Nurturing Your Pregnancy Journey: The Benefits of Naturopathic Care

Pregnancy is a beautiful time of transformation, but the physical and mental changes a woman’s body undergoes to grow a baby can cause some challenges. Naturopathic care can be a valuable addition to your pregnancy wellness plan, offering a holistic approach to support both you and your growing baby. This article explores some key benefits of naturopathic care in pregnancy.

Supporting Mental Wellbeing: There are major neurocognitive changes happening during pregnancy which can account for symptoms such as anxiety, depression, mood swings, poor focus and memory lapses:

• Grey Matter Reduction: Studies show a decrease in grey matter volume during pregnancy, particularly in areas related to social processing and self-referential thinking. This might sound alarming, but experts believe it reflects a streamlining process, making brain circuits more efficient for understanding and responding to your baby's needs.

• Increased Default Mode Network Activity: The default mode network is a group of brain regions active when your mind wanders. Increased activity here during pregnancy could be linked to the inward focus and planning that often comes with preparing for motherhood.

• Lasting Changes: Research suggests these brain changes might last for at least two years after childbirth. This could be the brain adapting to the ongoing demands of motherhood.

Naturopathy can help manage these neurocognitive symptoms with food as medicine and nutritional supplements, and safe herbal medicine to reduce the impact these brain changes can have on you in pregnancy. Supporting your mental health during pregnancy also reduces your risk of post-partum depression or anxiety after your baby arrives.

Managing Common Pregnancy Discomforts

Morning sickness, insomnia, gastric reflux and constipation are all unwelcome companions during pregnancy.

• Nausea relief: Nausea is a common and unpleasant symptom of the hormonal changes in pregnancy. It usually ends after the first trimester, but in some cases can continue throughout the pregnancy. Naturopathic medicine offers natural solutions to help reduce nausea and improve your nutritional intake during pregnancy. Severe nausea and vomiting in pregnancy can be Hyperemesis gravidarum and may require medical attention and even rehydration in hospital.

• Constipation support: Hormonal and physical changes in pregnancy can cause changes to your digestive system and constipation. Dietary modifications, supplements and herbal medicines are safe and effective to reduce the discomfort of constipation and keep your bowels moving.

• Heartburn reduction: Pregnancy hormones can relax the valve at the stomach entrance, allowing acidic stomach contents to reflux back up the oesophagus. This can increase in later stages of pregnancy as organs are compressed by the growing baby. Naturopathic support can help identify dietary changes and remedies to reduce the discomfort associated with reflux.

• Sleeping easy: Lifestyle changes and support to reduce anxiety can be helpful in reducing insomnia, as can a reduction in gastric reflux. Pregnancy safe herbal medicines can be used to get a good night’s sleep without any side-effects or morning hangover.

Preventing Nutrient Deficiencies

Optimal nutrition is crucial for foetal development. A naturopath can assess your vitamin and mineral intake and recommend dietary adjustments or targeted supplements to ensure you're getting everything you and your baby need.

Several nutrient deficiencies are common during pregnancy, even for women who generally eat a healthy diet. This is because your body's nutritional needs increase significantly to support your growing baby. Here are some of the most common deficiencies to watch for:

• Folate: Crucial for preventing neural tube defects in the developing baby, folate supplements are essential from preconception until delivery.

• Iron: Essential for carrying oxygen to your baby. Iron deficiency can lead to anaemia, causing fatigue and other issues.

• Calcium: Needed for building strong bones and teeth in your baby. Deficiency can increase your risk of bone problems later in life.

• Vitamin D: Helps your body absorb calcium and is important for foetal brain and bone development. Deficiency is widespread and supplementation may be needed if safe sunlight exposure isn’t enough.

• Vitamin B12: Plays a role in red blood cell production and foetal brain development. Deficiency can be more common in vegetarians and vegans.

• Iodine: Supports healthy thyroid function, which is vital for foetal development. Iodine deficiency can lead to cognitive problems in babies.

Preventing Postpartum Depletion

The demands of pregnancy, childbirth and caring for a newborn can leave you not just feeling depleted. Nutrient deficiencies are a common issue in postpartum and the recovery from the demand pregnancy puts on your body can last until your baby is in school. This impact is intensified with subsequent pregnancies, especially when there has been little time to recover in between.

Naturopaths can help with personalised plans to restore your nutrient and energy levels, support healthy sleep patterns, and promote hormonal balance. This can make a significant impact on your postpartum recovery and energy levels.

If you are planning a pregnancy then head to my article “The Power of Preconception Care” to find out more about naturopathic preconception care.

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