Skin Changes In Pregnancy

Skin changes in pregnancy can be a nuisance, but there are a number of home remedies available to alleviate discomfort and improve appearance. But, it begins with embracing all the normal changes as beautiful marks of blessing, wisdom and transformation to not only appreciate but also to celebrate.

The hormones in pregnancy cause a variety of skin changes, such as:

• Darkening of your nipples and areola

• Darkening of existing moles, freckles and birthmarks

• The development of dark patches on the face

• A dark line in the center of the abdomen

• Stretch marks

• Red palms

• Spider veins

• Dryness

• Sweating

• Itching

• Increased sensitivity to irritants

Skin Discoloration

To minimize skin discoloration, avoid tanning salons and excessive sun exposure, especially between 10 am and 2 pm. During these peak hours, apply low dose natural sunscreen containing an SPF of at least 15-30. Protect yourself with a big brimmed hat and light clothing as needed.

Make sure you eat foods high in folate, such as whole grains, fresh fruits, vegetables, and liver. Alternately, you can take a prenatal herbal supplement that provides 1 mg methylated folic acid which has other benefits as well, like prevention of fetal neural tube defects. It also comes in chewable form. 

Avoid hydrocortisone cream and coal tar preparations.

Red palms may be caused by a deficiency in vitamin B6 which is unlikely if your diet is healthy and well-balanced, as B6 is found in fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and protein foods, as well as in prenatal vitamins.

Consult your dermatologist if a mole develops changes other than simply darkening, such as becoming larger, irregular, discolored, or irritated.

Stretch Marks

Stretch marks are made worse by increased weight gain and skin stretching, like with large babies or twins. If you have a tendency to develop stretch marks, you can help to prevent or minimize them with a regular massage to the vulnerable areas with equal amounts of the essential oils of argan, bitter almond, gotu kola, pomegranate, lavender, bitter orange, rosehip, vitamin E and dragon's blood extract sap diluted in a container of almond, coconut and/or wheat germ oils.

Try experimenting with creams said to help, such as those containing cocoa butter or shea butter, elastin, vitamin E and any of the above essential oils. Massage them slowly into your body with love and honor for your goddess self, looking for and admiring the beauty inside and out. Take time to breathe in a sense of deep gratitude for the blessings in your life, including the ability to bring a new baby into your family.

Wear a supportive bra and a good maternity girdle, and watch your weight. Remember, you only need to gain 3-6 pounds during the 1st trimester and ½ -1 pound per week for the remainder of your pregnancy, for a grand total of 25-35 pounds.

Get 30 minutes 5 days per week of moderate exercise like brisk walking, dancing, swimming, cycling, and low impact aerobics, as well as muscle toning through floor work exercises, light weights, Pilates and/or prenatal yoga. 

Drink 8-10 glasses of water daily. And eat lots of fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds, and lean protein (like organic eggs, tofu, wild clean water fish, turkey or chicken), and use olive or coconut as your primary oil. Avoid products high in refined white flour, sugars and saturated or partially hydrogenated fat. 

Be sure to supplement your diet with prenatal vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and other nutrients needed to sustain a healthy pregnancy. 

You can also try homeopathic remedies called Calcarea fluorica, Graphites and/or Silicea to prevent stretch marks. It is usually given in low doses, several pellets of the remedy most specific to your symptoms a few times daily. Homeopathic remedies are safe and amazingly effective in treating common skin issues during pregnancy. You can consult a classical homeopath, or refer to books like Homeopathy For Pregnancy, Birth and Your Baby’s First Year by Miranda Castro. 

Most skin changes resolve during the early postpartum months, but stretch marks are often referred to as one’s mark of motherhood since they never completely disappear. Try to think of them as reminders of the gifts that have been bestowed upon you, to be thankful and appreciative of your ability to bear children. Try to see the beauty in a pregnant belly. As one wise African midwife once remarked at a midwifery conference, there are many infertile women who would do anything just to have those stretch marks.

Renowned holistic MD, midwife and herbalist, Aviva Romm, in “The Natural Pregnancy Book” views stretch marks as “silvery jewelry on the belly of a woman adorning her and reflecting her ability to grow and change.” She further states that contrary to the values of American society, we need to “take pride in our individual form, shape and markings…to love ourselves with awe and admiration at the amazing accommodation your body is giving to your growing baby.”

Rashes and Itching

If you develop a local itchy rash, it may be the result of a mild allergy to something that never bothered you before. You need to experiment by paying attention to everything that comes in contact with the affected area of your skin. Eliminate possible culprits one at a time. Common causes include:

• Bath soap

• Laundry detergent

• Synthetic cleaning soaps

• Household and workplace chemicals

• Environmental toxins

• Synthetic clothing

• Cosmetics

• Metal on watches and jewelry

• Poison ivy or poison oak 

• Certain foods (like cow dairy, gluten, soy, certain fruits, nuts, or chemical additives)

Watch for improvement after switching to all-natural hypoallergenic products available at most health food stores, wearing only cotton close to your skin, putting the laundry through an extra rinse, taking off your metal, gardening with gloves and protective clothing and avoiding these plants altogether, or cutting out a specific food item for a few days. 

Try to avoid scratching as this makes the rash worse. If your skin is irritated, take a hot or cool water bath as often as you need and add a packet or ½ cup of Aveeno colloidal oatmeal or cornstarch to the water. Once your skin is completely dry, apply aloe vera gel, a few drops of lavender oil or calendula salve, or herbal combination lotion or cream to the affected areas. Ointments or creams containing Tigar Balm, Ben Gay, or Vitamins A, E, and C may also help, as well as a homeopathic remedy specific to your symptoms. If you do touch the poison ivy or oak plant again, you have 20-30 minutes to wash the oil off with soap and water, or up to 24 hours to wash it off with Tecnu lotion or Zanfel, which is more effective. 

Most of the supplements and herbal remedies I recommend are available on my customized online holistic apothecary. Find the best supplements that have gone through my thorough screening process there. Look in the category for skin changes or search them individually. My online dispensary is a convenient way for you to purchase my hand-picked, professional-grade, whole food supplements and other natural health products. Ordering is simple, and the products will be shipped directly to your home or work within a few days.

For itching skin without a rash, make sure your diet is high in organic whole foods, with plenty of fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains, nuts, seeds and beans. Minimize processed, refined, chemical laden, and deep fried foods. Drink at least a half gallon of water daily.

Keep cool with loose comfortable all-cotton clothing. Try soaking in a hot or cool oatmeal or cornstarch bath, and apply calendula oil or rub cocoa butter on the itchy part of your body. Prevent skin dryness with almond or coconut oil. You can add to the oil a few drops each of the above mentioned essential oils of lavender, rosehip, bitter orange and pomegranate.

Try aqueous cream with aloe vera and/or collagen, and consult your homeopath for a remedy specific to your individual symptoms. Supplement with 1000-1500 mg evening primrose oil and 400-600 mg DHA/EPA essential fatty acids commonly found in fish oil tested free of common pollutants.

A wonderfully effective herb that helps with generalized itching and is one of the finest nourishing tonics in pregnancy is stinging nettles. You can make your own tea by adding a handful of the dried herb to 1 quart of boiling water. Steep covered in a mason glass canning jar for 4-8 hours and drink several times daily. Or, you can take 1-2 of Gaia’s or Eclectic Institute’s capsules of freeze dried extract every 2-4 hours as needed. 

Another effective remedy recommended by Dr. Aviva Romm in “The Natural Pregnancy Book”, is made by combing ¼ -½ ounce each of bulk echinacea root, burdock root, licorice root (only if blood pressure is normal, and not high) and dandelion root. Steep in 1 quart boiling water for 4 hours, strain and drink ½ cup twice daily until condition improves. You can try adding lemon or lime juice, fresh mint, and or honey to taste.

Women who suffer from chronic allergic skin complaints often find that they clear up in pregnancy, but occasionally they do get worse. 

If you have eczema that is not improving, try eliminating all cow’s milk and gluten products from your diet for 2 weeks to see if that helps. If you see improvement, resume dairy or one grain at a time for 2 days and note if the symptoms recur. If so, you will need to avoid that food completely. But, if they do not recur, then you can safely eat that particular food item. Other common allergen triggers to experiment eliminating and resuming one at a time include soy, corn, eggs, and yeast. 

Increase intake of other foods high in calcium (like dark green leafy vegetables, sesame seed dip/tahini, wild clean water salmon and sardines) or take supplemental 500 mg Calcium Citrate with Magnesium 2-3 times per day. Cook with fresh turmeric and ginger. Dr Andrew Weil recommends taking 500 mg evening primrose or black currant oil twice daily, and applying chaparral salve or aloe vera gel to the affected areas when skin is still moist after bathing. 

Reduce inner stress and increase inner calm with regular practice of yoga, meditation and breathwork, and do what you can to reduce stressors in your life. This includes unplugging from your smartphone and computer as much as possible to connect more with life, yourself and others, and doing what you really love. Doing this is probably the most important remedy, as the mind and body are exquisitely connected, and inside stress is a major cause of health problems, especially chronic allergic skin issues.

If you have psoriasis that is not improving, increase sunlight exposure to affected areas. Weather permitting, spend at least 20 minutes in the early morning or late afternoon sun. Take 2 Tbsp ground flaxseed daily. You can add to hot or cold cereals, baked goods, smoothies or yogurt. 

Apply topical applications of aloe vera or chaparral lotions or salves, take a good prenatal multivitamin and mineral supplement (like New Chapter or Innate Response) with omega threes. Dr. Weil advises additional antioxidants that include:

• 10,000-20,000 IU mixed carotenoids (a safe source of Vitamin A)

• 400-800 IU Vitamin E

• 200 mg Vitamin C

• 100-200 mcg selenium

• 60 mg coenzyme Q10 softgel capsules

And you can try 2 capsules of Gaia, Wish Garden or Eclectic Institute’s Milk Thistle twice per day if needed. Allow at least 3 months for optimal effects.

For both psoriasis and eczema, explore wonderfully effective alternative modalities such as hypnotherapy, visualization, breathwork and guided imagery therapy, and traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture. Read Dr. Andrew Weil’s Natural Health, Natural Medicine, which provides information on improving nutritional habits and practical ways in which you can reduce inflammation, as well as internal tension, and enhance your own health and well-being safely and naturally.

Increased Sweating

If you perspire a lot, make sure you replace fluids by drinking extra water. Bathe or shower 1-2 times daily as needed. Wear all-natural roll on deodorant from the health food store or just use plain alcohol, scented as you wish with a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Avoid antiperspirants, as you do not want to interfere with the sweating your body needs to do.

Sweating is made worse by being overweight, as well as over dressing and wearing clothing made from synthetic material like nylon and polyester instead of cotton. Dress in layers of loose cotton clothing, and eliminate coffee and other sources of caffeine from your diet.

Slippery elm bark powder or marshmallow root powder can be your applied creases, to reduce chafing or rashes from heat or increased sweating.

Consult your provider if your skin changes become severe or associated with other unusual symptoms not related to pregnancy. For instance:

• Your rash is spreading all over your body

• General itching without a rash, especially on your palms and soles 

• You have a sudden appearance of hives and your throat feels constricted

• You develop a fever, chills and/or muscle aches

• The above mentioned suggestions do not help and your symptoms persist or worsen 

Many of these changes respond well to homeopathy, especially if they bother you. Seek out a classical homeopath, who can prescribe a homeopathic remedy specific to your individual symptoms.

For those with any sort of chronic frequent skin problems, from acne to eczema and psoriasis, to hives and allergic rashes, in which serious causes have been ruled out and none of the natural and allopathic remedies help, consider reading the book The Mindbody Prescription By Dr John Sarno, MD. He’s an amazing pioneering physician whose brilliant approach has helped hundreds of thousands of people without drugs, physical measure or surgery. Also schedule several Clarity Breathwork sessions to clear inner repressed stress, trauma, anger and grief from your body and increase your inner calm and joy. Check out Brandon Bays’ book The Journey, and her intensive workshops for extremely effective mindbody cutting edge methods that have also lead to transformational healing for thousands of people around the world.

If you need more personalized guidance, you can make an online or in person appointment with me. I am happy to help.

Check out my number one international best selling book Natural Birth Secrets and my Love Your Birth course - an online version of how I have helped thousands in my local practice.

Both resources are unique, but each provide an in depth, one-of-a-kind holistic approach created by me, a seasoned nurse midwife of over two decades, who has seen everything!

It is now recommended by midwives, physicians, health care professionals around the globe, and doulas take it for their certification training.

Posterior Position: Practical Steps for Prevention and Remedy

Art by Katie Atkinson @spiritysol

A baby in a posterior position is facing your abdomen, and baby’s back is towards your back. Some babies are born easily in the posterior position with baby facing mama’s face “sunny side up.” This is especially if Mama:

• Has given birth before

• Is carrying a baby of average or smaller size

• Has an adequate sized pelvis

• Is committed, relaxed and prepared

• Is able to be upright, move and change positions at will

• Has the ability to eat and drink freely

• Is supported by providers who are patient, calm and trained to help baby turn

Art by Katie Atkinson @spiritysol

Other babies in posterior position can be more challenging, creating problems like not going into labor, water breaking prematurely before labor starts, slower more difficult labor progress, exhaustion, and labor felt mostly as back pain that can be harder to cope with. All of these factors increase the risk of complications, interventions and cesarean if baby can not be safely born vaginally. 

Epidurals increase the incidence of posterior babies, as well. But sometimes in prolonged labor, when Mama can no longer cope, the compassionate use of an epidural can help her give birth vaginally. 

The modern sedentary lifestyle of slouching in chairs over smart phones and computers, sitting back in sofas and car seats with associated poor posture, stress and tension in our bodies contributes to the rise in babies presenting in the posterior position. Many of us are no longer as active as our ancestors and indigenous cultures around the globe. We are not often leaning forward doing manual work, which helps baby’s heavier back come forward into the anterior position, unless we are doing activities like gardening.  

Art by Katie Atkinson @spiritysol

Ideally and actually most often, the baby will be in an anterior position facing your spine at term, or turns anterior during labor for childbirth. It is important to know when your baby moves into the optimal anterior position, so you can encourage the baby to stay there, which usually means an easier and shorter labor. 

You can learn on your own what position your baby is in. But if you are unsure, ask your practitioner for help figuring it out. Then try to pay attention to your baby’s position, without getting needlessly obsessed about it. This is easier to do when your baby moves or when momentarily lying on your back. It may take a lot of concentration to understand what is what at first, but soon you will get the hang of it.

When your baby is posterior, your tummy may look flatter and feel more squashy, and you may feel arms and legs and kicks all over the front towards the middle of your tummy. The area around your belly button may dip to a concave, saucer-like shape, and you may also experience long and painful practice contractions with a more severe lower backache as your baby tries to turn around to the anterior position to engage down into the pelvis.

When your baby is anterior, the back feels hard and smooth and rounded on one side of your tummy, and you will usually feel kicks under the side of your ribs. Your belly button will normally poke out and feel firm.

Pay attention to your posture and positioning at the time when your baby may be starting to descend into your pelvis, which is during the last 6 weeks of your first pregnancy, and the last 2-3 weeks of your subsequent pregnancies. The goal is to make room for your baby to assume the optimal position for birthing. 

The baby’s back is the heaviest side of its body, and will thus gravitate towards the lowest side of your abdomen. So, if your tummy is lower than your back (such as sitting on a chair leaning forward), the baby’s back will tend to swing anterior towards your tummy.

If your back is lower than your tummy (such as reclining back in an armchair with your feet up), then the baby’s back may swing towards your back into a posterior position. With this in mind, when you are 34 weeks onward, avoid any position where you are spending time leaning backwards with your knees higher than your pelvis.

Ideally, ditch the chairs. If you do need to sit on one, make sure your knees are lower than your pelvis, and your trunk is tilted slightly forward. If you need to work at a desk, consider a standing one at least some of the time, resting an alternating foot on a step stool.

Watch TV, read and lounge while kneeling on the floor, over a beanbag, birth ball, cushions, or sitting backwards on a straight backed dining room or kitchen chair facing and leaning on its back. 

Practice yoga to be in shape for the lunges and varied positions used to help your baby come down and out. Use yoga positions like bound angle (badha konasana) sitting with your back upright with soles of your feet together, or on your hands and knees while curving your back up like a cat followed by dropping your spine down in an arch and/or wiggling your hips from side to side. Get out your yoga mat and support your body with props like blankets, bolsters or blocks  as needed. 

Avoid crossing your legs, as it reduces the space in front of your pelvis and opens up the back. Sit on a wedge cushion in the car so your pelvis is tilted forward, and keep the seat back upright.

Avoid deep squatting until baby is anterior and well down in your pelvis or when needed in labor. Deep squatting opens up your pelvis and encourages the baby to move down, so refrain from it until your baby is in the anterior position. You can squat on a low stool or yoga blocks instead, keeping your spine upright.

Rest and sleep on your side, with two pillows under your bent right knee, which should be jackknifed up towards your chest, and keep your left leg straight out.

Swim with your belly downwards, doing the front crawl and breaststroke. The leg movements with the breaststroke in particular are great for opening your pelvis and encouraging your baby into an optimal anterior position.

If Your Baby Is Posterior

Continue the above mentioned positions, and add the following exercises for 20 to 30 minutes each, 3 times daily while watching something inspirational, romantic or that makes you laugh, or while listening to music:

Maintain a knee-chest position, with your buttocks sticking up in the air to tip the baby  back out of the pelvis so there is more room to turn around to the anterior position.

• Sway your hips back and forth and do the pelvic rock up and down while on your hands and knees.

• Crawl around the floor on your hands and knees, or hands and feet like an elephant.

• Scrub your floors or do some gardening.

• Swim belly down, kicking with straight legs only. Avoid frog leg movements.

• Lie on a slant board (using an ironing board or see-saw), with your head down and your legs up or lay with your pelvis and legs on the top stair landing or sofa and rest on your hands or forearms on a lower stair so you are at a similar incline. Jiggle your pelvis as you do this.

• Try resting and sleeping on your tummy using lots of pillows and cushions for support.

• Sit on a kneeler-rocker, which is a kneeling stool that sits you in an upright position with your knees lower than your chest, and has a rocker underneath for movement that encourages your baby to rotate. There are several types. See what is best for you. 

When baby turns to the anterior position, you can encourage descent further into your pelvis by walking around upright, gently massaging the baby’s buttocks downward, deep squatting and swimming, this time using lots of breaststroke frog leg kicking.

If you have lax abdominal muscles from several babies or lack of toning exercises, use a supportive maternity binder to keep baby in place. Bellefit makes a fine one, as pictured below. You can check them out and purchase here.

If Going Into Labor With a Posterior Baby

Starting in early labor, try the following movements involving altering the level of your hips, which help wiggle the baby down through your pelvis:

• Walk up and down stairs, sideways if you need to.

• Rock and dance from side to side.

• March or tread in place.

• Step on and off a step stool.

• Climb in and out of the birth pool.

• Lay on your side, so the part of your belly where your baby’s back is, can lean forward almost over the sofa or bed, with your upper knee resting on a lower chair.

• Consider having your midwives help to rotate the baby using a variety of external techniques, or if needed, by manually lifting your baby out of your pelvis during a contraction.

During the pushing stage of labor:

• Kneel on all fours, with the other leg up in a lunge. Switch legs periodically. You can do this standing, alternating one leg up on a chair moving towards and away from it. 

• Maintain a supported high squat in a birthing stool or hanging from a dangling squatting rope or your partner, with your bottom at least 18 inches off the floor.

• You can rest on your side with one leg straight out and the other leg bent up towards your chest, supported with pillows.

• Avoid lying back, semi-reclining, sitting or semi-sitting. 

For more information online, visit Spinning Babies, Association of Radical Midwives, or the GentlleBirth archives for Suboptimal Fetal Positions.

Check out my number one international best selling book Natural Birth Secrets and my Love Your Birth course, an online version of how I have helped thousands in my local practice.

Both resources are unique, but each provide an in depth, one-of-a-kind holistic approach created by me, a seasoned nurse midwife of over two decades, who has seen everything! It is now recommended by midwives, physicians, health care professionals around the globe, and doulas take it for their certification training.

As always, if you need more personalized guidance, schedule a consultation with me. 

Screening for Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is rare in the healthy population. Occurring in about 6% of pregnancies, it’s incidence is increasing largely due to the growing obesity, insulin resistance and adult onset diabetes, poor diet and lifestyle habits in the United States. There is much controversy around gestational diabetes, how it is screened for and diagnosed, and whether universal screening improves outcomes as opposed to testing when there are risk factors. If you do have it, however, treatment that includes appropriate actions like maintaining ideal weight, enhancing nutrition and exercise habits does make a significant difference in reducing the serious health consequences for both you and your baby.

In the US, it is standard of care that all women are screened for gestational diabetes at 24-28 weeks of pregnancy, although in some other European countries, only women with risk factors are screened. Screening that is most common involves giving pregnant women a “Glucola” drink that has 50 grams of sugar in the form of dextrose, and then testing blood sugar an hour later. Many holistic providers and the families they serve are concerned about this potentially toxic drink laden with chemicals that may make them feel sick, harm them and their babies, and can be associated with false positives that label them unnecessarily as high risk. This increases stress and angst, leads to more testing, monitoring and potentially other risky interventions. They want alternatives.

While it is within your right to refuse the test, you may want to consider screening for gestational diabetes in another way and discuss your concerns and options with your provider. If your provider is unwilling to work with you on this, consider switching providers to one who will. Although we do not have enough evidence that alternative screens are as accurate as using the more extensively studied Glucola drink to screen for diabetes of pregnancy, alternatives are not to be easily discounted, and may be a viable option in the low-risk healthy population. 

There is an option for screening for gestational diabetes by home testing. This involves checking your fasting blood sugar at home when you wake up in the morning, and then again 1 hour after eating your usual breakfast, lunch and dinner. While approved for monitoring blood sugar once diagnosed with diabetes, this method of screening is less studied and without clear standards. It is also more cumbersome and costly, as you need to get the supplies to do it, then take the time to get it right and keep records to discuss with your provider at your next prenatal visit. 

Alternative Gestational Diabetes Screening Options

Do note that not all sugars are the same and they each have various effects on blood sugar. The Glucola drink is the most studied to screen for diabetes of pregnancy, and the blood test results are based on its ingestion. We are aiming to get as close to it as possible. Follow the instructions below to properly prepare for the test and increase the accuracy, avoid false positives and negatives, as well as improve your tolerance of it.

Starting three days before your appointment, increase complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, sweet potatoes and winter squash.

The meal before the test should only contain protein, vegetables, and unsweetened dairy. A veggie cheese omelet is a great choice! Avoid sweetened foods, fruit, and carbs. If this last meal before the test is lunch or dinner, you can eat a normal breakfast, but avoid carbs or sweets for the rest of the day.

Fresh Start is a new organic alternative that is also said to taste good, with only three ingredients. It has exactly 50-grams of glucose yet is void of unnecessary artificial additives, and is laboratory tested to be virtually equivalent to the Glucola without the unhealthy ingredients. To make your own drink that is most equivalent to Glucola without the chemical additives, dissolve 50 grams of organic dextrose in 8 ounces of water. You will need to do some math. If there are 20 grams of dextrose in 2 Tbsp for example, then you need 5 Tbsp of the powder. You ideally want dextrose, as it is the sugar made from corn that makes up the Glucola drink, and it is most bioidentical to the sugar in your blood called glucose. Therefore, it is the best alternative to screen for gestational diabetes as the standard Glucola drink does, according to the laboratory parameters designed and tested for this purpose.

Another alternative is to drink an equivalent amount of pure corn syrup dissolved in your tea, since the sugar in corn syrup is dextrose. You can find organic non GMO varieties in the health food store, but you still need to do some math, to get 50 grams of sugar total. 

Reputable research indicates that you can instead, eat 28 all natural organic jelly beans or enough that equals 50 grams of sugar, which is studied to be a reliable alternative to the 50 gram glucose beverage. It is not standardized as is the Glucola drink, amounts and types of sugars vary with each product, so you need to do the math and make sure you are eating 50 grams of sugar. The study was relatively small but results can certainly be considered.

Other less ideal options are iced tea, organic Gatorade or a cola drink that has 50 grams of sugar added in the form of added table sugar or dehydrated cane juice (sucrose) - similar to the kind of sugar in jelly beans. They are not a first choice because they are not as extensively researched, the form of sugar is different than dextrose, and thus may have a different effect on your blood sugar levels and test results, designed to screen for diabetes based on your response to dextrose. 

The blood test to screen for gestational diabetes was studied and formulated to test your reaction to ingesting 50 grams of dextrose. Sucrose is made up of 50 % glucose and 50 % fructose. You will need to read ingredients and nutrition labels to use an alternative, an important skill to develop anyway. And you still need to do some math, as the nutrition label might say something like 23 grams of sugar per 8 ounce serving. 

When going for sugars that are not dextrose extracted from corn, you can choose any sugar sweetened drink without added fruit juice. Fruit contains a different type of sugar called fructose that makes the test less accurate as it has a different effect on your blood glucose levels than does dextrose and sucrose. If you can not find or have no time to figure it out and have low risk of gestational diabetes, Snapple 16 oz raspberry peach drink is second choice. Although it is mainly sweetened with sugar (sucrose), it does have a little fruit juice, which again is mostly fructose.

Coconut water is another, but less than ideal option, as it contains sugar in the form of mostly sucrose and glucose, and it does have some fructose as in fruit. ZICO coconut water 16.9 ounces has 20 grams of sugar, so you would need to drink 2 ½ bottles. Honey is another alternative, but it is also not made up of an equivalent sugar - it is sucrose and fructose. Again, you need to read the label. Different honeys have different amounts of sugar per serving size. 

Hopefully there will be more studies on these alternatives, but for now, are listed here to consider with your provider, if for some reason you can not take the dextrose or corn syrup equivalent and you are healthy, with healthy weight and lifestyle, with low risk for diabetes. 

45 minutes before your appointment, eat the jelly beans or drink an amount that equals 50 grams total of sugar, then nothing until the blood test, which will be drawn 1 hour after you consumed the drink or candy.

If you have time, do some form of exercise like taking a brisk walk for 20-30 minutes after drinking, but before the test.

Bring a high protein, whole carbohydrate and healthy fat snack to eat after the test if needed, to keep blood sugar stable. This will help you avoid unpleasant symptoms once your blood sugar drops, like shakiness, lightheadedness, fatigue, anxiety and irritability.

Rest assured, most healthy pregnant women (about 94%) do not have gestational diabetes. A positive screen simply means you need more testing to confirm it or rule it out. And if you do have it, you can learn how to keep your blood sugar normal throughout the rest of your pregnancy and life. 

If you need more guidance,  schedule a consultation with me.

Check out my number one international best selling book Natural Birth Secrets now out in second edition, and in adjunct, my Love Your Birth course, an online version of how I have helped thousands in my local practice. Both resources are unique, but each provide an in depth, one-of-a-kind holistic approach created by me, a seasoned nurse midwife of over two decades, who has seen everything!

Suffering with low back or pelvic discomfort? Having common pregnancy aches and pains and need some additional support? Try Bellefit’s prenatal support wear. I am thrilled to announce that you get a $20 Off with code: ANNE20 at checkout - if you purchase here. They also sell excellent postpartum support garments.

I have a holistic approach to life, including healing after pregnancy and birthing. Nothing replaces abdominal toning and exercise for restoring muscle strength and tone - which I encourage for all mamas as soon as they feel up to it postpartum. Nothing replaces touch, slow deep abdominal breathing, and a 'love your postpartum body' perspective that I promote.  But I have found many mamas simply feel comforted by this support garment, especially early postpartum and temporarily as needed....to be used without forfeiting abdominal toning and strengthening exercise, breathing well and touch. 

I have found Bellefit supportive garments to help like they use belly binding around the world such as in Indonesia. They do aid in early postpartum healing and provide support many mamas feel comforted by. I deal with human beings and the reality is many postpartum mom's struggle with body image, feel frustrated that getting back to themselves takes longer than expected. Being into holistic health and healing includes being sensitive to real human struggles - the mind, body, heart and soul of each person and their unique situation. Having helped countless women with these issues after having a baby as a midwife, I have found many still love that binding and feel better with this support, and ability to fit into their pre-pregnancy clothes comfortably and sooner than they would if they went through a C-section or natural childbirth recovery without it - especially when they have to dress up and fit into a certain favorite outfit for a special occasion or wedding not long after having a baby.

For more info on the Bellefit girdle, check out my blog about it here. Have a Great Postpartum Recovery (with a little help from Bellefit)!

For those with blood sugar issues, and diabetes, there are things you can do from making changes in your diet and exercise habits, as well as natural remedies to help!!



Postpartum Bleeding: Holistic Prevention Strategies

It is normal to have light bleeding in labor as your cervix dilates and breaks its tiny blood vessels. And as baby emerges from the birth canal there can some local tearing that can cause bleeding. Expect to experience the most bleeding at delivery and postpartum. Most of this bleeding is from where the placenta was located in your uterus. 

At normal vaginal birth and immediate postpartum, it is common to lose up to a half liter of blood. After cesarean birth, one liter of blood loss is the average. After birth, your uterus needs to contract around the major blood vessels that supplied the placenta to close them off and prevent excessive bleeding. 

The first few days, bleeding can be like a heavy period. Then, it tapers to a moderate period, after which it becomes lighter and changes color over several weeks from shades of red, then pink to brown. The body is healing the former placental site, shedding the internal scab there, and extra tissue and blood that was lining your uterus during pregnancy. 

Postpartum hemorrhage usually occurs immediately, or up to the first 24 hours post birth, and remains a major cause of maternal death in the US and around the world. It must be taken seriously. Currently, there is substantial evidence in support of what is termed ‘active management of the third stage of labor,’ to reduce the risk of severe excess postpartum bleeding. It includes the use of:

•  The synthetic hormone oxytocin (referred to as Pitocin in the US) via intravenous or intramuscular injection

• Early cord clamping with waiting 1-3 minutes until baby gets at least most of the cord blood

• Controlled traction on the cord along with counter pressure on the uterus to effect placenta delivery within the first 5-30 minutes after birth

• Uterine massage to make sure it is firmly contracted

• Assessments every 15 minutes for the first two hours. 

The above process, or a similar version, is done routinely in most hospitals, and can certainly be done in out of hospital birth settings. However, the studies that determined these procedures, were based on hospital births in mostly resource poor but also well developed countries. Like all studies, they have their limitations and flaws, some were even considered to be of poor quality according to the esteemed Cochrane Review. Also these interventions are not without side effects and concerns. The American College of Nurse-Midwives support the use of active management of third stage of labor in low resource settings, according to their position statement, although they do admit its benefits are not as clear in the low risk healthy population, and encourage the provider to have a risk benefit discussion with each pregnant family so they can make an informed decision about it. 

Most homebirth and birth center moms and providers are passionate about physiologic birthing, minimal interventions and holistic modalities, do not routinely want an injection of medication, and are more interested in natural alternatives. They trust the incredible wisdom of the normal birthing process, which has worked for thousands of years or we would not have survived as a species. They share a common belief that if it is not broken, don’t fix it, wary of medication and interventions unless absolutely necessary and benefits outweigh risks. They tend to like the alternative, ‘expectant management’ approach, which also entails close observation by the provider, but tends to take longer, allowing for the normal physiologic process to take its course, and for interventions only if needed in select cases. 

After birth, mom and baby are of course carefully assessed, but encouraged to bond skin to skin. There is no rush. Cord clamping is delayed until pulsation has ceased, or after placenta is birthed. Mom and baby are assisted to breastfeed which helps release mama’s own natural oxytocin.

The provider waits and watches for signs that the placenta is naturally separating and then assists mom into an optimal position usually using gravity, and encourages her to use her own bearing down efforts to birth her placenta. The provider may sometimes guide the birthing placenta with gentle traction on the cord, while supporting the uterus, then massages the uterus to make sure it is firm, assesses the bleeding until stable, and assesses and repairs tearing as needed. 

Certainly, if there are certain concerns or risk factors, you may truly benefit from medical prevention and active management.

If there is an actual hemorrhage, make sure your provider is skilled, experienced, and fully equipped to deal with it with at least the commonly used effective medications, IV fluids, suturing material for lacerations needing repair, and hands on care that are usually sufficient to control it successfully. 

However, you can build up a strong blood supply and reduce excess bleeding and its risks with the following suggestions for natural support both in your pregnancy and postpartum.

Prenatal Support

Make sure you get checked and treated for anemia common in pregnancy, that your iron stores (ferritin) are sufficient. 

Eat 3 large servings of wild greens or dark green leafy vegetables every day. They can be made into a salad, lightly sautéed or steamed. Good options are parsley, dandelion, alfalfa, kale, collard greens, comfrey and turnip greens.  For additional support, you can try the following:

NETTLE AND RASPBERRY TEA

Starting in the third trimester, drink 1 cup of this nourishing herbal infusion several times per day. 

1. Combine a handful each of the dried herbs Nettles and Red raspberry leaf with 1 quart boiling water.

2. Steep for at least 4 hours.

3. Strain to a glass mason canning jar.

4. You can add fresh mint leaves, lemon juice, or honey to taste.

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GREEN DRINKS

Drink 1 ounce fresh, frozen, or powdered  wheatgrass juice 1-2 times daily to enrich and build your blood.

Or, try 1 scoop daily of powdered greens in your smoothie, 1-3 Tbsp bottled chlorophyll, or tablets or powders of spirulina and chlorella.

Postpartum

You need to rest in bed, on the couch or an outdoor lounge chair as much as possible for the first 2 weeks to recover.  Make sure you arrange for help in the home during this special time. Limiting activity and increasing rest help the area of open uterine blood vessels where the placenta detached to heal. 

Check the top of your uterus regularly for firmness, and massage it if it feels soft, until it hardens. Postpartum bleeding can be minimized when mothers are taught regular postpartum self massage of the uterus so that it stays firm and contracted around the blood vessels that supplied the placenta. 

Start breastfeeding right away, and every 1 ½ - 3 hours thereafter, especially taking advantage of the times when your baby is awake and alert and eager to suck.  Nursing frequently causes the body to secrete its own natural hormone oxytocin to keep the uterus firm and decrease bleeding.

Urinate frequently to keep the bladder empty so the uterus can contract easier.

You can also take homeopathic caulophyllum 30 or 200 C immediately after delivery, then 3-4 pellets arnica 30C under your tongue every 2-3 hours. Or, try herbal shepherd's purse, 1 dropperful of the tincture three times daily for the first 3-5 days after birth. If you need additional herbal support for heavier or persistent bleeding, you can try a dropperful of Angelica tincture a few times daily. 

Most of the supplements and herbal remedies I recommend are available on my customized online holistic apothecary. Find the best supplements that have gone through my thorough screening process there. Look in the category for postpartum bleeding prevention or search them individually. My online dispensary is a convenient way for you to purchase my hand-picked, professional-grade, whole food supplements and other natural health products. Ordering is simple, and the products will be shipped directly to your home or work within a few days.

As always, if you need more personal guidance, schedule a consultation with me. 

If bleeding becomes heavier than a heavy period, and you are soaking through two maxi pads an hour for 2 hours, empty your bladder, make sure the top of your uterus is firm and massage it if soft until it becomes hard. If no relief, take 1 tsp shepherd’s purse herbal tincture under your tongue. You can repeat the dose a few times, but if the bleeding becomes heavier, contact your practitioner. 

Do read my Natural Birth Secrets book, to prepare yourself for a healthy, joyful and calm pregnancy and childbirth - NOW OUT IN SECOND EDITION!

For further inspiration, empowerment, and optimal health in pregnancy, birthing and postpartum, please make sure to take my online Love Your Birth course, so you can ROCK your journey wherever and however you plan to give birth.

Photo by Megan Hancock Photography

Lovevery Play-Kits - Are They Worth it?

If you are a parent who has done research on sustainable and ethically sourced toys for your children to play with, you’ve probably heard of Lovevery. We recently reached out to them as I have seen an increase of questions about them in my Home Sweet HomeBirth Facebook group - Lovevery was kind enough to send one of the new mamas on my social media team their 3-4 month playkit to try out and we are obsessed!

Some of the key reason our team enjoys Lovevery are as follows:

• Every piece of wood in the box is sustainably sourced from FSC-compliant sources.

• All fabrics are soft and natural organic cotton, no added ingredients.

• All products in the kits meet or exceed global safety standards for their age.

• All kits are shippped carbon-neutral, so you can feel good about the planet while your little one plays.

Since many of our Home Sweet Homebirth mamas have active Lovevery subscriptions, we thought we would ask them why they love Lovevery and post it here for perspective subscribers to read! What better review than reviews from mamas just like you?

Lindsey says “Honestly, if I had known how amazing the quality these toys were, I would have ONLY purchased the Lovevery subscription and passed on any other toys. My son gets so much play out of EVERY toy and it’s amazing to watch him excel developmentally with the help of age appropriate, open ended toys.”

One of our most active mamas, Ali, says “I like to think of it as an investment. My children have access to age appropriate toys that they LOVE and I am investing in toys that teach them fine motor skills like no others I’ve purchased. It helps that they are highly sought after and can be sold for a fair amount second hand.”

I don't really have the time to research toys and activities to do with my 3 boys, so I love that Lovevery has done the work for me. Also, my boys are ROUGH with their toys. Every single toy that we've gotten in a box has withstood their chewing and throwing. The fact that you also get books is a HUGE bonus. I will say though that I'm not a huge fan of the new toddler boxes, so we'll probably cancel our subscription after we get the helper box...I really want that sink and puzzle! - Camille.

I could go on and on but you get the idea, fo more reviews on Lovevery feel free to join my exclusive Facebook group here and search for the Lovevery thread in the products tab. I am attaching some photos of our littlest social media team member enjoying her Lovevery toys throughout. She is now an active subscriber and her mama loves every minute of watching her grow and play!