Natural solutions for common pregnancy discomforts « Back to Group Discussions

[sunkistmoth]

Thought it might be nice to start a thread on this and add to it as we progress and discover new discomforts and new solutions. :-) 

Edited by sunkistmoth - 3/18/13 at 11:13pm

[sunkistmoth]

So far I have for morning sickness: 

-ginger extract in mineral water with some stevia and a little apple cider vinegar. I always take it with me on car drives.

-ginger capsules--going to order, haven't tried yet

-goji berry jiuce--going to order, haven't tried yet

-accupressure bands...ordered, haven't tried yet

-sepia, nux vomica, and cocculus are homeopathic remedies that help for morning sickness and are safe during pregnancy. I take them in a 30 potency and if one of them doesn't work I try a different one.

-B vitamin complex

And still, while I am not throwing up thankfully, the nausea is a constant issue! :/

Digestion:

-a little apple cider vinegar to help replace the digestive acids

-mint tea

-papaya enzymes

-a good probiotic (Bio-K is my favorite) 

Headaches:

-mag phos 30

-powdered magnesium dissolved in water

-accupressure

Now just trying to find some for gas pains, which is my newest unpleasant symptom :/ You'd think the ones for digestion would help, but so far no luck. 

Edited by sunkistmoth - 3/18/13 at 11:24pm

[JonesiesGirl]

I've tried mint tea and ginger tea for nausea and bloating. They don't seem to do much for me. I also tried some ginger capsules (just ginger, no additives or extracts, in a vegan capsule shell), and have been taking 800 mg each day. I'm not sure they actually work, I might have noticed a sort of cumulative effect from them. Or I might just feel better because I'm not trying to eat as much real food. 

[jjh5351]

I don't know how well these would work for anyone on a restricted diet but I got these b6 losenges from behind the pharmacy counter (b natal is the name) and having the taste helped along with the b6. Worth a shot. I can't stand the taste of ginger so boo to that.

[sunkistmoth]

My accupressure bands finally came in. I didn't really think they'd work, but they are actually providing me with some nausea relief! 

[Emmecat]

I've worn acupressure bands for both my pregnancies, don't know that they helped at all but you do have to fit them JUST SO. I've started acupuncture and take a B complex, folic acid and iodine in the morning, and magnesium and 100mg B6 in the evening. I also use peppermint tea and am experimenting with a fermented ginger kefir 

[sunkistmoth]

Hi emmecat,

What is the iodine for? I have some iodine in the form of kelp caps lying around.

Also how is the ginger kefir working out and do you make it yourself? 

Nothing seems to be working for my nausea anymore bleh.

[Emmecat]

HI Sunkist

Here in NZ pregnant women are strongly recommended to take folic acid and now iodine tabs in the first trimester. I guess it's cos they don't think we get enough salt in our diet..which I find hard to believe! Not sure if my GP is fully convinced but he prescribed them nonetheless. I wonder if it's something to do with a deficiency in our soil though...we're missing a few vital nutrients I think.

Haven't tried my fermented ginger drink yet- had my first horrid day of MS and I'm not quite 6 weeks. This ain't good :(

[JonesiesGirl]

Emmecat, it might well be because of a deficiency in the soil. I know that here in the UK our salt isn't iodized, and most people get their iodine from cows' milk (cows' feed is fortified). The population as a whole has fairly low levels of iodine but it's supposed to be even worse for vegetarians, so I take a kelp tablet every day. I would be really hesitant to take it without knowing I didn't get enough, though, as there are consequences of getting too much iodine as well. 

[Emmecat]

Jonesie you could be right- I"m a bit crap at taking things in general so I take my iodine every few days. I am msotly vegetarian too so perhaps it's an issue here for that reason as well.

On a brigther note I tried my home made ginger water kefir drink and it is so nice! Will def be using that more often- best go start another batch going now actually!

[jjh5351]

I wish I liked ginger... I tried some ginger gum today and it seemed to help but the taste was so awful for me . I bought the sea band accupressure bands- do they take a bit to start working maybe? I don't know if I need to buy the sized kind or not... I just need some relief that I don't have to wait to get!

[JonesiesGirl]

jjh, if you hate ginger, would you be able to tolerate ginger capsules? They're not 100% free of taste/smell but they are much nicer than ginger tea! Plus I think they work better too :)

[jjh5351]

Do you just swallow them like with water rather than chewing? I could stand that probably... These seabands are working I think! I'm super nauseous this morning but not enough to throw up so compared to yesterday that is a complete turn around. I also took unisom last night because I remembered someone saying it helped them! And I only got up once to pee and slept until almost 9! Maybe I won't look like the walking dead through my whole pregnancy this way

[JonesiesGirl]

Yes, you just swallow them. It's just ground up ginger in a capsule shell, so it's like a large tablet or pill. I will be honest and say that they definitely have a very mild taste and smell, but it's really not so bad. :)

[jjh5351]

When I take meds, I take a drink first then swallow the pill with water in my mouth so I generally don't taste it at all! I might just have to go to the whole foods co-op today and buy some... If I can stand the smell in there lol. They have a restaurant too and it can be overwhelming.