small meals frequently, every two to three hours; do not skip meals; avoid hunger.

Have a snack before bedtime or during the night.

Try eating a piece of bread or a few crackers before getting up in the morning to quell nausea.

Get out of bed slowly; avoid sudden movements and get out of bed slowly

Avoid high fat and fried foods; eat lower-fat meats, poultry and fish; use skim or low-fat milkproducts; try carbohydrate-rich foods such as fruit, fruit juice, breads, cereals, rice, potatoes.

Drink fluids between rather than with meals to avoid stomach fullness at meal times.

Avoid strong food smells and cooking odors by eating cold foods, opening windows to freshen theair, avoiding coffee, garlic and other spices and having others cook when possible.

Avoid highly seasoned foods.

Avoid brushing your teeth immediately after eating; avoid brushing your tongue. Keep well rested; avoid fatigue.

Avoid cigarette smoking.

Try drinking ginger beer or ginger tea to ease nausea

Drink liquids between meals as apposed to meals

Turn to starchy foods such as potatoes, crackers and pasta

Eat food high in vitamin B6


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Acupressure

P6Some people have found that apply pressure to the acupuncture point Neiguan (P6) to behelpful. The wrist bands which work as pressure on the point as well as magnets have

worked for some women and no adverse effects to the fetus have been noted.

Mastoid ProcessIce applied right behind the mastoid process may also helpalleviate nausea.

Homeopathy

Due the none intrusive healing effects of homeopathy and its ability to work on energeticlevels many women may be tempted to try Homeopathy right away without consulting atrained Homeopath. Due to my personal beliefs and understanding of Homeopathy and itsability to balance or imbalance the bodies system I believe that a trained Homeopath shouldbe consulted for the correct remedy.

In Elizabeth Davis bookHeart and Hands she suggests the following Homeopathicremedies:

-Pulsiti"a-Sepia-Nux Vomica-Ipecacuanha -Antimonium Tartrate-Argentum Nitricum-Petroleum


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According to reference works there are 187 remedies with symptoms of nausea and vomitingdue to pregnancy.

The top four remedies and their sources associated with nausea and vomiting in pregnancyare:

The use of antihistamines

The drug Benediction was released onto the market in the 1950s which contained antihistaminesand vitamin B6 which helped reduced nausea and vomiting related to pregnancy. The drug waspulled from the market in 1983 when claims were made that it had a teratogenic effect causing

congenital malformations though many people believe that the drug itself does not cause defects.

Diclectin, containing the same ingredients is now available on the Canadian market though manydoctors are reluctant to prescribe it due to lawsuits. According the U.S food and drug administration,updated June 2008 Benediction has been approved to be given as a 10-mg oral tablet.

Pica

Pica is medical disorder defined by the desire and craving to eat non-foodsubstances. Items may include and are not limited to:

The cravings must last for at least one month and be age appropriate (i.ean infant under 24 months of age). It is the most common eating disorderin people with mental disabilities and is greatly linked with youngprimipara women during their first pregnancy.

It is widely believed the pregnant women experiencing pica have an irondeficiency but this is not always the case. According to a study done atthe University of Alabama in Williams the rate of spontaneous pretermbirth at less the 35 weeks was twice as high in women with pica. Theword Pica comes from the latin word meaning magpie, a bird which is

believed to eat anything. Pica may develop in people of all ages but ismost commonly linked to pregnant women. The etiology of Pica is yetunknown and there is no specific medical cure.

-Cimicifuga (flower)--Ipecacuanha (flower)

-Sepia (ink of the cuddle fish)-Pulsitila (flower)

feces

lead

laundrystarch

vinyl glove

plastic

pencilerasers

ice

paper

light bulbs

needles

string

cigarette

butts plaster

clay

dirt

sand

stones pebbles

hair

burntmatches

fingernails

wire

paintchips

coal

chalk

wood


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Food cravings

There is no scientific evidence why pregnant women crave certain foods while pregnant but manyguesses have been made and common sense can be used. The body is working hard to create theplacenta and the baby while keeping up with its normal functions thus using up more resources then

normal. If a mom has a strong craving for something then there is a very good chance her body islacking whatever is in that food and it is its own way of signaling her to its needs. Vinegary foodsencourage our bodies to release calcium into the blood stream. Frequent craving of sweets maysignify a need for more protein in the diet and food cravings for chips and pretzels may be thebodies way of signify it wants more salt. As food cravings are so commonly experience in pregnantwoman it is considered a normal symptom of pregnancy and is within normal parameters and not acause for concern.

References:

Heart And Hands-Elizabeth David A Guide to Effective care in Pregnancy and Childbirth-Murray Enkin, Marc J.NC, Keirse James Neilson, Caroline

Crowther, Lelia Duley, Ellen Hodnett and Justus Hofmeyr

Williams Obstetrics, Twenty-Second Edition

The Complete Book Of Pregnancy and Childbirth-Sheila Kitzinger

www.fda.gov

The Pregnanc Womans comfort Guide-Sherry LM Jimenes, RN

Nutrition for Your prengnacy-Judith E. Brown

The Natural Pregnancy Book, Herbs, Nutrition and other holistic cures.- Aviva Jill Romm

ReferenceWorks Homeopathic Software
http://www.fda.gov/http://www.fda.gov/http://www.fda.gov/

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Pregnancy Issues and Discomforts (Oral Presentation)