I recently saw an article written about how pregnancy changes a woman’s body and why these things happen. It’s true-pregnancy does change your body. I know, we all know this, but I was slightly shocked when I became pregnant. I had assumed that some things would change as a result of my pregnancy, but I wasn’t prepared for all the changes that Mother Nature had in store for me!

Some of the things that shocked me:

I got acne! I was surprised when I began to break out and when my complexion became blotchy during my pregnancy.

My gums bled! I remember the first time I saw red on my toothbrush after brushing my teeth and I freaked out. It’s normal for this to happen at times during pregnancy. However, it is best to get your teeth checked at least once during your pregnancy to make sure everything is ok.

My nose was stuffy! This is the one thing I remember that REALLY bothered me. My nose just felt stuffy most of the time during my pregnancy. I found a little bit of relief by using a vaporizer at night, but I didn’t get total relief until my son was delivered.

I was incredibly tired during the first trimester! Some women aren’t bothered by a decrease in their energy levels. I noticed a drop in my energy during the first trimesters of my pregnancies. I also noticed a huge difference between my energy levels with my first pregnancy (when I was 22 years old) and my most recent pregnancy (when I was 36 years old).

My vision changed! My eyesight actually did change during some of my pregnancies. Sadly, it changed for the worse and it didn’t change back after the baby arrived either.

My feet got bigger! This was the biggest shocker for me, and I am not alone. Many women have admitted to me that their feet grew during pregnancy and never returned to their original size. I asked a doctor once about this and he explained to me that it was due to the fact that ligaments stretch in your feet during pregnancy. Sadly, they don’t seem to shrink back after the baby is born. My feet have grown about a size larger than they were before I began bearing children.

Many of these oddities disappeared after my children were born. As for my eyes and feet: I got a cool pair of glasses and treated myself to new shoes! I suppose you could say that every cloud has a silver lining.

My son has an intestinal virus his that his sisters shared with him. Wasn’t that nice of them? In addition to tummy aches, he also had a very bad case of diaper rash.

Diaper rash can be caused by many things. My older children, for example, had allergies to certain kinds of diapers and wipes. They would get a rash if I used anything other than one certain brand of products. If you have a family full of sensitive skin types, you may want to be sure to use the hypo-allergenic products made for babies with sensitive skin. I’ve found that certain types of scented products also cause rashes too, so use caution when trying out new products.

If your child has a stomach virus, you can sometimes avoid diaper rash by changing his diapers frequently. I’ve also begun changing my son several times a night in an effort to help heal his chapped skin. When changing a diaper, pat the child clean rather than wiping. This also seems to help protect the skin, especially if your child has started with a rash.

When you bathe your child, pat him dry and make sure that his skin is totally dry before putting a diaper on him, or you could make the rash worse.

I have found that different types of ointment can actually create skin issues with my son. I also have found that some cr’mes are actually very, very difficult to get off the skin after you apply them. Others just seem to melt away and don’t even create a barrier between the skin and the wet diaper. There are so many different diaper rash products available now that I was, overwhelmed and mentioned this to my child’s doctor. What brand did she recommend? Surprisingly, she recommended petroleum jelly because it’s inexpensive, and most children don’t have an allergic reaction to the product. I now use just straight petroleum jelly on him when he gets a rash. It works.

If, after several days of treatment, the rash doesn’t seem to improve or gets worse, call you doctor to have your child’s rash checked out. Sometimes children develop a yeast infection which looks like a really red diaper rash.

In my son’s case, his diaper rash did not improve. I took him to the doctor who told me that his rash was actually due to yeast. I bought an over the counter product for yeast infections and put it on his bottom after each diaper change, and in several days, the rash was gone. Note that you should always speak to your child’s doctor before ever trying this diaper rash cure!

You may not always be able to prevent diaper rash from occurring, but luckily, there are many options available to help you keep your child comfortable until the rash heals.

Zinc is a mineral that is involved in the functioning of over 300 enzymes and takes part in a great many biological functions. This means that inadequate intake can lead to a range of problems. It was first discovered to be an essential element in 1934. It is the mineral that is most commonly deficient, it is estimated that one fifth of people across the world are deficiency in zinc.

Food processing reduces the quantity of zinc in the food. When food is boiled, the zinc is leeched out into the water. There is a increased need for zinc for people who are under stress, suffering from infections and pre menstrual syndrome, who are on the contraceptive pill, who have excess copper, who have frequent alcohol consumption, who have unstable blood sugar levels and those who have a genetic increased need for zinc.

Symptoms of a zinc deficiency include a blank mind, confusion and lack of concentration, depression, loss of appetite, lack of motivation. It also seems that a deficiency in B6 and magnesium leads to poor dream recall.

Zinc supplementation is recommended in a whole range of conditions, which can be sorted into various categories.

Digestive problems such as food allergies, diarrhea and gastric ulcers. Zinc is essential for digesting food proteins and the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.

Skin problems such as acne, stretch marks, eczema and psoriasis. Zinc is important for collagen production, elastin synthesis and DNA repair.

Neurological conditions such as ADHD, autism, anorexia, schizophrenia and post natal depression.

Immune system conditions such as general immune system weakness, gingivitis and herpes. Zinc is important for many immune functions, such as protein synthesis.

Hormonal conditions such as pre menstrual syndrome, menopausal problems and fertility. Zinc is important in o estrogen production.

Other conditions such sickle cell anemia, Down Syndrome, high cholesterol, burns, hormonal imbalances, fertility and growth.

Good food sources include oysters, herrings, wheat, oats, meat, eggs, seafood, nuts, seeds, black eyed beans and tofu. Alternatively a supplement can be taken. A dose of 15mg is recommended for a standard long term dosage, with larger quantities to be taken under professional advice.

Zinc (Zn) – Easy Way to Natural Beauty

International Zinc Association ? Zinc and Human Health

Zinc ? Contributing to Better Health

Zinc Health Article

This information is not meant to constitute medical advice, please speak to your doctor before changing your diet.

Last week my toe went septic. A small piece of the nail had come off and stuck into it. I am particularly squeamish when it comes to toenails and wasn?t sure what to do about it. A friend of mine suggested putting a cabbage leaf around it, apparently it worked for her when the infection was much worse than mine. This obviously caused a great deal of amusement amongst my family!! But of course it was preferable to them than having to eat the cabbage. I also took some of the homeopathic remedy Silica 30, which is good for septic infections, abscesses and getting rid of splinters.

However it seemed to be the cabbage that did most of the healing. Within not much more than 24 hours of starting to use it, the whole place had healed up, it was not even slightly sore. When I discussed the matter with Sarah in the greengrocers shop, she said that she had used cabbage for mastitis with amazing results. This encouraged me to look up and find more about it.

It looks like cabbage has been cultivated for over 4000 years ? that is a lot of generations of children refusing to eat it! When eaten it is supposed to detoxify the stomach and upper bowels and therefore improve digestion. Other properties ascribed to it are stimulating the immune system, killing harmful bacteria and viruses, helping ulcers, cancer prevention, clearing up acne and improving circulation. Apparently Egyptian pharaohs used to eat large quantities of it because they believed it would enable them to drink more wine and beer. Cabbages were one of the items taken on ships to increase the vitamin C intake and reduce scurvy. Recent research has indicated that red cabbage helps to protect against Alzheimers Disease.

Cabbage also has many healing properties when used externally. Apparently in the middle ages, sciatica and varicose veins were treated with cabbage plasters. It is thought that these healing properties are due to its sulfur content. It has been used to eliminate pus and other toxic substances from the body as well as increasing nutrients and blood flow to the damaged area and so aiding healing. Apparently it has been used externally for many conditions including arthritis, insect bites, varicose veins and tonsillitis.

It looks like I am going to have to insist that my children eat cabbage every day!

Always take advice from your doctor if the symptoms persist.

Cabbage

Cabbage as Food and Medicine

Many new mothers comment that their newborns fingers and toes are one the most amazing and interesting features to study on their precious little baby’s bodies. It has long been a tradition for hospitals to take ink prints of newborns hands and feet soon after birth as a keepsake memento for new mothers, and many probably still remember placing our hands in plaster of paris molds at the kitchen table. A baby’s hands and feet are also the most mobile and wandering part of a newborns body, and therefore require a little extra love and grooming.

Immediately after birth and for a few days after, most infants are given long sleeves or protective mittens for their hands as some infants accidentally scratch themselves when aggravated. Your baby’s nails are very soft after birth and are very prone to ripping and tearing and can be very painful and upsetting to a confused infant. Keeping your baby’s hands and feet well cleaned and moisturized in this first few weeks is very important as infants loose skin cells very rapidly as new cells begin to form.

Due to hormones that are released during labor and sometimes affected by medications administered to the mother, both you and your baby’s hair and nails will grow very rapidly in the first few weeks after delivery. It is very important to keep your infants’ nails neatly clipped to avoid injury and bacteria from forming under the nails. There are a variety of infant grooming tools for purchase, but I have found that the nail clippers with the attached magnifying glass are the safest and easiest to use.

It is easiest to clip your infant’s nails while they are in the deep R.E.M sleep cycle, categorized by the “limp limb” or “dead baby” appearance when your little one’s arm is lifted gently and dropped. Make sure that you are careful to take your time and be gentle as your baby has very soft skin and sensitive nerves. After you have clipped all of her errant nails, gently cleanse her hands with a wet wipe or washcloth to help keep dead skin cells from layering and causing eczema. Do not use harsh anti-bacterial soaps or gels on your infant as these can irritate their sensitive skin.

Make sure that you keep your little ones hands clean as they invariably collect all kinds of germs from various surfaces. Dried milk and fabric lint should be gently wiped away from between knuckles and anyone handling your baby should have clean hands to avoid the spread of disease or infection.

Little feet should also be cleansed regularly and dead skin cells and fabric particles should be wiped from between toes to avoid the forming of fungus or other nasty afflictions. It is also recommended that you do not submerge your infant in water until their cord stump has fallen all the way off and healed as trapped water can lead to infection and irritation at the cord site. Your best bet is a warm washcloth and a gentle touch, gently exfoliating patchy areas on your baby’s’ body and keeping them well moisturized with baby lotion.

All newborns peel somewhat as they are shedding old skin cells at a highly accelerated rate due to their quick metabolism and rapid growth rate. This is completely normal and natural, and you may notice that your child will peel more abundantly after some time in the sunshine. Using a soft brush on your baby’s’ head and hair can keep their scalp healthy and help to guard against the formation of cradle cap. Always careful to keep your newborn out of any direct sunshine for any long period of time as they can burn very easily, but make sure that they are getting a little bit each day as it is good for their immune system and skin to absorb this natural source of vitamin D.

Two recent studies have indicated that ginger is good for treating cancer. Various studies have shown its beneficial effects with breast cancer, ovarian cancer, skin cancer and bowel cancer.

A study at the University of Michigan found that not only does ginger kill cancer cells but that it also stops the cells becoming resistant to treatment. In addition it has virtually no side effects. Research at the University of Minnesota’s Hormel Institute indicates that ginger may be of use in bowel cancer. The National Cancer Institute has given ginger as one of the top ten foods with high anticancer activity.

Ginger’s healing benefits have long been revered. Apparently the ancient Indians used to eat large quantities of it before religious celebrations to make themselves presentable to the Gods. The Ancient Chinese used to chew the root to help seasickness, and even now it is popular for travel sickness and morning sickness. Apparently Elizabeth I had a special chef who would make pictures of her guests out of gingerbread.

Whilst all this is good news, there is still plenty more research required to provide full information and recommendations. However, in the meantime why not keep going with those gingerbread cookies!!

Further information

Wikipedia

Ginger May Fight Ovarian Cancer

Ginger ‘Could Halt Bowel Cancer’

Ginger Root

Ginger – University of Maryland