Healthy Pregnancy Home Remedies

I wanted to share my experience with taking evening primrose to get labor started and make it much easier for mothers. I have delivered 5 children. The first four were very long difficult labors that I was never able to start on my own. I had to be induced with each of my first four children. My first labor was terribly long and painful. 3 days of intense (sleepless) contractions and I went to my doctor each day and only dilated to a 1.5. It was torture. My doctor ended up inducing me with pitocin which now that I am older I understand causes terrible pain and stressful labors. My second was very similar and so on with the next two. It was with my fifth labor that my cousin who believes in natural remedies suggested that I start taking evening primrose to help prepare my cervix for labor. I started taking it at about 37 weeks pregnant as I didn't want to jump start my labor to soon just in case. I really didn't think it would do much with me since I apparently have a very stuborn cervix and uterus but I was willing to try anything after four terrible labors. I took it two to three times a day for 2 1/2 weeks. When I went in for my 40 week appointment I was blown away when my doctor said I was dilated to a 3. I had never ever dilated past a 2 on my own and that was when I was 2 weeks overdue. Now I am at a 3 a few days before I am even due. I had noticed a few mild contractions throughout the days but nothing that was what I considered painful. I continued to take the evening primrose and was having mild contractions the day of my sons due date. I had never gone this far without help so I was completely lost. Late that night I asked my husband to take me in cuz I felt different. We went in and I just about had a heart attack when the nurse said I had dialated on my own to a 6. It was awesome. I ended up delivering in a total of 6 hours after feeling the first "uncomfortable" labor pains. That was more than 3 times less than my previous deliveries. I love evening primrose and still take it during my menstral cycle for pain.

Hi, My wife 32 yrs had IUGR (intrautrine Growth Restriction) lost year and the baby died after 32wks. After the period of 1 year we are again trying for conceiving a baby, will IUGR repeat this type also. I am more worrying. Please suggest any natural way to prevent IUGR this time.

Many thanks, Shiva

I forgot to add that Coconut oil is ALSO Antibacterial antimicrobial and antifungal!

I had PUPPS with my first pregnancy, my son is a about to be a year and a half, it was TERRIBLE, SO ITCHY!!!! So I went to the dr and they said I should take topical steroids and Ingestable steroids, I did the topical but WOULD NOT EVER IN MY LIFE take steroids, ESP while pregnant since I believe natural is best, the topical didn't do didly squat for the itchies so I searched and searched for natural anything, I started taking dandelion root capsules and that did wonders but it came back with a vengence! AH, I ended up letting them induce me at 38 weeks, I wish I could go back and stick it out, but my son is healthy and perfect, anyway, I am now 29 weeks pregnant with my second baby and started getting little red bumps just like before but THANKFULLY my midwife started me on a dandelion root tincture several months ago so I just upped my dosage and the little red bumps went bye bye. My advice to anyone experiencing this horrible ailment is to take the dandelion root tincture, email me I can get it to you. christaleddleman(at)yahoo.com

May the Lord richly bless you

@Shannabelle from Gilbert, Arizona, Hi there, I am currently seven months pregnant and Have been using Coconut oil since I was pregnant with my first child who is now 15 months old! I take a tablespoon a day and started doing so because I got a yeast infection during the first pregnancy and it cured it so I kept taking it, coconut oil is EXTREMELY beneficial for you, I give it to my son as well, not completely raw lol, but I make Creamy Buckwheat for breakfast and put a tablespoon of Coconut oil, make sure its organic and cold pressed and virgin, and I also add a tablespoon of peanut or almond butter and a tablespoon of ground or whole flaxseeds depending on what I have at the time, then I slice a banana and if I have other fruits like strawberries blueberries or bananas I add that! Its delicous and healthy and he loves it, I would drink Raw unpasteurized milk whenever possible as well! You can email me with any questions you might have about anything, I am going to study to become a naturopath.

My email is christaleddlema(at)yahoo.com

Hi Shannabelle, although I don't like to advise what you should take when you are pregnant I am pretty sure EVCO being a natural oil would be safe especially for external use on yourself and the baby when it is born. I know the South Pacific Islanders have been using coconut oil for an eternity without problems. I would keep the injestion of EVCO to a minimal amount to be sure, maybe about 2tsp daily. Hope this helps. Lily.

It is absolutely safe! It would do NO harm and only benefit you and your baby for the better! I recommend using it as a moisturizer for your baby instead of all the commercial ones with chemicals no one can pronounce... And it's less expensive! I started giving it to my little ones when they started solids too... Good luck to you!

I am 7 months pregnant and would like to start taking EVCO internally. I currently use it externally as a moisturiser, and after reading all of the wonderful posts testifying to the great overall results, I would like to know if it would be safe for me to begin ingesting it. I am 34, I don't drink, I don't smoke, I eat a pretty healthy diet of fruit, veggies and some meat. I would like to get all of the toxins out of my body using EVCO befor the birth of my son. I plan to breastfeed and I would love to be as healthy as possible to ensure that he has the very best from me internally as well as externally. I would also like to know if it would be safe to use as a moisturizer on my newborn.

I stumbled upon this site accidentally five days ago and since then I have become a sponge. I absolutely love the community of people sharing their personal experiences with virtual strangers. Thank you all for giving your time and effort to help people be as healthy as can be the way the good Lord intended.

Hi, I am 10 weeks pregnant and have been making a 'morning tonic' with molasses, organic apple cider vinegar and honey. I got the okay from my midwife who said that women have been giving birth for 1000s of years and have been taking ACV, molasses and honey for 1000s of years. It is safe. I feel like I have so much more energy making my morning tonic, too.

Here's my tonic:

In a cup of warm water I add:

1 tbsp organic apple cider vinegar (I use _____'s)

2 tbsp raw honey

1 tbsp molasses

I don't know if this is helping, but so far I have had NO morning sickness, very little dizziness, and feel much more energetic througout the day.

I also make a tea of raspberry leaves, lemon balm and plantain leaf in the evening. The raspberry leaves are said to help inhibit morning sickness, and help your body to create a strong amniotic sac to carry the baby to term; it also has a lot of calcium - a critical need during pregnancy. The lemon balm is soothing. The plantain leaf contains lots of B vitamins and is considered "poor man's spinach" - haha, I pick it out of my yard!

Hope that helps!

For sciatica pain, I have been taking vit b12 (also known as the NERVE vitamin! ) it works amazingly. Take 2000 mcg as soon as pain starts. Take again throughout the day if necessary. 400mcg of folic acid helps in the absorption of the vit b12.

hi , I found ur article very useful.

i am diagnosed as pcod and conceived my Gonal F NATURALLY, but it turned out to be unexplained ectopic pregnancy. No blockage. I lost my right Fallopian tube through laproscopy. I came across the Castor pack therapy. It has been two months after the lapro. Can I go for castor pack therapy? please help me I don't want to take chance for the next pregnancy.

regards, shilpa

WARNING!

Pregnant women should not be drinking baking soda water because of the high sodium content! Unfortunately, this remedy cannot be used during pregnancy

this is tried out on ourself! Discouvered it in desperate situation. During preganancy my wife developed rare condition called PUPPP. We tried all steroids no effect what so ever. There is no cure according to net nothing with Dr. either. We applied Turmeric in onion juice, the PUPPP was done in 10 min!

Thank you, Dilraj and Vijay

After reading from Ted. Mails. To control my epilepsy I am taking EPSOM Salt Magnesium sulphate, half a tea spoon early morning with orange juice, since last one year. Now I am in the seventh week of pregnancy. Please guide whether to stop taking epsom salt, due to risk of having adverse effect on new born. Mrs. AroraDarjellin, Karachi. Pakistan

The first lady is correct. Synthetic vitamin C is an abortifacient and I have used it as such several times when I was younger. Unlike herbs it works dependably in the right circumstances. It is useful if you use a natural planning method of birth control ("rhythm method") and become fertile unexpectedly within a few days of intercourse. It only works for sure in the first week after conception and you must take very high doses (a tablet every hour or two) in order to ensure success. You will know it worked of course because you will begin menstruation after a couple of days. It's been a decade since I have used it but I believe synthetic vitamin C is a progesterone blocker. For safety, anyone taking vitamin C should be very careful to only take natural vitamin C in lower doses.

I am a RN in the Burn Center and our MD's prescribe 1000 mg Ascorbic Acid to all our patients (pregnant or otherwise) because it encourages cell regeneration. Cell walls require ascorbic acid (or vitamin C) to repair themselves, so it's a good thing to take extra while you're being required to make new cells - as in growing a new life or healing a wound. I'm 34 weeks pregnant now, and my midwife has encouraged me to take up to 1000 mg of Vitamin C every hour (if needed) for the duration of my pregnancy. It has helped prevent illness as well as grow a healthy baby. I haven't been sick this entire pregnancy and I deal with some REALLY nasty germs while at work.

Found Earth Clinic a year ago and love this site!! Thank you!! Have had pregnancy diabetes for my past 2 preg. Now I've over 40 and preg with my 3rd. Started having problems again at the end of 1st trimester. Really watched what I ate... no refined carbs, no sweets, nothing but protein for breakfast or else sugars would go as high as 165 and I'd be dizzy/sick. Had to keep carbs below 60g a day and even then couldn't eat them all at once. In middle of 2nd trimester had to cut back even more. So I started Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) with Dr. 's permission. (But what Dr wouldn't be OK with an amount equal to what most put on a salad?) (2 tea in 8oz of water 2x's a day... Empty stomach. )

After 1 week, tested it with a piece of whole wheat toast at breakfast with my usual eggs/cheese/bacon. Before it would have made me dizzy and I'd be up above 150 an hour after eating. It was only 140. WONDERFUL!!!! Now I'm only 6 weeks from my due date. I can eat a piece of pizza for dinner, or a hotdog for lunch with the bun! I even can have a bit of sugar in my ice tea or a few bites of apple pie. I can have a few bites of a chocolate bar too!!! None of this was possible before! My sugar's now are very stable. They never go above 140 an hour after a meal and 2hrs after they are down around 110. ACV seems to have a compounding effect. The longer I'm on it the more often I can eat carbs. I can now have a bit of pasta or a piece of pizza or wheat toast every day! I still can't eat more than 1/2 slice of wheat toast at breakfast, but that's OK. I can eat almost anything I want in moderation!! It's made life wonderful! As we all know preg women have lots of cravings. I can indulge in anything, just in moderation. This is great!!!! Another effect that is more subtle is the swelling. I gain a LOT of weight while pregnant (40lbs usually). But, I eat very healthy, and the weight goes on at 1 pound a week. But, that's still a lot of weight. After 2wks on ACV I noticed my body seemed less 'puffy' and I went 2 weeks without gaining any weight. It's hard to explain, but preg women should know what I mean. I have no swelling in my feet or arms unless I sit for hours. People who've seen me during my other preg's constantly comment how great I look during this one. My Dr. Is impressed each time I see him. Yes, it is work and I have to be really good and never miss a dose of ACV. I also keep very close watch on what I eat. But, it is so worth it!!! I know I can control my sugars without drugs!!! It is a wonderful empowering feeling!!! Thank you for this great site Earth Clinic!!!

Itchy Pregnancy Rash

Hi, I've wanted to help other women with this for 6 years but could not find a forum until now. While pregnant with my daughter I developed an unbearably itchy and unsightly rash on my stomach and face. Dermatologists, Obgyn and GP could not help. After hours of internet searching I found a forum on Pregnancy Rashes. Most of the over 500 entries said NOTHING helped but delivery of the baby and I was still 5 months away! I found about 5 woman who had used either topical Witch Hazel or Dandelion Root Extract. I checked every source I could find to make sure neither of these would be dangerous to the baby and then proceded to do both. I took twice the suggested dose on the Dandelion root (based on health food store recommendation) and applied Witch Hazel to the affected areas 3 times a day. By the time I returned to the dermatologist 2 weeks later for a biopsy appointment, the rash was gone! I was so thankful for those 5 women who posted. I hope this will be helpful to some other woman out there who is experienceing this awful side affect of what otherwise is a wonderful time in a woman's life.

Peace and Blessings

I had 2 friends use Maca..one took 2 capsules three times daily and the other said she wasn't very consistent but used it at least 2 capsules once daily and both were having trouble conceiving. They also said they noticed more energy and I know that is true because I began taking it because it is suppose to be a good support for the female system and it gave me a feeling of well being and a little more energy.

Fantastic site - I am absolutely glued to it!! I was looking at how to become pregnant (to conceive) but I can't find the topic - do you have any advice you could share for a friend of mine? Thanks very much for the generous help that you have offered on this site. It is greatly appreciated.

I don't know about the cell salt remedy, but I do know that a much cheaper remedy worked for me. . .That was 1/4 t. of baking soda in a little water or juice or milk. Same idea as for regular heartburn. Too much acid in the system is what causes it. Also prevent it with an alkaline diet.

I'm not sure about the form being right to take in pregnancy or not, but I took a top notch 6 a day prenatal with plenty of ascorbic acid in there, and I always had to have my water broken with my babies. (It was coming out intact.) Come to find out from my Midwife, it's the vit. C that causes a tough sack. I will continue to take it, as with my condition of an irritable uterus, most woman seem to loose their babies early due to their water breaking. . .I kept mine full term.

Hello Angela from Lynchburg, Va,

Magnesium has to lot to do with our nervous system and nerves. Since magnesium is a necesary mineral that our body requires the same as potassium, sodium, calcium, etc. it should be the safest of all remedies for nerves or depression during pregnancy.

For those of you who think you might be low on magnesium, to bring it up in a hurry without getting its laxative effect of it when taking it orally, the transdermal method works fine. Look up Deirdre's praise for it on EC. You will also find her place where she located it at a reasonable price and the sense of peace & contentment she got after using it.

If you don't understand how absorption through the skin works, Dr. Sircus at IMVA (International Medical
Veritas Association) has an excellent article on it, as well as excellent articles on sodium, madnesium and iodine. While you are there you might as well sign up for his free newsletters, which I find helpful.

WARNING!

I'm afraid that advice about ST. John's wort being a safe antidepressant is not correct. As a matter of fact, I know from numerous herbalists and a midwife, that it is dangerous. It's also online if you just look. I've also looked into Sam-e for pregnancy, and it's unproven. The only thing I know that is completely safe and natural is Omega 3 supplements. Also Doctors will tell you that Prozac is safe in Pregnancy, but I for one am sceptical as I had my first mid-trimester miscarriage soon after taking it myself. In the end, what I should have done is get out of a stressful situation, eat better so I could deal with the stress better, and have faith in God. . .not take something to mask it.

Great advice for what ails you, pregnant or not. It would relax the muscles some, but for long term relief of sciatic pain, massage with chiropractic care have been the only thing that have helped my longstanding pain. No other things will work, more than temporarily, as there are many causes of sciatic pain.

During my first pregnancy, I experienced indigestion during my last trimester, which I understood to be normal. I started experiencing it earlier in my second pregnancy with more severe symptoms, and then earlier again in my third pregnancy, with increasingly severe symptoms. Before my fourth pregnancy, my mother-in-law (the best witch doctor around!) told me about flax seed oil. I tried to take a tablespoon with each meal(3x a day). Even if I didn't take in 3 a day, I still took at least 1 tablespoon a day. I never had any indigestion symptoms, until I went on a weekend trip in my 7th month, and forgot to bring my flax seed oil. I ended up having to sleep sitting up in a rocking chair. My indigestion was so severe, I was having a hard time breathing. When I got back home, I immediately resumed taking the flax seed oil, and had no more problems with indigestion.

I am not much of a computer person, but it doesn't seem to want to let me copy and paste, unless I am missing a beat somehow. Sorry :(

An Rh-negative mother should have the RhoGAM shot during pregnancy, and also after birth if the baby is Rh-positive (for a miscarriage the shot would be taken regardless). This is the case for each pregnancy she has. RhoGAM doesn't have thimerosal in it, so no worries on that count. I would not endanger future children by refusing the shot. Vitamin C isn't going to make your blood somehow more compatible. This is one case where the allopathic way really is the wisest thing.

Sending you a hug, Jane...I am sorry for your loss.

Is there an easy way to re-submit my post, or do I have to type it all back in by hand (bleh)?

EC's programing seems to have dropped the positive sign that signifies a positive Rh status, e.g. "Rh+ ". This could lead to alot of confusion amoung readers.

You've got it the wrong way around. If the mother is Rh- and she has an Rh+ baby, she needs a rhogam shot.

When a mother is Rh- and she is carrying an Rh+ fetus, the mother's blood makes antibodies to the fetus's blood because the mother's immune system "sees" the fetus's Rh+ blood as a foreign invader and responds by making antibodies. The rhogam shot functions to "mop up" the antibodies that the mother made to the Rh+ baby she just delivered so that the NEXT fetus isn't harmed by the anti-Rh antibodies floating around in the mother's system from her PREVIOUS pregnancy.

If the mother is Rh- and the fetus is ALSO Rh-, the mother's body does not see the fetus as a foreign invader and so DOES NOT make antibodies to it, so no rhogam shot is needed after an Rh- mother delivers an Rh- baby. In the event of a miscarriage, a rhogam shot is administered just in case the miscarried fetus was Rh+ . If it was not Rh+ , no harm is done by giving the woman the rhogam shot.

p.s. As far as I know, there is NO "natural remedy" to replace a rhogam shot. The only "remedy" to the problem is for an Rh- woman to only have children with an Rh- man, or NOT have children with an Rh+ man. Rh- and Rh+ blood types are incompatable, even if they are of the same ABO group.

p.p.s. I am Rh- also.

I too have RH- blood. I have had three Rhogam shots. I had my first one around 37 years ago. We weren't absolutely sure but thought I had a miscarriage and got the shot. I received the second shot after my first baby was born and the third shot after my second baby was born. I have had no side effects that I know of. I usually don't get flu shots or vaccines but this was to protect the baby. Both of my babies were born with positive blood, so there was not a problem but I believe if the baby is born with negative blood they may have to have a blood transfusion and that sounds a lot more dangerous than a shot. I'm not real sure how all that works anymore (it's been a long time) but I just wanted you to know that I got the shots and all is well. God bless you.

Natural Alternatives to the Rhogam Shot for RH- blood type in Pregnancy/Miscarriage?

Hello. Does anyone here know of what I can take as a natural preventative instead of getting a Rhogam shot? I am blood type RH- and experiencing a miscarriage. I was told that RH- women who are pregnant or have a miscarriage should get this shot so that if the baby is RH and the baby's blood somehow mixes (rare) with the mother's blood, the mother's blood will build up antibodies to 'attack' the foreign blood.

I have since read online that Rhogam is classified as a vaccine, which I am against. In any case, I am committed to using natural methods of healing and prevention.

While I do have the option of simply going without the shot, this could endanger future pregnancies/babies. And I did read that there are natural ways of decreasing incompatibility. Vitamin C was mentioned (apparently referenced from a book by author Susan S. Weed, which I will try to locate) but I did not get the dosage or timing of it. I am supposed to get the shot within 72 hours of bleeding. Any insights are much appreciated.

Apple Cider Vinegar for blocked sinuses: I am in my second trimester of pregnancy and suffering from a pretty bad cold. When I tried to go to bed, my sinuses were completely blocked, so I was lying on my back, breathing through my mouth, but feeling like I was suffocating from the post-nasal drip. I was desperate to find something to unblock my nose, but since I want to stay away from medications, I found this site. I decided to try drinking apple cider vinegar. I poured (generously) about 2 tablespoons into some hot water, mixed it with honey and struggled to get it down. Less than 10 minutes later, my left nostril is completely clear. Thanks so much for the advice. It was a godsend!

you may both be right. it might just be a matter of timing and dosage. as it is, there are herbs that can be emmenagogues (induce a period when it's late) but can also be used to encourage conception; they are just different dosages, at different times of the woman's cycle (before OR after ovulation for instance, makes a difference).

it could be that once the baby is further developed, a dosage of 10 grams is generally safe, as you mention. maybe then you are out of that delicate developing zone.

high doses of vitamin c (preferably absorbic acid) has been and is used to induce a late period and/or miscarraige, in the early stages of pregnancy. please note that the emmenagogue vitamin c dosage is anywhere from 6-12 grams per day of absorbic acid, for no more than 14 days. hopefully this helps to clarify things. i am not an expert but have read quite a bit about natural fertility herbal uses.

just keep in mind that many supplement have dual effects and read up/get advice before you add any new supplement. valerian, for instance. it is a balancer: can stimulate when you are tired, or make you sleepy when you are anxious/wired. i have firsthand experience with this one.

Just wondering if there is a danger in drinking the baking soda Lemon water remedy while pregnant? I'm feeling sluggish and pretty positive that my body is acidic - judging from my current diet. Would you reccommend this remedy to pregnant women?

Contrary to politically correct nutrition, not all bacteria is bad for you! People have been eating food with bacteria for thousands of years and stayed much healthier than most Americans. Read "Nourishing Traditions" by Sally Fallon. You need lots of good bacteria to balance the bad bacteria, and if you get the really good fermented, unpasteurized ACV with the floaties in it you are getting A LOT of great bacteria to colonize your gut and help you digest and boost your immune system. I drink unpasteurized milk and make kefir with it... it's loaded with good bacteria. You just have to make sure you get it from healthy cows kept by a clean farmer. And don't bother with dead ACV. What's the point?

I am now just into my 8th month of pregnancy and have been eating raw cheese, raw butter, and drinking raw milk my whole pregnancy. My baby is strong and healthy. I have read that the chances are rare that you can harm the baby by having raw unpasterized products. Since I have started eating this way I have had a better pregnancy then my others.

Im 21 years of age and have suffered from BV for about a year now. I am 4 months pregnant and take prenatal and pregnancy vitamins which include folic acid, but i still continue to get BV. Is it ok to increase my dosage of folic acid while being pregnant? And if so how much would be advised to take? This horrible bacteria is killing my sex and personal life. I need help!

I greatly reduced the pain of my labour when having my 4th baby by taking 'Mag Phos' which is one of the 'Schuessler Tissue Salts'. i took 4 every half hour according to instructions on container. after trying many other pain relief during my other 3 babies labour, this was by far the best remedy and least painful labour.

I had sciatic problems during my pregnancy, too. Best cure I found: Stick your butt out; the bigger you are, the more you should exaggerate it, too. I found shoes with a bit of heel helped. Plus lots of prenatal yoga and prenatal Pilates, too. Good Luck and Congrats!

Hello Katie, Your remedy may be causing the problem. Afrin should not be used more than 3 days continuously because you get a rebound swelling that is worse than when you started it. Leave off that Afrin and use plenty of normal saline flushing to open up the nose & sinuses.