hormonal imbalance

[Gidget]

First, a little history. I am 29. I was on the pill from the age of 18. I had my ds when I was 20, then went back on the pill after he was weaned. I was on the pill again till I started ttc at 25. I had my dd at 27 and she was still nursing when I got pg again . I am due at the end of Nov. and am going to have a tubal ligation. Not only will I not need the pill, but I was not planning on going back on it even if I did not have a ligation. My problem is that my hormones are way out of whack. The only times I have felt somewhat normal are when I am pg and nursing. Since I have been pg and nursing for the last two years I am not sure what effect this has on my hormones. When I am not pg or nursing I get really terrible mood swings and seriously depressed. I doubt myself as a mother and a person. I do not get suicidal, but I think alot that my children would be better off without me. These last two years have really been a nice reprieve from the problems and I do not know what will happen once this baby is born, nursed then weaned. Does anyone know of anywhere I can turn for more knowledge and natural remedies for such a problem. With 3 kids I feel I will not be able to handle such issues if they arise.

Ginger

[Gidget]

I should add that it is not gone when I am on the pill, still there, only not as severe. My periods are also really heavy and painful off the pill. I am looking for natural rememdies. I have not asked my doc because I am tired of taking synthetic hormones and am changing my way of treating what ails my family.

Ginger

[Queen Gwen]

There *are* doctors and other health practitioners out there that aren't so enamored of synthetic solutions...maybe you'll be able to find one. But even if I had the most awesome dr. or midwife in the world I'd still research everything on my own.

A friend of mine said that she felt best when pregnant and nursing (although I don't think her bad times were as bad as hers). She took some sort of saliva test that showed which hormone was low, then started using some herbal preparation...all this was done with her doctor, BTW. It runs in my mind she was using wild yam, but she had to try out more than 1 preparation to get the right stuff. My mind is gone tonight...what hormones are strong in pregnancy and lactation but taper off otherwise? Is that what wild yam would treat? (sorry I'm babbling, it's been one of those days...hopefully someone with a clue will tune in and answer this....)

My favorite source of info on natural health for women is Susun Weed. Aside from her wonderful books she has an awesome website at www.susunweed.com It even has a forum. That's where I would start researching if I were you.