There are many different foods and herbs that you need to avoid during pregnancy because there isn't sufficient evidence to suggest they're safe. While it's not likely that chicory will cause uterine contractions, it's possible. Since there's no...
There are many times when inducing labor is required to preserve the health of the fetus or the mom. Labor may also be induced for women who've already had a baby and live far from a hospital. In 2006, nearly one in five women were induced in the...
A postpartum woman should always discuss abdominal pain after delivery with a health-care provider. In most cases, the pain is a normal after-effect of the birth and the uterus' attempt to shrink back to its original size. In other situations, the...
After pregnancy and once the baby is born, vaginal bleeding is a normal consequence as the body gets rid of all of the supporting tissue left in the uterus. Called lochia, this discharge is perfectly natural and nothing to be concerned about....
Motherwort is a herb native to Asia, now grown worldwide, that has been used for centuries as a blood thinner, muscle relaxant and in other applications. The herb is also known as lion's tail, heartwort, leonurus and throwwort. When administered...
Parsley, or Petroselinum crispum, is an herb indigenous to the Mediterranean region. Usually the leaves of parsley are used as a garnish or in flavoring cooked food. Parsley seeds may be boiled and steeped to create parsley tea. Pregnant women may...
Native to western Asia and Europe, fenugreek is an herbal medicinal treatment derived from the Trigonella foenum-graecum plant. Traditionally, fenugreek has been used to stimulate milk production in lactating women. If you plan to take this...
Heavy menstrual bleeding, or menorrhagia, can strike a woman at any point in her menstrual cycle. Even though it's commonly associated with perimenopause, it's also caused by hormonal imbalances, uterine tumors or fibroids, ovarian disorders,...
Parsley is an annual herb cultivated everywhere but native to the Mediterranean. Its leaves and roots are used as condiments and garnish in dishes, but the plant also has medicinal properties. Parsley seeds are used as carminative, the oil is used...
Medical advances in technology continue to make monitoring fetal development easier, as well as help detect health problems early in the pregnancy to protect both the mother and the baby. One of the most common devices used for this purpose is the...
Steroids are a class of lipid hormones synthesized from cholesterol. They regulate metabolism, immune response, reproduction and other essential biological processes, the 1999 textbook "Biochemistry" notes. Subdivided into five classes according...
Sage originated in the Mediterranean but can grow almost anywhere in the world. Steam distilling leaves from common sage--salvia offinalis--produces the essential oil. Sage essential oil has a clear color and a fairly strong herbal aroma. Well...
There are many changes that happen to a woman's body during pregnancy. She produces more blood, has an increased tendency for edema, her sense of smell is heightened, spider veins can develop and, as the baby grows and her weight increases, she is...
Melatonin, a natural hormone known for its sleep-inducing properties, is released from the pineal gland in the brain at night. Recent research, however, has uncovered additional sites where melatonin may be synthesized and secreted. Its role as a...
Yogi Tea is a brand which manufactures a variety of teas for optimal health. Its focus remains on traditional green tea, herbal teas as well as tea blends geared toward women's health. While many of the tea products contain health benefits for the...
Menopause is a universal phase of life change that occurs naturally, and involves a woman's reproductive system. Just as at one point in time you celebrated menarche, there will be a time to celebrate the "pause" in ones menstrual cycle. Menopause...
With all endocrine glands, disease symptoms arise as the result of either hypo- or hypersecretion of hormones. Doctors have prescribed vitamin and mineral supplements for the pituitary gland for childhood growth abnormalities, hypo- and...
Aloe vera contains chemical compounds that can decrease the inflammation of acne. This nutritious plant contains rich antioxidants, minerals, amino acids, enzymes and good hormones that can help heal skin wounds. You can either apply aloe vera...
Many women wish to speed the induction of labor in a natural way. Anecdotally, women have used a variety of foods and herbs to jump-start labor for hundreds of years, though little scientific evidence supports food use for labor induction. If you...
Every animal, from mammals to amphibians, has a brain. But the human brain is unique. It generates the ability to think, imagine, move and breathe. It weighs about 3 lbs. and tends to be slightly larger in men than in women; however, there is no...
Throughout history, women have used black cohosh to bring on a late menstrual period, to induce labor, promote lactation, and soothe symptoms of menopause. Evidence for these uses has been largely anecdotal. Today, however, we have the advantage...
Menstrual cramps are a common occurrence for women that are in their menstruating years. The medical term for menstrual cramps is dysmenorrhea. According to Mayo Clinic, uterine fibroids and endometriosis may be the reason for menstrual cramps in...
The physical and emotional feelings that arise from childbirth can be exhilarating and exhausting. Many women report a feeling of not fully "owning" or being in control of their bodies, especially in the immediate postpartum period. Shifting...
The World Health Organization recommends that women breastfeed their children for at least two years. Some women become pregnant again and choose to continue to breastfeed during their pregnancy and beyond. While women who have healthy pregnancies...
Your period cramps can vary from month to month with no warning. Some women have more severe cramps than others due to the shape of their uterus, the amount of bleeding they experience or activity level. Diet can also play a role in how mild your...
Some spices could cause miscarriage or early pregnancy loss, but not because of their spicy flavor. Many spices and herbs stimulate uterine contractions or uterine bleeding, which can cause very early miscarriage or later pregnancy loss. Cooking...
The female body is designed to carry a pregnancy for 40 weeks, but sometimes it may need a little boost to get labor started. With a variety of methods available, labor-inducing drugs such as pitocin and misoprostol are the main choice for...
Under the right conditions, breastfeeding can be an effective form of birth control. But fertility returns for different women at different times, and it is possible to get pregnant while breastfeeding. It is even possible to conceive with your...
The pomegranate is a nutritious fruit that has also been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. There is not medical evidence that eating pomegranate fruit and drinking pomegranate juice is harmful during pregnancy, though pomegranate...