Healing by Design: Top 10 Recommendations for Pregnancy & Postpartum
Pregnancy and postpartum are crucial times in a woman’s life. More stress is put on the body as women navigate through their pregnancy journey and embrace physical and emotional changes. After childbirth, moms are often so busy taking care of their baby that they forget to take care of themselves. Here are 10 recommendations to help prepare you for pregnancy, maintain health during pregnancy, and stay healthy after childbirth.
Cleanse: Healthy kids come from healthy parents. That’s why we made cleansing the number one “to do” before you get pregnant. Cleansing opens up blockages in the body and removes excess waste to prevent sickness and disease. Check out our Cleansing Programs to get step-by-step instructions on how to do this.
Clean Nutrition: One of the best changes you can make as a mom-to-be is to keep a clean and healthy diet. Your little one is growing and needs the right nutrients to thrive and stay healthy. We recommend eating fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and high-quality meats. Do your best to avoid processed foods, dairy, alcohol, coffee, and sugar.
Fresh Air (Oxygen), Sunshine, Exercise, and Water: All of these are components of life that we don’t always get enough of. Walk outside, breathe in the fresh air, feel the sun on your face, and drink plenty of clean water. For exercise, try a pre or post natal Pilates class, like the ones we offer at Whole Pilates. It’s gentle on the body and promotes overall health. Who knows, you might even meet some new friends.
Take care of your health before and during pregnancy: Common symptoms such as morning sickness, nausea, gestational diabetes, hemorrhoids, and constipation do not have to be a part of your pregnancy journey. Pregnancy does not cause health conditions, but rather reveals health issues the mother has. Focus on improving the health of your liver, kidneys, pancreas, digestion, and circulation. This can all be prevented by taking care of your health before and during pregnancy. Learn more about the connection between your liver and hormones in this article.
Supplements: Here are some common supplements to support a healthy pregnancy.
Minerals: Minerals have been studied for over 100 years for benefits to fertility and healthy pregnancies.
PerfectAmino Electrolytes by Body Health for electrolytes and to restore healthy blood to proper mineral levels.
Another formula we recommend is Inner Vitality Plant Minerals by Morningstar. It provides all trace minerals the body needs in a liquid plant-based formula.
Blood Builder by Megafood for anemia and blood issues.
Greens like Aloe Life Daily Greens by Aloe Life, Green Vibrance by Vibrant Health, Alfalfa Tablets by Pines International (recommend 4000mg during 3rd trimester)
Platt Pro 5% Progesterone Cream by Platt Wellness or Progesteronic by Wishgarden for progesterone support. These are vital for any woman who has had or is concerned about miscarriage.
Probiotics for healthy intestinal flora to promote good health for mom and baby.
Balance by Herbally Grounded has excellent hormone balancing and pregnancy herbs to help with strengthening the uterus and preparing the body for birth.
Magnesium Oil by Health and Wisdom foot soaks are amazing at night to relax, replenish magnesium, relieve sore aches and muscles, and open up healthy blood flow.
Evening Primrose Oil helps to prime the cervix before birth. Take at 36 weeks at a dosage of 500mg 3x daily.
Consider a natural home birth. You don’t have to give birth at a hospital. We recommend you do your research and consider a home birth. Homebirth is safe, peaceful, relaxing, and far more natural. A hospital works well for an emergency backup plan, but it isn’t always the healthiest or safest environment for your baby.
Don’t be a victim of “standard protocol.” We have seen too many women with tears in their eyes, mourning over their hospital experiences. If you choose a hospital birth, be prepared to know and fight for your rights about vaccination, vitamin K shots, antibiotics, pitocin, epidurals, episiotomy, and other invasive and harmful procedures that they deem “standard protocol.”
Prevent and heal prolapse. The best way to prevent prolapse is to avoid constipation during pregnancy. Pilates and stretching exercises are helpful for strengthening the connective tissue. The following formulas are also helpful:
Prevent postpartum depression (PPD). Taking care of your health during pregnancy and right after birth is vital to prevent PPD. Several different nutrient deficiencies are linked to PPD, so supplementing these during pregnancy and right after childbirth is helpful.
Breastfeeding is crucial to avoid PPD because the mother/baby bond is essential for proper hormone release. Read more about breastfeeding here.
Progesterone Supplements: There is a drop in progesterone after childbirth which is likely the biggest reason for PPD.
Calcium and Zinc deficiencies are strongly linked to PPD. Here are some supplements to increase mineral levels in the body after birth
Healthy Fats:
Words of Encouragement: Remember God is with you in every circumstance. The female body is designed for this! Invite the Lord into this process and come back to this list for help during your pregnancy and postpartum journey.
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