Time magazine just posted an abridged version of an article by Annie Murphy Hall.
Dr. Maurer and I spend a lot of time talking about the importance of good nutrition during pregnancy. It’s really nice to see it in print in such a mainstream magazine. It really is our calling to give every child their best start in life.
Naturopathic doctors are trained to look for the root problem causing someone’s symptoms, rather than just making the symptoms go away. If we address the underlying cause, we can allow the symptoms to recede for good. This is no different for postpartum women, and there are a number of reasons WHY women develop postpartum mood disorders. Naturopathic doctors, especially those trained in the art of midwifery or who have had special training in pregnancy and birth, are very well-equipped to figure out how to best help each woman on an individual basis.
Dr. Adriana Azacarate-Ferbel is a Portland area Naturopath who has studied Postpartum depression extensively. I met with her last fall when I began researching this topic more myself. She outlined the most common underlying reasons for development of Postpartum depression:
Sometimes, it may be a combination of one or more of these that can cause postpartum mood disorders to develop. Because this is true for many women, the Naturopathic approach is multifactorial as well. The earlier we can recognize the symptoms and determine what’s actually going on, the better. In my office, a primary work-up to determine the underlying cause may include:
I could write pages and pages on this topic. This is just a jumping-off point. There is still a lot to learn about this realm of women’s health, but we have a very good grasp on how to make the transition to motherhood a happy and healthy time.
Be strong. Live healthy!
Good Morning! It looks to be another beautifully sunny morning here in Portland, Oregon. Wow, we have really been blessed with some fantastic weather the past few weeks. Our clinic garden is looking great as well as the garden my family and I are growing at home. I’ll be taking some photos to show you all just what I mean!
Today I’d like to round out this series on Nutrition during pregnancy by providing some guidelines about postpartum dietary needs. The postpartum period is defined as the time from the birth of the baby and placenta to 6 weeks afterwards. I personally believe that this extends to 3 months after the birth at minimum, with the first 6 weeks being the time when the body makes most of it’s transition back to “normal”.
I put normal in quotations because it is very common for women to feel like they have a totally new body after having a baby. 
To a certain extent, it’s true. It’s not the same body. It looks, acts, and feels different than before pregnancy. Therefore, it has different needs. This is especially the case if the new baby is breastfeeding. Let’s have a look at some guidelines for women in the postpartum period:
Next week I’m going to address Postpartum depression, anxiety, and mood disorders. It’s more common than you think, and there’s more that can be done to help prevent it from affecting you and the ones you love. 
Herbal Nutrition for Pregnancy
Red Raspberry Leaf (Rubus Idaeus): tones the uterus during pregnancy, prevents hemorrhage, provides excellent source of Vitamins C and E. Also good source of Calcium and Iron.
Nettles (Urtica dioica): great tonic. Has lots of Vitamins A, D, C, and K. Provides Calcium and Potassium as well. The Vitamin K is instrumental in preventing hemorrhage during birth. Also good for leg cramps and hemorrhoids.
Mint family (Mentha spp.): safe and helpful in pregnancy for digestive issues: morning sickness and indigestion.
Oatstraw (Avena sativa): good source of minerals for growing baby and for integrity of veins. Oatstraw is calming and nourishing. This herb is a personal favorite!
Specific issues during pregnancy*
Morning sickness: 1-2 cups Raspberry leaf tea, 1-2 spoonfuls of ginger root (Zingiber off.) decoction, peppermint of spearmint tea, alfalfa (Medicago sativa) tea for B vitamins
Varicose veins/Hemorrhoids: 1-2 cups daily of Oatstraw tea, 1-2 cups of nettles tea, raw parsley (Petroselinum sativum) in salads, witch hazel (topically)
Anemia: 1 TBS Yellow dock (Rumex Crispus) decoction per day. Can also try teas of Dandelion root (Taraxacum off), Parsley, and Nettles.
Heartburn/Indigestion: Anise or Fennel seed tea for after meals, Papaya enzymes, raw almonds, Slippery Elm (Ulmus fulva)
Bladder Infections: unsweetened cranberry juice, Uva Ursi leaves infuse for 8 hours, then drink one cup every 12 hours. Can add yarrow (Achillea millefoilium) if not clear with just Uva ursi.
Hypertension: garlic, cucumbers, Hops (humulus lupulus)—only during 3rd trimester, Passionflower tincture (15 drops per day), Skullcap (Scutellaria off.) 1-2 cups per day, Hawthorn berries (Crataegus off.)
Late Pregnancy uterine tonics: Black and Blue Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa and Caullophyllum thalictroides), Squawvine (Mitchella repens)
*Please consult a helath care practitioner before beginning any new herbal or nutritional regimen
Winter in the Pacific NW generally means very little opportunity for sun exposure. When you’re talking about a nutrient that is made in the body when skin gets exposed to UV light, the lack of rays can be a problemo grande.
I’ve been checking my patients’ Vitamin D levels this winter with surprising results. I have yet to get a normal result back. The normal range isn’t even all that high. People still have symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency at the “normal” level. Symptoms like: lethargy, decreased mood, body aches, soreness, headaches, decreased libido. Any of this sound familiar?
When I was in medical school, a family member called me with what sounded like a classic case of fibromyalgia. She was having difficulty sleeping, had lots of pain in her body, and was tired all the time. One of my mentors at the time suggested Vitamin D. She got her levels checked and they were extremely LOW. She started taking 1000 IU/day. Her levels have been in the optimum range now for years AND she doesn’t feel like she has fibromyalgia.
Aside from feeling good in the winter, Vitamin D is important for long-term health issues. Check out this article in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. It talks about how Vitamin D appears to delay aging and diseases of aging by slowing the turnover rate of white blood cells.
Taking a high quality Vitamin D supplement daily is a good idea if you live somewhere gray. It’s also a good idea to get your nutrients from food sources whenever possible. The best sources of Vitamin D are:
*amounts provided by Wikipedia.*
Women of childbearing age and children should not eat mackerel or more than 6oz of tuna per week due to mercury content.
There are rare cases of people overdosing on Vitamin D. You should always consult with your doctor before adding anything new to your daily intake of nutrients. It is advisable to have your Vitamin D levels checked to assess the proper dosage for your body.
