Journal Tag: pregnancy

Getting to know your practitioner – Sonia Millett, FGHG acupuncturist

Fertility Sonia

What inspired you to become an acupuncturist and Chinese Herbalist, with a special interest in fertility and pregnancy?

Fertility, pregnancy and women’s health conditions are some of the most interesting and complex to treat, for this reason it has always drawn me – there are so many interesting aspects to consider, such as hormonal and emotional factors.

I love the challenges fertility issues present, and in particular the joy of hard-fought successes such as conceiving a baby after years of trying.  I also enjoy then treating  patients up until they give birth –  there is a real sense of completion and connection with the patient.

I first experienced the benefits of Chinese Medicine when my infant son did not gain weight and was diagnosed with ‘failure to thrive’, and was very unsettled. Several pediatricians were unable to provide a reason or a solution. Chinese Medicine, however, provided some notable improvements, and I was hooked.

What do you see as the strengths that acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (CM) have to offer in terms of fertility and reproductive support?

Fertility and pregnancy treatments are a major area of strength in Chinese Medicine as it fills a gap in conventional Western Medicine. This makes it a wonderful adjunct to medical treatments such as IVF.  If a pathology is not visible (eg in scans/to the eye) or does not show up in testing such as blood tests, Chinese Medicine excels. This is why Chinese Medicine can be effective with diagnoses such as ‘unexplained’ infertility, or for older patients. Traditional Chinese Medicine has a different diagnostic system and we can find a diagnosis (and therefore help treat) even when there is none in Western Medicine.

Chinese Medicine practitioners treat the individual, not the disease, and aim to strengthen underlying issues in the body.  The treatments are more patient- centred.

Also, Chinese Medicine is a holistic approach, supporting the OVERALL health and vitality of the body, as well as treating health issues directly. The principle aim of Chinese Medicine and acupuncture is to recover the equilibrium between the physical and emotional aspects of an individual, by treating the whole person. This is why we also provide lifestyle and dietary advice, and consider the emotional state of patients.

Patients often report they feel less stressed and more able to cope following acupuncture treatments, and we see this as a vital part of the treatment.

In your work you assist a lot of women on their journey to becoming pregnant, do you recommend they continue to see you after they have fallen pregnant? What does acupuncture and Chinese medicine have to offer during pregnancy?

Chinese Medicine is very useful throughout pregnancy. It offers a gentle approach to treatment without side-effects. It can help treat conditions such as nausea in early pregnancy, and any pain throughout the pregnancy. In late pregnancy, acupuncture can be used to prepare the patient for an on-time labour.

The benefits of treatment also extend to post-partum for issues such as poor milk supply and for a boost in energy when exhausted.

Your week tends to be very busy, what sort of self-care do you do to recharge outside of seeing patients?

I get lots of benefit from connecting with special friends, and possibly combining this with a walk. Also a regular yoga practice. I find that any practice that nourishes you emotionally as well as physically, has more far-reaching benefits. Whenever time permits, I also enjoy  acupuncture, kinesiology or massage treatments throughout the year.

I enjoy massage treatments primarily for stress relief, and acupuncture or kinesiology when I have a more acute condition that needs addressing such as pain.  I personally really enjoy kinesiology – it’s an eclectic mix of treatment approaches (and even incorporates some Chinese Medicine channel theory).

What are your top five tips for others to help maintain a healthy lifestyle?

  • Eat a nutritious diet with primarily fresh fruit and vegetables (no need to eat low fat foods) and get daily exercise (doesn’t need to be strenuous).
  • Make time for fun and nurture the special relationships in your life. Particularly important when going through challenging times such as when trying to conceive or with a new baby.
  • Find Gratitude – notice things in your life daily that you are grateful for
  • Get plenty of sleep, ideally within the hours of 11pm – 6.00am.
  • And of course have regular therapeutic treatments such as acupuncture, massage, naturopathy, kinesiology, to maintain health – after all, prevention is better than cure! CM is great as a preventative to help keep you in peak heath and manage stress.

Learn more about Sonia Millet on our practitioner page here: Sonia Millet, FGHG Acupuncturist

Surviving Summer Pregnancy

Pregnancy

By Ashley Gordon, FGHG acupuncturist

So your first 34 weeks of pregnancy has come and gone. For some this has been tumultuous and you’d rather not do it again, for others, it has been an enjoyable journey. But be prepared! In my experience working with many pregnant women, I can safely say that when trying to cope with the Summer heat, the coming 6 weeks of pregnancy may prove challenging, especially when embarking on the run to the finish line (not that you should be running!!).

Why is that I hear you asking?

During the latter stages of pregnancy, the human body has increased its blood volume by up to a whopping 50% (or just short of, according to this study[1]). With more fluid comes considerably more heat! If you are 34 weeks and beyond you are carrying significantly more blood, metabolism is increased and so is blood flow to the skin, making you feel warmer and possibly sweat more too. Interestingly too, a pregnant woman’s basal body temperature is on average is 0.4 degrees higher than normal and while this doesn’t sound like much, most pregnant women will notice it!

From a Chinese Medical perspective, more blood means more Yang and Yang is the driving force behind growing a baby. So it has a wonderful purpose with its ability to speed up many important processes in the body but please hear me, while this is a great thing and undeniably important for your little one to grow, it may come at a cost to your comfort as the outside temperatures soar!

Some symptoms you might experience with excess heat include swelling, difficulty sleeping, skin tightness, excessive sweating and of course, just feeling really hot and bothered! So while there are many wonderful advantages to being pregnant and delivering your little one in the warmer months of the year (such as lovely days outside with copious fresh air), when the word “over-heated” is an understatement and the air-conditioner just isn’t helping… here are a few tips to make this time more tolerable…

  1. The oh-so-obvious – stay HYDRATED – Might sound like a “no-brainer”, but fresh water isn’t always as common as you think. Substituting other drinks for water, especially the ones which contain sugar, may in fact have a heating effect on your body – let’s go for a 2L of water minimum, but feel free to drink more.
  1. Plonk yourself in a pool – If you have kids, grab the kiddie pool, if you don’t have kids, BUY A KIDDIE POOL! On the deck, under a tree – set-up is easy, but make sure you have assistance getting out!
  1. Predict the warmth – again, might sounds like common-sense, but limit your outdoor activities to the early morning or early evening. Midday is for rest and relaxing (and the kiddie pool).
  1. A handy wet towel and ice pack – there are numerous places on our body where a cool towel will work wonders in decreasing body heat. A cold compress on your face and/or head will bring instantaneous relief, but if you have an ice pack handy, applying this to your pulse points at the wrists, neck, groin, elbows, ankles or behind your knees, will start cooling you from the inside out.
  1. A pre-bed or anytime cold shower (or dip) – no explanations needed here. Not only will this bring down your core body temperature fast, but cleanse you of your sweat so you can fall asleep nice and clean.
  1. Frozen treat fiesta – pack the freezer full of healthy home-made frozen treats. Try fruit-filled ice cubes or home-made fruity popsicles as a treat. Cooling down from the inside out is a much more efficient thermos-regulator.
  1. Spray bottle and a fan – cooling down is super efficient via sweating – why? EVAPOPRATION! DIY spray bottle and stand in front of a fan and watch your body temperature plummet.
  1. Scrap salty foods – salt retains water and chances are your already retaining fluid, so limit the salt intake and lose the excess fluid.

[1] Clin Haematol. 1985 Oct;14(3):601-12.

 

Ash-Gordon-colourAshley Gordon, FGHG Acupuncturist

An experienced Acupuncturist and Chinese Herbalist, Ash has a special interest in treating women from pre-conception, throughout pregnancy and beyond birth for post-natal care.

Ash has seen incredible results using acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine for pregnant women experiencing common pregnancy symptoms such as nasuea, morning sickness, sleep issues, fatigue and heartburn as well as preparing the body for active and successful labour.

Pregnancy Acupuncture 101

Pregnancy Acupuncture

Ashley Gordon, FGHG Acupuncturist takes us through the basics of acupuncture during pregnancy and explains why it’s such a good idea.

Is it your first pregnancy? Maybe your second or third? Whichever is the case, when you are looking for pregnancy advice, if you Google it you will be inundated with pages of links and information overload. If you don’t have time to navigate the extensive library of information, here is a short spiel on pregnancy acupuncture, the best bits, to save you some time!

I’ve had many questions asked of me about acupuncture, but undoubtedly the most common is “Does it hurt?” and specifically for pregnancy acupuncture, “Is it safe?” The answer to the second question is YES, it is safe! The first question, is a bit more troublesome as it is based on an individual’s pain tolerance, which is subjective, but in general acupuncture doesn’t hurt. Sure, we are puncturing the skin with a needle, so there has to be an initial prick, but there should be no unwanted sensations after that. Some patients even fall asleep, or use the time to meditate while the needles are doing all the hard work for you!

The next most common question is “Is pregnancy acupuncture beneficial?” During the first trimester, it’s very commonly used to treat and alleviate symptoms such as nausea, heartburn and fatigue. Acupuncture aims to maintain health and restore balance within the energy flow of the body – this is crucial due to the multitude of amazing changes that occur during pregnancy. Not only do we need to give the body some credit for the incredible task it has ahead of it, but also give you as much assistance as we can to help the pregnancy move forward with ease and grace.

Equally as important as the first trimester is the third trimester. This time can be used to prepare the body for labour. This is all about blood flow, ensuring the body is well nourished and all of the key organs active in labour are supported and regulated – this is what is called birth preparation acupuncture.

But why is birth preparation acupuncture important, you ask?

Think of it as training. Would you front up to a marathon without any training? Probably not. The #1 reason for birth preparation treatments is to promote a smooth labour. Birth preparation acupuncture consists of a series of weekly treatments from 34-36 weeks onwards and can help to prepare the body for labour. Due to this preparation, your body will not be a stranger to acupuncture if used for labour promotion and will be more receptive to it’s effects. When the time arrives to assist in helping your baby engage, increase cervical ripening and dilation or strengthen contractions, acupuncture is here to help.

Here at Fertile Ground, not only do we have skilled acupuncturists, but we also have Naturopaths, massage therapists and Osteopaths to further assist you and your body throughout the incredible journey of pregnancy. It’s the wholistic approach that we love the most here at Fertile Ground and it would be our pleasure to help you on your way…

 

Ash Gordon colourAshley Gordon, FGHG Acupuncturist

Ashley is an experienced acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist who is passionate about utilising the innate healing qualities of the body in achieving the desired outcomes, be that in fertility, pregnancy or general health. He has developed a strong focus and passion for pregnancy, birth preparation and pre conception care, and is motivated by being apart of each individual journey and the emotional and physical changes of these experiences.

Who is Ashley Gordon, Acupuncturist?

Ash Acupuncture

We talk to Ashley Gordon, Acupuncturist at FGHG and discover what makes him such a fabulous, dedicated practitioner and why he has chosen to focus on reproductive health, fertility and pregnancy acupuncture.

What initially ignited your interest in studying to become a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner and acupuncturist?

Before my time as a TCM practitioner, I was a middle school Biology and Maths teacher. This was good, but I knew there was something… I was on the prowl for job satisfaction. Whilst having a treatment from my acupuncturist, she said “you seem to know a lot about it, ever thought of studying it?”… baffled at the timing of that statement, my answer was “not until now…” and the rest was history!!

How does an Eastern philosophy differ from a western philosophy in terms of fertility and reproductive support?

In my understanding, as different as they can be, they are both just as crucial as the other. Simplistically and generally, Western philosophy seems to go by numbers… if they fit, then they are good. This may not always take into consideration factors such as stress, emotions, sleep and their related symptoms in the body… this is where Eastern philosophy comes in quite strongly. Together, they can make as awesome team, but each have their own ability to stand independently. Fertility and reproductive support can be so easily affected by so many different lifestyle choices. It make sense to sort these out ASAP!

What unique challenges and rewards come from working with your patients in an independent, non-Western healthcare care setting ?

The rewards are many. In fertility and reproductive support specifically, the answer is simply sharing in the joy of people succeeding in their goal of having a baby. In general, assisting people in working towards better health and maximising all that their body and life has to offer. The body knows, we just need to point it in the right direction sometimes…

Chinese Medicine is such a broad discipline with so many different tools, could you offer some insight into how Chinese Medicine works best for you as a practitioner and which areas you particularly love treating?

Without a doubt, my passion lies in treating pregnancy with acupuncture. My fascination and intrigue with the human body is epitomised by pregnancy. Watching the body, grow, adapt and mould whilst still supporting the day-to-day life of a human, blows me away. My other favourite is pre-conception care – assisting this miracle to happen is such a joy!

 

Ash-Gordon-colourAshley Gordon, FGHG Acupuncturist

Ashley is an experienced acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist who is passionate about utilising the innate healing qualities of the body in achieving the desired outcomes. Be that in fertility, pregnancy or general health.

Ashley has a strong focus on preconception care, pregnancy and birth preparation and is motivated by the journeys and emotional and physical changes that these experiences bring. It is his privilege to a be a part of such a personal and life-changing journey.

Tips for Good Posture During Pregnancy

Pregnant Woman Exercise

By Ros Gilfillan, FGHG Remedial Massage Therapist

Pregnancy by its very nature creates new postural patterns as the body compensates for a change in weight and shape. On it’s own this can be totally manageable, but many pregnant women have pre-existing postural issues, developed long before pregnancy and will need additional exercises to minimise muscular aches, pain and long term consequences.

Most people spend each day repeating other postural patterns caused by the lifestyle they live, i.e. sitting or standing for long periods of time at work and time spent repeating limited movements in our daily life. But it’s the bad habits developed over a long period of time that can be detrimental to our general wellbeing, taking years to undo.

If you are more aware of your posture during pregnancy and take measures to stretch and strengthen your muscles, you can avoid long term postural issues that can develop during pregnancy.

What happens to your posture during pregnancy?

So many things happen to affect your posture during pregnancy! Here are just a few:

  • Your organs will go through some changes in shape, size and positioning in order to make room for the growing baby, ensuring that everything still functions adequately.
  • As you expand, your centre of gravity shifts and the orientation of your posture adjusts with a compensatory pattern.
  • Your ligaments soften during the gradual increase of load, which we hope is being beautifully cupped by the subtle spreading of your pelvis. All of this softening is what starts to alter the curvature of the spine through the rib section, the sway-back in the lower lumbar area and a more pronounced anterior (forward) tilt to the pelvis.
  • The second half of the pregnancy is probably when those niggling pains start to set in, where the back muscles shorten and the abdominal muscles lengthen with the pelvis tilting forward due to weakening of hips, gluts, and even the surrounding muscles of the shins. Sometimes this can lead to mums becoming ‘knock kneed’ and why addressing these changes early on with tailored strengthening exercise and stretching is essential.

What can be done to avoid problems with posture during pregnancy and beyond?

As difficult as it is to find lifestyle balance, just being a little mindful of the way we carry ourselves each day and by starting to incorporate good postural habits early, we can move through life avoiding a myriad of unpleasant conditions that can come back to haunt us later in life.

Stretching and strengthening exercises are so important to maintaining good posture; avoiding slouched shoulders, forward head and curvature of the thoracic and lumbar spine during pregnancy and in fact, all through life.

Stretching increases the range of motion and resting length of muscles while resistance exercise strengthens the integrity of the prime movers and their smaller assisting muscles, contributing to better posture. It’s important to try to make small adjustments to how you carry yourself daily and mix it up with some pilates, gentle yoga, swimming, or a brisk walk outside.

Massage during pregnancy can also assist by releasing some of the pressure on your posture as the baby grows. Offering relief for sore and aching muscles, it also helps to release tension in restricted muscles, lengthening them and increasing blood flow.  Everyone feels “ironed-out” after a good massage!

10 Posture improving tips you can start right now:

  1. Stand straight. Imagine a string attached in the middle of the top of your head that “the puppeteer” is pulling on upward.
  2. Try dropping shoulders naturally. If your head is first in the right position with your ear aligned with the centre of the shoulder at the AC joint, you will have no trouble dropping the shoulders.
  3. Gently pull in your abdomen. This will counteract the sway-back and pouched out belly stance.
  4. Activate your buttocks and pull inward. The centre of gravity should sit centred directly over your hips.
  5. Avoid locking your knees. Stand with knees at shoulder width and knees ever so slightly flexed. And try evenly speeding weight in your feet. Think of a triangle between the big toe, to the little toe and the centre of your heel with even distribution.
  6. Don’t stand for too long. Good blood circulation can become impeded. If you’re forced to stand. E.g. in a cue or on public transport, try to lift your knee and rotate your feet occasionally in circular motions.
  7. Sitting posture during pregnancy. Make sure your chair has a hard upright back, and place a small pillow across your lumbar back, positioning your feet squarely on the floor, and use a foot stool if necessary.
  8. Never cross your legs. This can cause circulation problems and varicose veins. Get up and walk frequently, and if sitting, use a foot stool and keep up the foot twirling exercise.
  9. Optimum sleeping position. Your body will let you know when to stop lying on your back. Side sleeping is best with a supportive pillow under your head and neck, and also between the knees. Some ladies also like to cuddle a pillow between their arms to square up the shoulders too. Sleeping on the left side is better for digestion, and enhances circulation to the placenta.
  10. When changing positions. Shift slowly, extending and using arms and bending knees to maintain your centre of gravity. Try activating the big dynamic muscles in your legs and buttocks.

If we consider the enormous change a pregnant woman’s body goes through during the gestation of a baby, you can understand why it is common for mums to get all kinds of pain, especially in the lower back.  With just a little awareness, some simple exercises and the occasional massage your posture will survive the pregnancy and be ready for the fun times ahead when the baby arrives!

 

Rosalyn Gilfillan colourRos Gilfillan is an experienced remedial massage therapist who enjoys working with a myriad of people from all backgrounds and ages. Her skills have been developed through treating conditions ranging from muscular, skeletal and postural issues, pre and post sports treatment for athletes and management of pain linked to injury, degenerative conditions and mental health.

Ros has also developed a special interest in working with women through their pregnancy journey and beyond. She considers the incredible changes in a woman’s body that accommodate and nourish the life of baby, to be both magical and a time that should be enjoyed given the right support system.

 

Delicous and nutritious seed crackers

Seed Crackers with Rhiannon Hardingham at Fertile Ground

One of the best things about working at Fertile Ground is all of the fabulous and inspiring people I get to meet. A recent example of this was the fabulous Julia Lette – naturopath, personal trainer and (importantly for us) raw food chef extraordinaire! She has just completed our naturopathic mentor program, and spoiled us rotten during this time! Julia introduced us to some very impressive healthy desserts, but most exciting to me was her simple but amazing seed crackers. Total GAME CHANGER for low carb eating! Not only does it allow you to quickly and easily make your own crackers, but they are packed with great nutrients- good fats, minerals, b vitamins and fibre. And they’re easy and delicious…. I promise. Give them a go and find out for yourself!

Ingredients

½ cup sunflower seeds

½ cup pumpkin seeds

¼ cup sesame seeds

½ cup Stoney Creek Flaxseed Meal (from your local health food shop, or pick some up next time you’re in at Fertile Ground).

¼ cup chia seeds

½ tsp salt

1 cup water

Method

  1. Heat oven to 170 degrees Celsius. Place all the seeds and the salt in a bowl, pour in water and mix to combine. Leave for 15 minutes for the chia and flax seeds to soften and bind everything together.
  2. Tip out on to a baking paper-lined oven tray and spread out as thin as possible (around 4mm thick) and sprinkle with some flaky sea salt (if desired). Bake for 30 minutes.
  3. Remove from the oven and slice into crackers, then return to the oven to cook for another 20-30 minutes until crisp and golden. Remove to a rack to cool then store in an airtight container.

written by Rhiannon Hardingham, recipe created by Julia Lette

Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP) during pregnancy

written by Pria Schwall-Kearney, FGHG Osteopath

Ouch! Pelvic Girdle Pain in pregnancy (PGP) is often referred to as ‘pelvic instability’ and affects somewhere between 20-50% of pregnancies. PGP causes mild to severe pain in the pelvis/low back that becomes worse with movement.  It’s a significant source of pain and restriction for many pregnant women – but what actually is it?

The Pelvic girdle consists of seven bones – the triangular sacrum at the back (literally ‘sacred bone’ in latin, due to its role in childbirth) and three paired bones that make up the ‘hips’ – the ilia, ischia and pubic bones. Together these bones work together to take the weight of the spine, transfer and distribute forces evenly throughout the body whilst walking, and accommodate to allow the growth and passage of a baby throughout pregnancy and childbirth.pelvis diagramThe pelvis has three joints – the two sacroiliac joints at the bottom of your back (accommodating for rotation and forward/backward bending), and the pubic symphysis, located at the very front of the pelvis. If you place your hand on this joint, you can feel it performing a small scissoring motion while you walk. It is the location of these three joints that most pelvic girdle pain is felt.

While it used to be thought that pelvic girdle pain was purely due to the hormonal effects of pregnancy, it is now understood to be a mix of the slight increase in movement available in these joints (due to the relaxed ligaments), and an increase in mechanical pressure on these joints.

Biomechanics in pregnancy are a topic on their own, but it is suffice to say that a woman’s posture changes early and rapidly when pregnant. The low back increases its arch, the pelvis widens, the ribs spread at the front  and the legs step further apart to provide an increased base of support. It’s a well oiled machine – until it isn’t!  Just like non-pregnant people, areas of increased muscular/ligamentous tension can develop, either due to stress, sedentary/computer posture, fatigue, or a slip or fall. However, in pregnancy the musculoskeletal system is working much closer to capacity and it can have difficulty compensating for these areas, which can lead to the pelvic girdle pain of pregnancy.

While the majority of cases of PGP go away after the baby is born, during pregnancy it can lead to significant pain and disability, with women having difficulty performing their daily activities. It can negatively impact fitness, flexibility and sleep, all of which have implications for childbirth and the postpartum period. So what can we do about it?

Strengthening exercises and use of supportive ‘sacroiliac belts’ have good reports. Osteopathic management of patients with PGP includes assessment of pelvic joints, bones, muscles and ligaments and uses a range of manual techniques to balance these tensions. We also look at the biomechanics of the surrounding areas, as well as giving advice on stretches, exercises and referrals to other providers as necessary.

Pelvic girdle pain is not something you can expect during pregnancy, however it is very common. If you think you might be experiencing this, take heart – there are things to be done. See a health professional about it and don’t just suffer through nine months of pain!

 

Pria colourA registered Osteopath and mother of two, Pria has become increasingly passionate about supporting women and their families through the intense family phase of life. She uses a wide range of techniques and loves nothing more than listening to the body with her hands and successfully working out what it’s trying to say! Always learning, she regularly undertakes postgraduate training. Previous training has been in areas such as in the treatment of pregnancy, postpartum women and cranial osteopathy and has completed a Certificate IV in breastfeeding counselling, regularly volunteering with the Australian Breastfeeding Association.  She has a clinical interest in headaches as well as women’s health, including dysmennorhoea and pregnancy/postpartum care – supporting women’s bodies to move well throughout the changes associated with this period.

Although antibiotic use in pregnancy may increase the baby’s risk of infection, giving specific probiotics can work in the baby’s favour

Pregnancy

by Gina Fox, FGHG Naturopath

News coverage recently from Australian researchers suggested that if you take antibiotics while pregnant there is a 20 per cent increased risk that the baby or child will have a serious infection that they need to be hospitalised for. This was especially the case when the antibiotics were taken closer to delivery date and the findings suggested that the antibiotics upset the mother’s gut bacteria, the microbiome. A side-effect of taking antibiotics is to upset the gut flora by killing off some of the beneficial gut bacteria and allowing other bacteria to flourish. This altered microbiome is then passed on to the baby during a vaginal birth. The effects were seen in the study to affect newborns and continue throughout their childhood.

It doesn’t necessarily mean if you are pregnant that you should avoid antibiotics, and if they are necessary then the best health improvement you could give yourself and your baby would be probiotics after any course of antibiotics. This may mitigate the issue with the your own gut flora and subsequently your baby’s gut flora. This is certainly good news.

As an add on to the story it’s now known through research on specific strains of probiotic which are the best ones to take after a course of antibiotics. These are the one’s known to go through the placenta and also post birth through the breastmilk.  Increasing the bifido strains in the infant is thought to be the most protective of illness and it’s known that among other strains the L rhamnosus GG is one of the main ones that when given to the mother has bioavailability for the baby and increases the baby’s beneficial gut flora.  It can also be supportive to give probiotics directly to the baby post birth. If you are interested to hear more ask your naturopath.

To read more on this story http://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2018-02-05/babies-infection-risk-higher-if-pregnant-mums-take-antibiotics/9393650

 

Gina-Fox3Gina Fox is a naturopath with over 15 years’ experience. She trained under Francesca Naish (author of Better Babies) and has a Masters in Reproductive Medicine. As well as being an experienced clinician she is a speaker, naturopathic lecturer and student clinic supervisor.

Gina loves to help couples achieve full-term pregnancies and give birth to beautiful healthy babies. Gina excels at addressing underlying stressors while couples achieve their optimal fertility. Her own meditation practice led her to become a meditation instructor and co-develop the Be Fertile series of guided relaxation CDs for women around conception, IVF and pregnancy support.

Top Tips for Nausea During Pregnancy

Nausea and Vomiting

by Tina Jenkins, FGHG Naturopath

Early pregnancy is an exciting time however, it can also be a challenging time as many women often experience some associated nausea. The nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (known as NVP) often tends to kick in around the 7-8 week mark of the pregnancy and typically tends to start to ease off around the 10th week. This usually means that for many women there is often around 4-6 weeks where they will experience some degree of nausea on a daily basis.

Is there anything that can help?
There are many options that are available that may help reduce nausea during pregnancy. Often it is a matter of finding what works for you; which may not be what has worked for a friend. Nausea during pregnancy is complex and there is usually no one solution that suits everyone. This means that you may need to try a few different things before you find something that provides some relief.  Most options will not completely remove the nausea however, they can often make it less frequent, less severe and thus more manageable.

Top tips to reduce nausea

  • Eat small amounts of food more frequently (every 2-3 hours). Don’t go for longer than 3 hours without eating. This helps reduce fluctuations in your blood sugar levels (particularly drops in your blood sugar) which often tend to trigger nausea. Eat before you are hungry, because when your blood sugar levels drop, you will feel nauseated and fatigued, and the motivation to prepare any food (let alone nutritious food) will be over taken by the desire to lie down or vomit.  The grazing approach to food is appropriate for all stages of the pregnancy.
  • Always keep a good healthy snack in your bag (e.g. almonds, piece of fruit etc) to avoid any delays in eating and so that you have quick and easy access to good food when you are out and about.
  • Keep a nutritious snack next to your bed and eat this before sitting up in the morning. E.g. wholegrain crackers or nuts
  • Ginger is an old nausea remedy. Make ginger tea by grating half a teaspoon of fresh ginger into a mug of boiled water and infuse for 5-10 minutes and drink 3-4 times a day – add lemon juice or a little honey occasionally for a change. Or try 2 teaspoons of ginger added into your meals, pickled ginger or sucking on crystallised ginger (inch square by a quarter inch thick).  Alternatively ask your naturopath for ginger liquid extract or tablets.
  • Whilst ginger tea is often helpful in reducing nausea, some women respond better to other herbal teas such as Chamomile. I remember seeing one patient who had tried nearly everything to help reduce her nausea to no avail, however, once we introduced a good quality chamomile tea she experienced significant improvement for this time in her pregnancy. ** Always make sure you source a good quality raw herbal tea for the best therapeutic action.
  • Wear travel sickness prevention bands. They are positioned over acupuncture points on the wrist that reduce nausea (from your chemist or Fertile Ground Health Group)
  • Try acupuncture. Many women experience relief from their nausea after a session of acupuncture.
  • Talk to your naturopath about a Vitamin B6 supplement. Research supports the use of vitamin B6 during pregnancy to help reduce nausea. Clinically I find that appropriate doses of Vitamin B6 will often take the edge of the nausea and make it a lot more manageable.

Keep in mind
If vomiting occurs more than 3 times a day, and this is not relieved by self-help or natural remedies, then medical help should be sought. Prolonged vomiting can lead to dehydration and threaten the health of the mother and baby.

If you have gone off or are unable to stomach a lot of different foods it may be worthwhile to consult your naturopath for a dietary assessment to ensure you are covering all of your nutritional requirements. Naturopaths are often able to suggest alternative dietary options to improve your nutritional intake and support a healthy pregnancy.

 

Tina-Jenkins3Tina Jenkins is a highly qualified naturopath bringing more than 20 years of experience to FGHG. Tina has always had a special interest in helping couples with fertility problems and has particular success in treating women with PCOS, irregular and/or absent periods as well as problems with ovulation. Over the years, Tina has treated thousands of patients providing her with a wealth of clinical experience, which coupled with her extensive qualifications, brings enormous benefit to Tina’s patients especially in the area of infertility. Tina has also assisted numerous parents regarding children’s health care problems and as a mother herself, has experienced firsthand the many benefits natural health care can bring to young children.

Choosing Your Obstetrician

Gina Fox (FGHG Naturopath) talks with Dr Sushen Naidoo (Obstetrician)

Want some help with deciding which Obstetrician to choose and how to go about getting an appointment?

What qualities do you want in your Obstetrician? What does a good relationship with your Obstetrician look like?

Have a listen to this podcast for a short discussion and get some questions answered before you decide.

Listen to the podcast here: Choosing Your Obstetrician