B*E*S*T Doula Service
Health Hints and Remedies
Health Hints and Remedies
Headache || Heartburn || Constipation || Morning Sickness || Cold, Hay Fever, Runny Nose and Cough || Backaches || Sleeplessness || Things to Avoid During Pregnancy
NOTE: If you are having medical problems, please contact your caregiver.
Headache
• warm, relaxing bath
• massage
• tension reducing exercises (such as shoulder circling)
• relaxation routines
• hot packs or cold packs on the back of the neck or shoulders
• cold packs on the forehead
• drink more water and/or juice
Heartburn
• Redhots or Fireballs (sounds crazy, but it WORKS!)
• Eat slowly
• Eat several small meals
Constipation
• drink plenty of fluids - preferably water or juice
• use a footstool while sitting on the toilet
• eat fresh fruit and roughage
• moderate exercise - walking
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Morning Sickness (a favorable sign that the pregnancy will continue successfully)
• drink plenty of fluids - preferably water or juice
• eat small, frequent, non-greasy meals with little odor, i.e.:
• crackers - preferably whole grain for nutritional value
• fresh fruits, unsugared
• cold chicken
• a piece of (whole grain) toast before getting out of bed
• papaya enzyme tablets
• peppermint oil or peppermint tea
• chamomile tea
• liquid chlorophyll
• raw almonds
• parsley (tea or in salads)
• extra vitamin E
• extra rest
• reduce stress
• cut back on vigorous exercise.
• Vitamin B6 (Vitamin B6 is also important because it strengthens the immune system, aids nerve impulse transmission, assists with energy metabolism, and synthesizes red blood cells. You can get the B6 you need from food sources as well as a vitamin supplement. A large banana provides almost an entire milligram of this B vitamin. Brown rice, lean meats, poultry, fish, avocados, liver, whole grains, corn, and nuts are also high in vitamin B6. So, provided you can stomach them, you may want to add some of these foods to your diet along with the vitamins.)
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Cold, Hay Fever, Runny Nose and Cough
• cool-mist vaporizer
• saline nose drops
• rest
• liquids
• honey and lemon
Backaches
• rest
• massage
• hot or cold packs
• exercises to strengthen the abdominal muscles and to decrease the curve in the lower back
Sleeplessness (common in late pregnancy)
• take a brisk walk each day
• warm bath
• warm milk
• massage
• soothing music
• a dull book (if you find yourself awake in the middle of the night)
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Things to Avoid During Pregnancy
• Tetracycline (a commonly prescribed antibiotic, may retard bone growth and affect tooth development)
• Over-the-counter medications including:
• antacids
• decongestants
• cough medicines
• sleep medications
• headache remedies
• aspirin
• paint fumes
• rug shampoos
• lawn chemicals
• cleaning solvents
• pesticides
• x-rays
• caffeine
• cat litter
• cigarette smoke (including second hand)
• Link To Complete List of Drugs Not Approved by the FDA for Pregnancy
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