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Bad Licorice and Smart Shopping

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A pregnant woman’s diet is under such scrutiny. Doctors and scientists are always studying how different foods affect the health of a pregnant woman and her child. Often times, the focus is on what we cannot eat rather than what we should eat. We are constantly bombarded with warnings and new lists of foods to avoid. Unfortunately, you can add licorice to the list of things you can’t have (or should avoid) during pregnancy. Black licorice contains glycyrrhizin, which affects how hormones are regulated in the body. When a pregnant woman eats too much licorice, it can lead to higher … Continue reading →

Juniper

Juniper is an evergreen popular in landscaping… but you may know the plant more for giving flavoring to gin. The juniper shrub’s branches, leaves, and berries have long been used in cooking and medicine, too. Juniper has a very strong smell, which led early medical practitioners to believe it could drive away evil spirits and disease. Native Americans believed that juniper was useful for cleansing and healing. It was used to prevent infection, relieve arthritis, and cure illnesses. Bundles of juniper branches with leaves were heated and tied to a sore limb to relieve pain. These days, juniper still has … Continue reading →

Are Herbal Teas Safe?

Herbal teas offer many nutritional and medicinal benefits. Some herbal tea has become so popular that you may not think twice about pouring a cup. But are they safe during pregnancy? This depends on the type of tea you are drinking. There are a few reasons to question the safety of herbal teas. One factor is the medicinal properties in some tea preparations. Herbal medicine is helpful for many ailments, but not all are safe for use in pregnancy. An herbal tea that has health benefits may have negative side effects for the baby. Another factor to consider is how … Continue reading →

Understanding Drug Categories for Pregnant Women

If you are pregnant in the United States, you may have seen the Food and Drug Administration’s use in pregnancy ratings for drugs. This rating scale has five categories. Each category is designated by a letter: A, B, C, D and X. Category A: Drugs in the A category have been studied and the studies have not shown a risk of abnormalities in the fetus when the mother has taken the drug. The results hold true for all three trimesters of pregnancy. The studies done on these drugs are considered to be well controlled scientific studies and several have been … Continue reading →

The Let’s Talk Pregnancy Blog Top Ten: How to Induce Labor Naturally

If you’re attempting to have the most natural labor possible, you’re going to want to avoid artificial induction at all costs. Not only are artificially-induced contractions often significantly stronger and more painful, but starting labor unnaturally can likely lead to further complications. The current state of your cervix will determine how likely the onset of labor is. No amount of any of these, save number one maybe, will produce a baby if it’s not time. Sure, there are plenty of old wive’s tales for starting labor naturally, including eating spicy foods or taking a ride down a bumpy road. But … Continue reading →

Let’s Talk About “Pregnesia”

Since you’ve been pregnant, have you found yourself doing silly forgetful things that you wouldn’t normally do? How about leaving your keys in the doorknob, or misspelling simple words and getting frustrated about it? If this sounds like you, take a deep breath. You may be suffering from Pregnesia! This may be a term that is new to you. Pregnesia has been coined as the word to describe the forgetfulness often experienced by pregnant women. Also known as “preggie brain” or “preggo mishaps”, symptoms may include ditzyness, discombobulation, and acts of random clumsiness. There may be a link between fatty … Continue reading →

The Let’s Talk Pregnancy Blog in the New Year

In closing my very first month as a Pregnancy Blogger, I am closing out a year as well. I would like to say thank you to those of you that have read my entries so far. I’m having a wonderful time writing about a topic that is very near and dear to me. I hope you all are enjoying reading as much as I am writing. Here is a look-back on December 2006 and a look forward to the things I will touch on in the New Year: I talked about a lot of things that relate to the first … Continue reading →

Let’s Talk About Safe Herb Usage in Pregnancy

Many women use herbs during pregnancy in a supplemental way, as well as to prevent mild complications such as edema (swelling due to fluid retention). It is important to understand that the quality of your herbs depends on two things: Freshness and Source. The source of your herbs should be reliable, which involves doing research not only on the herb itself, but the manufacturer as well. Freshness is obvious: the fresher the herb, the better the quality. Which is why growing your own herbs is always the freshest option (and then you will also know the source). Here I would … Continue reading →

Let’s Talk About Herbs to Avoid During Pregnancy

There are two types of herbs when it comes to pregnancy: Those you can use, and those you can’t. Within the can-use category, herbs can be broken down by trimester. Some herbs are very safe for your entire pregnancy, and others shouldn’t be used until the third trimester. For a full comprehensive list you can visit your library or do an internet search, but I will touch on some of the more popular herbs here. Let’s start with the herbs you should AVOID, especially in early pregnancy. Many herbs should never be used during pregnancy. Those containing high quantities of … Continue reading →