Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy (PUPPPs)

PuPPPs is a very itchy skin rash that usually presents in late pregnancy, but it can present in the postpartum period. I have heard of a natural remedy reported to be very effective within 3-5 days. Take the following:

• Dandelion root tincture taken 3 times a day
• Dandelion root has too many beneficial properties to list here. The main ones that relate to this condition are its liver detoxifying properties, its anti-inflammatory properties, and its cooling properties.
  
• SamE taken 2 times a day
• SAMe facilitates the manufacture of DNA and brain neurotransmitters and supports healthy mood and liver functions.
• A capsule of flax seed oil taken 1 time a day 
• Flax seed has many healing properties, including a high essential fatty acid content and anti-cancer agents.
• Acidophilus taken on an empty stomach 2 times a day
• Probiotics are one of the most important substances for promoting healing to be found. They are anti-inflammatory, promote gut health, and help treat imbalances caused by candida overgrowth, parasites, mold toxicity, fungal infections and more.

The alternative is steroids prescribed by a doctor and would require pumping and dumping with formula supplementation. DO NOT take benedryl or any other antihistamine postpartum if you are breastfeeding, as it will dry up your milk.

Stretch Marks

Howdy! Those of you who have been or are pregnant know that stretch marks can be a much undesired side effect.

Stretch Marks occur when the skin is stretched beyond its elasticity. The upper layer stretches and the lower layer of skin tends to tear, causing small rips in the tissue. This results in some red marks that feel different from the regular texture of your skin. These will fade to white after your pregnancy, but this can take time. While some women feel uncomfortable with the appearance of stretch marks, it might help them to know that, in some cultures, stretch marks are seen as an outward sign of the noble and brave status of motherhood.

Preventing Stretch Marks
Although it is believed that stretch marks are a genetic predisposition, there are things you can do to try and prevent them.

It’s important to only use organic skin products while pregnant. Most chemicals are not proven safe for your unborn baby and its best to just avoid them. Going organic will give you peace of mind and you’ll be able to treat your skin without fear of affecting the child inside.

What to Look for in Stretch Mark Prevention Treatments

Certain organic products work better than others against stretch marks. Basically, you want to moisturize your skin and enhance the elasticity. A good prevention cream will also provide some healing power to help any existing tears in the skin heal faster, without getting worse. This is particularly helpful if you are starting treatment later in the pregnancy.

Organic stretch mark creams usually use one or more of the following ingredients:

Shea Butter: By far the most common ingredient used in stretch mark prevention since is one of the best natural moisturizers on the market. It also has healing properties to help with any existing stretch marks.

Coconut Oil: Avery good moisturizing oil that also enhances elasticity and hastens healing of existing problems.

Olive Oil: Another good moisturizer that helps boost elasticity and soften skin, making it more supple and resistant to tearing.

Any organic skin product designed to treat and prevent stretch marks should include one of the above ingredients for maximum benefit. Often they will have other natural ingredients, as well, to promote healing and enhance the moisturizing effect.

Let me know if you have any questions about this. And of course, let us know what remedies you've tried and used with success! xoxo

How to Deal with a Vaginal Yeast Infection

Hi there! I hope you're all enjoying this week so far. I know I am!

Many of you have probably had a vaginal yeast infection at one time or another during your life. It's not uncommon to have a certain amount of yeast in your vagina, as well as in your intestinal tract. Yeast only becomes a problem when it grows so fast that it overwhelms other competing microorganisms.

As you probably know, it's fairly common to get one while you're pregnant because your higher level of estrogen causes your vagina to produce more glycogen, making it even easier for yeast to grow there. Some researchers think estrogen may also have a direct effect on yeast, causing it to grow faster and stick more easily to the walls of the vagina.

SYMPTOMS
Symptoms from yeast infections tend to hang around until you treat the infection, although sometimes they come and go of their own volition. Symptoms may include:

• Itchiness, irritation, soreness, burning, and redness in your vagina and labia (and sometimes swelling)
• An odorless vaginal discharge that's often white, creamy, or cottage-cheesy
• Discomfort or pain during sex
• Burning when you urinate (when the urine hits your already irritated genitals)

TREATMENTS
These are the treatments for vaginal yeast infections that we have found to be most effective.

Early treatment is ideal
If a woman can pay attention to the first tickling of the yeast infection, she can use one of the following treatments to resolve the infection:

Garlic
Take a clove of fresh garlic and peel off the natural white paper shell that covers it, leaving the clove intact. Be careful not to nick the clove at all. At bedtime wrap the clove in a piece of gauze, lubricate with olive oil and insert into the vagina. In the morning, remove the garlic clove and throw it in the toilet. The garlic often causes the vagina to have a watery discharge. One night's treatment may be enough to kill the infection, or it might have to be repeated the next night. Continue one or two days until all itchiness is gone.

Sitz Bath
Use a sitz bath with apple cider vinegar added 2-3 x day. You can also use a peri-bottle with a table spoon of vinegar added to gently douche.

Probiotic
Get a good quality pro-biotic and take both orally and insert capsule into vagina 2 x day

Gentian Violet
If all else fails you can try gentian violet, which is a tincture that will stain everything purple, so be careful! Coat a tampon with gentian violet and insert overnight. You may also paint the outside of your vagina with gentian violet, but again, be prepared for a mess! Only use this method one time per week!

Diet
Make sure you change your diet to eliminate all refined sugar, white flour products and juice. Cut back on fruit as well.

Over the Counter
Products such as Monistat and Vagistat are very effective at treating Yeast Infections. You can purchase them in 1, 3 or 7 day treatments. They range in price from $15 to $20 per package.

Hope this helps. And let us know what's worked for you!

How To Survive Morning Sickness

Give thanks! Nausea in early pregnancy means your hormone levels are high enough to support a healthy pregnancy.

During pregnancy your dramatically increasing hormones cause a corresponding increase in stomach acid. This is why it is important to eat frequently and also why eating saltine crackers, which absorb the acid, is helpful. Eat many small meals, ideally eating every two to three hours, even during the night. It doesn't have to be a lot. Just a couple of bites will help neutralize that acid. It can be a cracker or two with nut butter, a small handful of trail mix, a chunk of cheese, or a couple of bites of yogurt (it is also important to make sure you eat some form of protein each time you eat to minimize the chance of developing preeclampsia).

Additionally, some women experience relief when sipping peppermint tea, chewing a piece of peppermint gum, or sucking on a peppermint candy. If peppermint doesn't work, try ginger.

Also, it is important to drink an adequate amount of water. I recommend using a one liter bottle, filling it in the morning when you get up, drinking it by lunch time, refilling it, and finishing it again by bedtime. You can take little sips throughout the day, just make sure you have emptied your bottle twice by bedtime. This will ensure you have consumed the minimal amount of water necessary to sustain a healthy
pregnancy.

Pregnancy Complaints - Resolved!

I recently wrote this article and am publishing it in various places on the web. Enjoy!

Solutions to Common Pregnancy Complaints

There are many changes that take place in a woman's body when she becomes pregnant and as the baby grows within her. There are also many resources that detail the "complaints of pregnancy.” Virtually every pregnancy book lists these complaints and offers solutions for them. I will concentrate on those most often presented in my practice, and the solutions most of my clients find helpful.

Nausea: The increased hormones in pregnancy cause over-production of stomach acids. I recommend eating every two to three hours, even through the night. Keeping something in the stomach seems to minimize the effect of these acids. Also, either drinking mint or ginger tea or sucking on mint or ginger candy or chewing mint or ginger gum often provides a calming effect on the stomach.

Leg Cramps: Try eating a baked potato with sour cream or have a banana with a glass of milk at bedtime. Or take a potassium supplement and consider also a supplement of calcium citrate with vitamin D and magnesium (this will have the added benefit of helping you sleep better when taken within an hour of bedtime).

Indigestion or Heartburn: Eat small meals (eat something every couple of hours rather than concentrating on three meals a day), and limit spicy and greasy foods. Try slowly chewing a pinch of raw oatmeal when experiencing discomfort. Antacids are an option but I suggest limiting their use.

Headaches: Headaches are another side effect of the increased hormones of pregnancy. Ensure consumption of at least 75 to 100 grams of protein a day, a minimum of two liters of water each day, and some form of regular exercise. Many women find relief with essential oils. My favorite is a drop or two of peppermint oil on the temples. If the headaches persist, an over-the-counter pain reliever is an option, but I encourage limiting their use. Occasionally one of my moms benefits from a progesterone cream.

There are many discomforts that can be experienced in a normal, healthy pregnancy. Most of them can be dealt with relatively easily. The good news is that they do not last forever!

For more information about pregnancy complaints, please visit my websites: TheMidwiveOnline.com, SonomaMidwife.com and NapaMidwife.com.