Maternity Blog
 

Posts Tagged ‘Medicine’

Getting Pregnant After Miscarriage – What Are the Concerns?

Monday, July 5th, 2010

For many women, getting pregnant after miscarriage brings about a lot of anxiety as they will be very concern about the development of the new pregnancy. Some couples may even delay trying to conceive after miscarriage until they are confident that they can stop miscarriage from happening again.

Unfortunately, the reasons for most miscarriages are not known. However, alternative fertility treatment in the form of Traditional Chinese Medicine has produced amazing results that helped stop miscarriage in women, especially when the cause of the miscarriage is unknown.Traditional Chinese Medicine builds on a strong foundation of pre natal care. This care is much more thorough than nutritional balance and exercise regime.

A study found that women who have had multiple miscarriages have a 25% chance of not being able to conceive successfully in their lifetime. The 75% who go on to conceive successfully had taken deliberate pre natal care when trying to conceive after miscarriage and in so doing managed to stop miscarriage from happening again.Physical and psychological elements will determine the optimum time to try getting pregnant after miscarriage.

Physical factors play a vital role. Some women bleed heavily during a miscarriage and this will hinder trying to conceive. Some women require dilation and curettage (D&C). Although D&C procedure is not known to increase the risk of miscarriages in future pregnancy nor does it make weaker the cervix. Nevertheless, the scraping action of D&C does water down the lining of the uterus, making it incapable of supporting a good implantation. In such instance, women are generally advised to allow their uterus 3 months to mend itself.

The phase of pregnancy loss has implication on the amount of pregnancy hormones that are in the body and so the length of time needed for the hormones to be purged out of the body. On average, it takes one month to six weeks for our body’s hormones to normalize. Trying to conceive after miscarriage before our hormones return to normal will result in confusing pregnancy test result as the kit may reflect the presence of pregnancy hormones resultant from the pregnancy loss as oppose to a new pregnancy.

The human body is extremely responsive. If it detects pregnancy hormones, the body will function to nurture the embryo. If not, the body will stimulate menstruation in the woman. By permitting our hormones to normalize prior to trying to conceive after miscarriage will prevent the body from sending out wrong messages and give the body adequate opportunity to recuperate for future pregnancy.

It takes about a month after miscarriage before a woman’s cycle will return and a further 2 months before the cycle stabilise. However, there are women who go through indefinite period of irregular cycle after the miscarriage and some who many not have a cycle even several months after the miscarriage. This makes it getting pregnant after miscarriage extremely challenging and it is common for women in such situation to seek alternative fertility treatment as the standard clinical therapy has no solution for this problem. Traditional Chinese Medicine is a very accepted alternative remedy with well established results for stimulating a woman’s cycle.

The psychological aspect in getting pregnant after miscarriage is an avenue the couples need to deal with personally. Although doctors are
trained to recognize this need, it is beyond their medical expertise to supply any beneficial counselling. An open discussion between couples is seen as the most effective method to alleviate the sorrow and anxiety of forthcoming pregnancy.

Herbs and pregnancy – A word of caution

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

Natural herbs are known sources of rich nutrients, vitamins and minerals. However, their effectiveness during pregnancy is still being debated. Unlike synthetic medicines, herbal products do not come with specific regulated tests or in particular strengths. Many claim adequate research has not been done to testify the safety of herbal supplements.

It is best for pregnant women to consult their medical practitioners before using any herbal supplement. The same herbal product may come in varying strengths and combinations from different manufacturers. So you never know the right dose for you. Although herbs are great nourishment sources, other components in them may prove detrimental to the health of the mother and the fetus.

Some herbal agents have been known to cause miscarriage, premature delivery, uterine contractions, low birth weight and other complications. It is best to avoid green tea, herbal supplements without consulting the health care provider. Some herbs have been known to be good for use during pregnancy. However, it is unsafe to use any of them without advice from a medical practitioner.

Herbs like alfalfa, chamomile, nettles, oatstaw, red raspberry leaf and rose hips are said to be beneficiary. They are good sources of vitamins, enzymes, iron, calcium and other nutrients. They aid in reducing nausea, increasing milk production and easing the labor pains. On the whole, these herbs provide nourishment to the mother, the fetus and help the process of childbirth. However, be sure to consult your health care provider first.