NATURAL PRENATAL CARE THROUGH NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE
Naturopathic medicine is founded on the philosophy of treating the body as a whole and treating the root cause of disease or symptoms using the least invasive therapies. It’s also intended to prevent future health concerns by optimizing wellness and supporting your body’s resiliency through any obstacle. So, why would naturopathic medicine and be beneficial for mommas experiencing Prenatal Care?
Pregnancy is a time of many physical, mental and of course hormonal changes.
The Prenatal Process
The demands on mom’s body are high through out the prenatal process; constantly needing to adapt to and provide for the growing fetus is no easy task. As many of you know, nutrient deficiencies and underlying health conditions with mom can cause birth defects and miscarriages. Assuring that mom’s body has enough nutrients to sustain both baby and herself is extremely important during the prenatal time. Working with a trained holistic professional before, during and after pregnancy to be sure that you are maintaining proper health throughout your journey protects you and the baby and can change the trajectory of your baby’s life!
What a typical Natural Prenatal Care Process looks like
Before pregnancy, it is important to assess your overall health status and lifestyle to prime your body for a healthy pregnancy, delivery and baby! Natural prenatal care includes assessments including nutrient status, sleep cycles, stress, mood, energy, your work and home environment, hormone levels, menstrual cycle regularity and prior pregnancy history.
Both symptoms and lab tests can demonstrate imbalances and/or need for optimization. Balancing and optimizing these indicators naturally through a natural prenatal care program will physically and emotionally support you to allow for the best outcome of pregnancy. If mom is imbalanced before pregnancy, it can lead to an uncomfortable pregnancy, birth and even postpartum complaints such as depression, fatigue and challenges with the health of your infant. Many questions also come up at this time, especially with new mommas. Your Naturopathic Medical Doctor (NMD) will take the necessary time to listen to you and be sure that all of your questions are answered allowing you to enter motherhood with supreme confidence.
Have a plan and be prepared
During pregnancy, serious conditions such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes can arise. We also recommend working with a midwife and/or doula to further improve your holistic prenatal journey and birthing experience. The hospital, while very necessary, can be overwhelming for some parents and a home and/or natural birth may better suit your preferences. Check out information from your local birthing center, knowing that you can find your solutions working with a team of providers to fully round out a natural prenatal care program.
The integration of a Naturopathic Medical Doctor into your family planning and natural prenatal care is essential in developing a healthy child. NMDs wish to support families through all stages of health so that each individual can provide the best care for yourself and your loved ones.
The above information is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease and is not a substitute for appropriate medical care.
