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Tag Archives: prenatal

Author Holistic Family Practice Categories Blog Posted on 0 Comments
Author Holistic Family Practice Categories Blog Posted on 0 Comments

5 Natural Remedies for Infertility (Men & Women)

7.0 Natural Strategies to Combat Infertility

Infertility plagues many women of all ages. It can be frustrating, painstaking, disappointing, and worst of all sad. Which is why I have made it an important topic to discuss about natural remedies for infertility. Whether you are unable to get pregnant or hold a pregnancy the feeling of shame, sorrow, and disappointment associated with infertility is more than many women can bear. Some women give up, or they seek infertility treatments which can be costly and sometimes lead to complications. The rate of infertility continues to climb as many researchers, and health advocates alike blame the toxicities and many environmental pollutants for the damaging effects of a woman’s body. As we discussed in a previous blog post on Perinatal care, many medications have not been tested on women before during or after pregnancy so we are unwittingly taking drugs that can create long-term complications to pregnancies. Not to mention, the various difficulties that are arising.

Sadly, 7.5 million women between the ages of 15 and 44 have infertility. Infertility is defined as the body not being able to hold or sustain a pregnancy even after frequent unprotected sex for a period of at least a year. The CDC further explores these figures and notes that 7.3 million women have used infertility services. What is happening when our bodies natural ability to carry and hold life is being impaired. Let’s explore the various options available to natural conception. It’s all about the GUT GUT GUT! I must sound like a broken record. Majority of the hormonal, neurological, and immunological system is all housed in the digestive system. Therefore, you are not only what you eat, but also what you digest and assimilate as well as eliminate. I am an advicate of natural remedies for infertility and it all starts from your diet.

Let’s start to look at what we are eating for optimal fertility.

  • Organic Foods – Herbicides, Pesticides, GMOs can also have damaging effects on the liver as well as the digestive and hormonal system. Endotoxic chemicals found in non-organic food can potentially have many unprecedented impacts on the hormonal system many of which have not been significantly studied.
  • Foods High in Nutrients – Foods high in nutrients such as Omegas, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, and Folate are an excellent choice for building a healthy baby. Omegas help reduce inflammation which can promote a healthy egg quality. Folate can help build new cells as well as prevent any congenital disabilities.
  • Eliminate. Eliminate. Eliminate – Eliminate foods that are damaging to your gut such as high-fat processed meats, grains, sugar, alcohol, drugs, and any foods that the body reacts to the lining of the GI system. Starving out any unhealthy bacteria as well as yeast in the digestive system is helpful for cleaning up the gut microbiology.
  • Sleep – Helping the body repair and heal is essential to have enough energy to create life. Sleep supports the hormonal system by allowing the stress hormones to downregulate within the body all while restoring the bodies natural ability to heal itself.
  • Balance the hormones – Once you have healed the digestive system your primary goal is to then balance your hormones by running a comprehensive hormone panel by saliva. Balancing cortisol, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone levels are crucial to preparing the body for life. This is not an exhaustive list of things but does provide women a good start when resolving their infertility issues.

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At Holistic Family Practice our goal is to provide patient-centered, evidence-based holistic health treatment that brings to light all of the causes that may be contributing to a woman’s inability to get pregnant. We honor every woman’s journey to getting well as well as conceiving. Some women choose infertility treatments while others work to do natural remedies for infertility. We advise women, in either case, to help them achieve optimal health and wellbeing working integratively with their other providers.

Signs you may be infertile include:

  • The inability for a woman to get pregnant after consistent effort without preventative measures in place and entirely off any birth control for a period.
  • A menstrual cycle that is not regular, meaning it lasts longer than 34 days or it is less than 21 days or is erratic in its cycling. One month it is 23 the next month 35.
  • Irregular periods or missed periods altogether. Inconsistent periods can be a sign of an underlying hormonal imbalance.
  • Diagnosis of PCOS, Endometriosis, Pelvic Inflammatory diseases, or infection to the uterus and fallopian tubes due to chlamydia, gonorrhea, or other sexually transmitted diseases that has not be treated successfully.
  • Symptoms of hormone fluctuations which may have its own set of symptoms to include reduced sex drive, facial hair growth, thinning hair, weight gain, and mood swings.

Moms are not the only ones that may be preventing the process of conception, so it is important to not exclude Dad in the process of conception. Here are some common signs that need to be evaluated with Dad for conception.

  • Signs of infertility in Men Change in sex drive in a man, which means a shift in his sexual desire could indicate an issue with a males hormones and should be checked.
  • Testicular pain or swelling, which could indicate many conditions within the males symptoms. Problems maintaining an erection is often linked to imbalances with metabolic health as well as hormones within the man.
  • Issues with ejaculation could be a sign there may be difficulty conceiving and needs to be examined by a urologist or private doctor. Small, firm testicles could be a potential risk factor as well that must be examined by a primary doctor or urologist for any possible effects.

While many couples struggle with infertility, help is one phone call away. We work to support families to create the healthiest environments both inside and out while providing natural remedies for infertility. Not only do we address physical concerns but since we are a holistic practice we discuss the mental, emotional, as well as spiritual aspects of natural family planning and are with you every step of the way. It can be a very sensitive process with many highs and lows having a provider who can hold your hand through the journey is genuinely what we specialize in  as we work to bring care back to healthcare.

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Holistic Prenatal Care: How does it all work? [Birth & Postpartum]

6.0 Holistic Prenatal Care How does it all work

You have just gotten the news! You’re pregnant. You’re excited. You’re nervous. You have every wave of emotion coming at you all at once. Have you prepared enough? Are you ready enough? How are you going to do this? What’s going to happen next? Pregnancy is one of the most magical times in a woman’s life, and a conscious woman wants to take a holistic view of her health. Having an OBGYN to monitor your case is imperative. Her role is to assess the health of baby and mommy as well as rule out any potential risk factors during pregnancy. He or she is also responsible for monitoring any complications that may arise during the pregnancy and manage many complex issues related to female reproductive health. There are many specialists within this field that serve in specialized areas in instances of infertility, pelvic floor reconstructions, and maternal, as well as fetal medicine.

A Naturopathic or Holistic Doctor serves a different role in your pregnancy. For one, they prepare your body for pregnancy. We call it tending to the 365 days before your pregnancy. This is the time and space that we develop the body for the state of health and wellness to sustain life. We monitor the mother’s nutrition, begin to remove irritants from the diet.

The following is our schedule for prenatal care by trimester.

1st Trimester – We provide nutritional as well as homeopathic support for symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, fatigue, constipation, headaches while also optimizing the nutrition for mommy and baby. We encourage rest and relaxation and educate mommies on the process of pregnancy, including what to look forward to and begin to create a birthing plan to include birthing providers. This is where the mother chooses an OBGYN for their case and commits to the various appointments related to her prenatal care.

2nd Trimester – We fine tune the diet from the first trimester and work to prevent many food-related conditions such as gestational diabetes, hypertension, stress management while pregnant, etc. We also coach the mother on adapting to the changes associated with pregnancy including body image imbalance, hormonal imbalances, and decision making. We begin to begin making recommendations for childbirth education and breastfeeding as well as discussions about choosing a doula and/or midwife to join the families case.

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3rd Trimester – We support any new symptoms related to nutritional deficiencies such as leg cramps, insomnia, heartburn, back pain, etc. We begin the process of cultivating healthy vaginal bacteria. We start to make decisions on pediatric care for the baby once delivered and finalize the birthing plan to present to all the providers on the case. We start to discuss birthing procedures and prepare the mother for the process of delivery including the postpartum healing as well as the transition to motherhood. We relieve any last minute anxieties and often use modalities such as acupuncture, chiropractic care, hypnosis, etc. to cultivate minimal pain in pain-free holistic delivery needs.

Postpartum – We meet your precious newborn and encourage healthy patterns to transition to motherhood. We optimize diet and lifestyle as well s supplementation for breastfeeding. We discuss various imbalances that may occur with the baby and a holistic approach to treatment such as colic, ear infections, tongue ties, etc. We provide assessments for families looking to vaccinate including genetic testing as well as neurological testing to assess reaction risk factors. We also offer Homeoprophylaxis to those families not looking to vaccinate yet still would like to educate their babies immune system. We provide breastfeeding support where needing including lactation consulting, milk supply supplements, as well as many natural treatments to avoid antibiotics for the first 1,000 days of life (from conception to two years old). We discuss healing after birth both physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally while supporting you through the process of motherhood.

The Integration of a Naturopathic Doctor into your family planning is essential in developing a healthy child. Naturopaths are trained to be able to treat causes and prevent disease in the body. We highly recommend choosing a qualified naturopath to be able to help support your families health care before, during, and after pregnancy. We offer two consultation options for families with a one-hour consultation as well as a 15 mins complimentary wellness visit.

All information contained in this blog post is intended for informational and educational purposes only, and is neither intended nor suited to be a replacement or substitute for professional medical treatment nor for professional medical advice relative to a specific medical question or condition.

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How to Get Pregnant Naturally | Tips & Tricks To Stay Healthy

5.0 Want a safe pregnancy Want to get pregnant naturally here are some tips to keep you healthy

Did you know the U.S. has been rated the most dangerous place to give birth in the developed world and that according to the CDC, at least 700 women die every year from pregnancy or childbirth and 60% of the childbirth-related deaths are preventable? How could this happen? In one of the most sophisticated and progressive nations in the world, how do we have such staggering prenatal numbers? Is it the fact 1 in 14 women still smoke, while pregnant. Or is it that 1 in 4 pregnant women and nearly half-non pregnant women aged 15-44 years of age reported to the CDC they used the medication in the last 30 days. Also, 9 in 10 women take at least one medicine during pregnancy, and 7 in 10 women take at least one prescription medication during their pregnancy.

 

None of the studies have viewed how many women take supplements, and many women do not disclose or are afraid to disclose the supplements, herbs, etc. they are taking to the primary doctor in fear of being shunned, spoken down to, or told to stop without a valid reason. In a study performed on pregnant women in 2013, researchers identified the many commonly used medications in the first trimester both prescription and over the counter meds at staggering numbers. Birth control pills, amoxicillin, progesterone, albuterol, and promethazine were many of the standard prescription medications. This did not include the many antidepressants that many women are prescribed. Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, Docusate, Pseudoephedrine, Aspirin, and Naproxen were many of the over the counter medications. Not to mention collections of herbs, supplemental aids, and over the counter natural treatments that were not evaluated in the CDC study. How did this happen? How did we miss that a woman’s body is sacred and in need of support during one of the holiest times in her life, producing life?

 

Unfortunately, there is little known about the effects of these, and many medications, as well as supplements on pregnancy as many women, especially pregnant women, are excluded from studies for fear of complications during the study. Studies are being formulated to identify potential risk factors that may increase the risk of birth defects as well as answer questions about medicine taken during pregnancy, currently but it is not a wonder that many neurological and immunological conditions are on the rise. It is essential to be open and honest with your provider regarding any things that you are taking natural or unnatural to ensure proper care is taken during pregnancy.

5.0 Want a safe pregnancy 2

The focus in healthcare primarily has been the 1,000 days of life, which is from conception to 2 years old for an infant. However, more emphasis must be placed on preparing women for pregnancy. Regarding building health for women, these are some simple steps that can be taken in the 365 days before conception.

1. Evaluate current health status: That means having your functional medicine provider evaluate your total health and remember total health does not just mean the absence of symptom or disease. We assess your digestive health, hormonal health, and nutritional health and balance from there.

2. Evaluate your disease status: Your allopathic doctor should provide a full comprehensive physical to assess the health from a disease state perspective. This should be done with your OBGYN who can determine your bodies natural ability to create life and ensure your body’s disease free. Also, a great time to run some new first lab panels, hormone panels, etc. to assess for any hidden disease processes.

3. Prenatal Vitamin – Finding a high-quality multivitamin that is free from colors, dyes, and synthetic additives are critical to the health of the person. Ensuring appropriate nutrition is vital and not every prenatal vitamin is treated equally, so finding one with the adequate amount of iron, folate, calcium, vitamin d, choline, DHA, and probiotics is the key to a healthy pregnancy.

4. Eating a whole food, plant-based diet to include plenty of fresh veggies, fresh fruit, wild caught fishes high in omega 3s avoiding raw eggs, alcohol, uncured meats, and natural or undercooked meat.

5. Managing stress – Having a baby is a life-changing experience, one that should not be taken lightly. Helping to get your house in order (figuratively and literally) to prepare for a baby is key to conception. That means healing any stagnant relationships, creating opportunities for freedom and creativity, finding the perfect fit for a job, as well as relationship before plunging into the abyss of motherhood. The mother is the central focus of the home, and she must be healthy, grounded, and transparent to allow for the family to follow.

6. Heal the gut, heal the gut, heal the gut!! Your hormones start in the stomach, so remember this is the first stop in your discovery of yourself and your healing. Research continues to show the adverse effects of imbalances of health is a contributing factor to the development of high-risk pregnancies as well as congenital (at birth) diseases. Ensuring that Mommy is healthy before she begins the process of conception will provide not only an easier time getting pregnant, but also prevent any risk factors for disease processes from occurring or complications during the pregnancy. We are currently consulting with mommies as well as prospective mommies to ensure they are healthy, happy, and ready to create life.

All information contained in this blog post is intended for informational and educational purposes only, and is neither intended nor suited to be a replacement or substitute for professional medical treatment nor for professional medical advice relative to a specific medical question or condition.