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30 Week Pregnancy Regimen - Preparing My Body For Labor
by Lady Lassarus
I can’t believe in 8ish weeks I will have a newborn baby in my arms! This pregnancy has just flown by and has been so incredibly different from my last one. I’m not sure if it’s the difference in genders, being a different pregnancy, or just being a little bit older this time around, but I’ve been plagued with exhaustion (maybe because I’m chasing a toddler around all the time 🤪), horrible back pain, and heartburn; none of which I had with my last pregnancy!
I’ve also had horrible food aversions still. Although I still turn to Weston Price/Nourishing Traditions/Ancestral diet, it has been difficult to get things like organ meats into my diet. I saw these recommended in Weston Price group I am in and have been very happy with them.
Along with the ancestral supplements, thought I would share some regimens I have started and ways I am preparing my body for labor as well as things helping with those minor discomforts in the final weeks.
First and foremost, I am staying as active as I can. We live up a mountain in southern Appalachia and my little one loves going on hikes and adventures, but guess who always wants to be carried back home? Enter back pain!
Back Pain:
Carrying/wearing a toddler certainly contributes to my constant back pain, but I’ve also had back pain since very early on in my pregnancy. I have resumed going to the chiropractor for regular adjustments and will go for more as my guess date approaches. It really makes an incredible difference, but does not keep the pain away completely. I’m hoping this isn’t an indication of back labor coming upon me because I never experienced it with my daughter, but just in case, I am studying up on coping techniques, natural pain management, and labor positions to try for back labor. Overall, Arnica gel has been a lifesaver! I have always found the Arnica gel to be far more effective than other forms of Arnica. You can find this gel at most drug stores and grocery stores stores these days.
Heartburn:
I love spicy food to begin with, but in both pregnancies so far spicy food has been life. However, this pregnancy and the past few weeks, I have had horrible heartburn. Warm lemon water and Apple Cider Vinegar didn’t touch the heartburn at all. I didn’t want to succumb to anything like Tums. I made a meal for a mother that welcomes her 5th child earth side about a month ago and she introduced me to both of these that I am going to recommend. At the time, I did not have heart burn but she insisted I take them just in case and I am so glad I did! One is a digestive enzyme. Although I do do a lot of fermented foods/beverages, I like that these have the additional pre and probiotics. I take one capsule before each meal.
She also gave me Papaya Enzyme chews, which have been a lifesaver for when heartburn strikes! I’ve never had an issue with heartburn, but I guess Papaya is good for heartburn. Another friend recommended pure Aloe juice, but I have not tried this myself. Here are the papaya enzyme chews I have:
Night Leg Cramps:
I did have leg cramps with my daughter and my midwife recommended magnesium, which has always done the trick for me. I make my own magnesium spray, but while pregnant I find that I need to take a supplement to keep the leg cramps away. I suffer from chronic migraines and take Magnesium Glycinate which is supposed to be the best form of magnesium to take for migraine sufferers such as myself. These are the ones I take:
Group B Strep Prep:
Although I think I am going to forgo this test altogether, normally close to 35 weeks your provider will test you for Group B Strep, which is test that checks to make sure bad bacteria isn’t accumulating when you deliver. If tested positive, most providers will encourage antibiotics prior to delivery because it can be harmful to baby as they pass through the birth canal. I have started taking garlic to help with this as garlic has many antibacterial benefits. I have also been taking Apple Cider Vinegar baths, upping my fermented foods intake, and taking the digestive enzyme with pre and probiotics in it. I also have started sodium ascorbate and zinc to keep my immune system up as well as my regular herbs (echinacea, astragalus root, elderberry, rose hips, oil of oregano, etc)
Grapefruit Seed Extract:
I also have started Grapefruit Seed Extract. GSE contains potent compounds that kill over 60 types of bacteria and yeast, which makes it perfect for keeping away any bad bacteria from colonizing we you prepare for birth. I start taking it around 30 weeks more as a precautionary. Also a great tip for moms, GSE is great for if your little one contrasts thrush while nursing. I suspected my little one had thrush early on as an infant and I began taking GSE just in case. If you are nursing be sure to dilute about 10 drops and use a Q-tip/cotton ball to apply directly onto nipples. Be sure after nursing to wash nipples with ACV or else you and baby will keep infecting each other each time they nurse. Continue to apply GSE to nipples until thrush clears. You can also take a capsule form and that will work just as well. Just be sure to wash any garments/pump parts/nursing pads, etc that come into contact with nipples and apply ACV to nipples to disinfect. If formula/bottle feeding put 5-10 drops in milk and be sure to sanitize bottle nipples. Same goes for if you use pacifiers at all.
GSE is also highly effective if you are prone to UTIs.
Toning Uterus, Using herbs for bleeding after Delivery and Postpartum Relief:
Red Raspberry Leaf/Yarrow/Shepard’s Purse/Alfalfa Tea and Tinctures
I have been drinking Red Raspberry Leaf and Nettle tea to start toning up my uterus. Around 37 weeks I will start adding Shepard’s Purse, Yarrow, and Alfalfa tea to me regimen to help with any potential post birth hemorrhaging and excessive bleeding. I also will have these in tinctures tinctures on hand for delivery in the event of excessive bleeding.
Dates:
Around 35 weeks I start eating about 6-8 dates a day. Eating dates is known to help with shortening labor and having a smooth delivery. I can say with my last delivery it was extremely smooth and (what I consider) a short labor of 4 hours with my first child. If eating dates alone aren’t your thing, consider making your own Larabars, stuffing and baking them with Brie or goat cheese and wrapping them in bacon, chopping them
up in a rustic granola, or adding them into smoothies. Dates are a wonderful natural sweetener!
Comfrey ‘padsicles’
I will probably do a blog post on the recipe for this, but soon I will begin making Comfrey ‘padsicles’. Comfrey along with other plants and herbs are known to help with inflammation and also soothing comfort for postpartum. I will also make a lovely bath soak and sitz using herbs for postpartum relief.
I hope if we have any other pregnant ladies out there, some of this helps you on your journey whether you are a first time mother or adding a sweet addition to your family!
