If you're pregnant, calcium is one of the minerals you need to stay healthy. While you can get calcium from food -- including leafy greens and dairy products -- it's often difficult to get all the calcium you need to support your own body and that...
For most women, diets during pregnancy and lactation are fairly similar. Eating well and avoiding certain foods can help keep both mom and baby healthy during the pregnancy and breastfeeding stages. While nutritional and caloric needs do vary from...
The time during your pregnancy and the first months of your baby's life, when you are breast-feeding, are critical times for both you and your baby to obtain enough calcium. Many of your baby's organs depend on calcium to grow properly and adults...
Pregnancy and lactation require you to increase the amount of certain vitamins that you consume. Your growing baby will take the vitamins it needs from your body, which may leave you deficient. During breast feeding, your baby will get what she...
Lactation, the process in which your breasts produce milk to feed your baby, begins while you are still pregnant. Lactation causes a variety of changes in your breasts, some that are unpleasant and embarrassing. Fortunately, it is possible to...
Cellulite is more a descriptive term than a medical one, and refers to the localized, irregular-appearing patches of skin that, according to Informa Health, appear in anywhere from 85 to 98 percent of post-pubertal females. Roundly deemed...
Bursitis is characterized by inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs that help to cushion the joints. When this sac, know as bursa, becomes inflamed, movement becomes painful and you may also experience stiffness in the affected joint. Bursitis is...
The breasts are hormonally-regulated organs that develop before birth, during puberty, and during lactation and pregnancy. Breast cancer can develop from the milk-producing lobules, the ducts which connect the lobules to the nipple, or within the...
The healthy body is an amazing machine, and if maintained properly, it is efficient at keeping itself in homeostasis. Calcium and phosphorus are vital minerals present in our daily diets that play key roles in homeostasis. Both are required to...
Being a parent poses many questions on the way we choose to live our lives and deal with situations. In addition, while you breastfeed you will want to make sure that you have researched the effects of medication on not only yourself, but also on...
Mullein, also referred to as candlewick and beggar’s flannel, is a wooly leafed plant that can grow more than 7-feet-tall. The plant has long spikes with yellow flowers. People drink a tea with dehydrated mullein flowers or leaves for...
The breasts are made up of a series of structures called lobules, connected to the nipple by a series of ducts, and surrounded by fat and connective tissues. Lactation, the release of milk from the breast, occurs upon the maturation of cells...
As a pregnant or lactating mother, your nutritional needs are greater than at any other time of your life. During this period, you require an additional 300 calories each day, according to Ohio State University Extension. These calories should...
During pregnancy and lactation your body is providing the nutrients for both you and your baby, states "Nutrition" by Frances Sizer and Eleanor Whitney. Getting the proper nutrition is vital to growing a healthy infant. During pregnancy your body...
During pregnancy and lactation, your protein requirements are significantly higher than they were before you got pregnant. Not consuming enough protein during pregnancy can affect your baby. According to a 2004 study published in the "American...
Prenatal vitamins and supplements are indicated for women who are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or nursing. Many nutrients are needed in larger quantities to meet the demands of pregnancy and lactation. Iron and folate are nutrients that can...
Hypericum, or St. John's Wort, is widely prescribed by herbalists, naturopathic doctors and other holistic practitioners. Taken internally, hypericum is primarily used to treat mild to moderate depression. It may also relieve symptoms of nerve...
Your nutrient needs change while you are pregnant, and you need more of some of the most important ones, including calcium and iron. Your need for salt may increase a small amount during your pregnancy, the Institute of Medicine Committee on...
An expectant mother often tries to consume the foods and substances that are the healthiest for her and her unborn child. Pregnant mothers who use herbal remedies may have questions about the safety of their favorite herbal teas and supplements....
Flaxseed oil is the richest plant source of essential omega-3 fatty acids, which control inflammation and cellular signaling in your body. Flaxseed oil is generally well tolerated but can be a risk for those with certain medical conditions. If you...
The cranberry, a bright red fruit with a strong, distinctive flavor, is one of only three species of fruit native to North America. Traditionally the cranberry was used by the Native Americans as a food source and medicinally to treat wounds,...
Diet and nutrition are crucial to your unborn baby's growth and development. Not eating enough high quality food during pregnancy can lead to health risks for you and the fetus. According to Dr. William Sears, a pediatrician and author of more...
If you're vegan, or thinking about switching to a diet completely free of animal products, you might wonder if your dietary choice provides enough nutrition. Fortunately, many experts have weighed in on this issue with positive response. For...
Vitex, also known as chasteberry or chastetree is an herbal supplement that may affect the levels of various hormones in the female body. Vitex is sometimes used to help relieve breast pain, reduce the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and...
A healthy diet during pregnancy decreases the risk of birth defects and increases the likelihood of delivering a full-term, healthy baby. Cysteine is a necessary nutrient for your baby to grow properly, and cysteine foods often provide additional...
According to the American Pregnancy Association, urinary tract infections occur more common during pregnancy than otherwise due to changes in the urinary tract. As the uterus grows, it puts increased weight on the bladder, potentially blocking...
Fetal growth and development are influenced by maternal nutrition. Poor maternal diet may be a factor in pregnancy complications such as anemia, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, infections, premature birth and low birth weight. A diet rich in...
Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is commonly thought to boost immunity and you may be tempted to take supplements at the first sign of a cold. The effects vitamin C has on immunity has not been established, though it is thought it may work in...
During pregnancy, your intake of certain vitamins and minerals should increase. Getting adequate folic acid during pregnancy can help you prevent neural tube defects in your growing baby. However, 1,200 micrograms of folic acid during pregnancy is...
