“I deal with pretty severe menstrual symptoms like heavy bleeding, pain, and vomiting, do you know of anything I can do to lesson these symptoms each month?”

photo credit: spettacolopuro

My answer:

First is that heavy bleeding and severe pain and cramping is not  normal and should be taken seriously. Two reproductive issues that can  contribute to such pain are endometriosis and fibroids, with endo being more common  in younger girls and women than fibroids. Endo very often causes pain that severe  due to the endometrial lining attaching to other areas of the gut. When the period begins, the other growths of endo bleed as well but  have nowhere to go other than be reabsorbed into the blood stream,  causing pain and nauseousness.

Eliminating junk and processed foods is key – especially sugar.  Making sure to consume enough fats and saturated fats is also important as they are needed to produce hormones. Cod Liver Oil can also help provide much needed omegas and vitamin D  Evening Primrose Oil can also be helpful.  Vitamin B complex can also help a lot (many women are low in B-1 and  B-6) in balancing hormones.

Using cloth pads instead of conventional can drastically reduce the  amount and length a woman bleeds.  Some women with endo find a lot of relief cutting out meat and animal  products due to the hormones that are in them. Sourcing meat is of  utmost importance, make sure to buy grassfed and organic meats.

Personal care products like lotions, face washes, shampoos should all  be looked at as they can mess with the balance of hormones.

I have a friend who teaches Iyengar yoga and has been able to help a  few women with issues like this when they practice certain yoga  postures. She always recommends the book “Yoga for a Healthy Cycle” by  Patricia Walden (& Linda Sparrowe) to get women started.

Foods can aggravate the reproductive system for a lot of women! Many with horrible  periods find that cutting wheat and dairy can help a lot – there is a  strong link between reproductive disorders and wheat sensitivities/celiac.

Charting your cycle is also really inportant! You”ll be able to figure out if there  is an issue with a part of the cycle and better ‘prescribe’ herbs and  such. Many herbs have estrongenic properties and could actually make  things worse if you’re already to high in estrogen, but then again they  could be super helpful if her body needs support in that area.

Herbs specific to cleansing the liver (which excretes excess hormones from the  body) or blood can be especially important though and shouldn’t mess  with hormones to much. Dandelion root for one is a great cleanser.

If she is overweight, and exercise regimen can be helpful, but every woman should always rest during the first few days of menstruation.

A lot of reproductive issues begin with the thyroid – http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/ (inversion yoga and a great
diet can also help the thyroid)

Castor oil packs a few times per week (not during menstruation) along with abdominal massage could be really beneficial if she has adhesions due to endo that are causing the pain.

You answered (via the Naturally Knocked Up Facebook Page)

• Red raspberry leaf capsules/tea and vitex (chasteberry) capsules. Made a huge difference for me! I bought mine on Amazon.
• Does she use mama cloth or diva cup? I know when I used them, my pains lessoned and my flow was a bit lighter. I had to wait for 6 months tho for it to do that.
• I take Evening Primrose Oil. I have cramps about a week before my cycle starts that are severe to the point I just want to stay in bed all day. I started taking EPO this month and haven’t had a single cramp.
• I stopped eating grains and sugar and all signs of PMS went away, no cramping and less flow.
• Definitely Vitex (chasteberry) capsules!!
• Cut back on the sugar and dairy, and choose only organic hormone free meats.
• My cramping and flow both went down dramatically 6 or 7 years ago when i cut down (or slowly eliminated) sugar, baked goods, conventional dairy products, hydrogenated oils, HF Corn Syrup and added in a quality cod liver oil.
• Cheyenne is the age-old remedy I know of the lessen the flow – for pain and discomfort, I would recommend diet change, calcium & magnesium (usually works in an hour or less), and tracking fertility symptoms.
• I quite caffiene 4 years ago and overnight, my pain decreased by 80-90%; some months I have none. Before, I’d be doubled over in pain for hours and pain killers only took the edge off.
• The homeopathic mag phos is what works for me.
• Nourishing herbal infusions- rasp leaf, red clover, NETTLE, oatstraw- are all safe and super beneficial. If you’re having fertility issues, I’d hold off on the vitex until you’ve determined specifics. Exercise as well as rest. Heat. Rose bud/petal tea or tincture. Caffeine makes cramping worse.
• Have a chiropractor adjust your psoas muscle.
• Do you eat/take a lot of flax? when I started adding flax to my diet my cramps increased massively and so did flow…stopped and they disappeared immediately. Flax is really high in phytoestrogens.
• Taking Maca really helped me!

Do you have any other tips for this reader?

*As always, consult your health care professional for a diagnosis or guidance in using natural therapies. This post is meant to inform you of options you may have, always research before trying something new.

All images and content are protected under US copyright laws, please do not copy and paste.

Do you eat seaweed on a regular basis?

No. Never have. And while I have heard good things about it, it’s just one of those things I haven’t gotten around to fully researching yet. Or spending money on.

She also asked:

What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?

Oh man. I’m a pretty boring person! I used to have all these crazy ideas of things to do (like skydiving) and then I got married, now have a couple of kids, and the thought worries me to death now.

And she asked:

Do you ferment any of the food you eat?

This was on my to do list over the summer and somehow it got away from me. I do truly believe that we should all be eating more fermented foods though!! I just haven’t had a lot of time to do it myself. Right now I do fermented beverages and will work on fermenting my garden goods next summer.

Molly G asked:

Are there any dietary/lifestye changes you really wish you could make but can’t right now?

Per the previous question, I really wish I could incorporate more fermented and cultured foods into our diet! Right now I have a hard enough time trying to find time to do what I do though. So I’m taking comfort in the fact that we have changed so much over the last 2 years and are already much, much healthier for it!

Colleen asked:

What are your thoughts on herbs for fertility? Such as evening primrose oil, chaste tree (vitex) or red clover?

While I believe nutrition is the first thing women should focus on (making sure they are eating a nutrient dense diet fit for their bodies) I also believe that herbs can definitely help! I love the fact that God gave us our own medicine in our backyards! I’ve recently started to look into herbology and homeopathy and am just amazed that these herbs and plants can have such strong medicinal properties! That being said, I think one also needs to research it thoroughly, because it is a natural medicine. Some herbs have side effects, others shouldn’t be consumed with other herbs, etc.

What do you most want your readers to gain from reading this blog?

That there is more out there than what doctors are willing to advise or do. Just because someone wears a white coat and went to school for a million years does not mean they know everything! While I have the utmost respect for them, they have studied one area – medicine. I want my readers to know that they themselves need to be an advocate for their health. I want them to think outside the box and research on their own! I want the subjects I write about here to be a jumping off point, not the end all cures. I just want people to know that better health can be achieved without tons of pills.

She also asked:

Why did you start this blog?

I started it because I never found exactly what I was looking for when I was googling about fertility. Most everything I read was medically based and I just didn’t want to go there. I truly feel that God lead me to a few certain bloggers/books at the exact time I needed, to read their information, and I’m just hoping to pass that on.

Plus, I tend to like to teach what I know and pass on advice. But a lot of people don’t like to hear it, or take it! So this is also an outlet for me. A way for me to share what I’ve learned to be truth and then peopl can take it or leave it. And I never have to see the eye rolls!

Tracy asked:

Have you ever had a miscarriage? I know this is super personal, but I recently had one and it’s been a huge struggle. It took a long time for us to get pregnant, then we did for the first time ever, only to lose the baby.

First may I just say how very sorry I am for your loss. For me the loss of a baby is unimaginable. I have never experienced a miscarriage to date. May you rest in God’s peace and comfort and know that even though your baby is no longer with you, you completed a great work. You were able to provide for that little one until God was ready to call him home to Glory! A home in eternity where now God holds that little one just as he’s holding you.

Kristin asked:

Do you have any favorite recipes using bulgur?

Nope. Actually that’s one of the things that are on my “to try” list! If anyone has some – send them my way!

A year ago I knew absolutely no one who ate like I did. At least not in real life. Most of my friends are pretty mainstream actually. A couple of them know a lot but have yet to make that plunge. A few blog friends were all I really had. Then I got hooked up with a local group and LOVE THEM!!! I’ve been learning so much and it’s so nice to be able to have like minded people to discuss things with. You know, someone that won’t look at you like you have 2 heads when you mention kombucha or kefir or raw milk. And my sister is now totally into the food/health thing too so that’s a lot of fun when we can bounce ideas and info off each other! The rest of my family though still thinks we’re pretty crazy most the time.

Check to see if you have a Wise Traditions chapter near you for some “hippie kin”!

Lots. I slather it on everything basically. On my bread and most definitely on my veggies. Though each day is so very different, so it’s hard to give a daily average for me, especially since I don’t pay that much attention to it. Best way I can put it, is that I buy one pound per week! That covers all my spreading and baking.

hnlberry asked:
Where do you find recipes?

Here’s a basic list of my “searchable” recipe sites. Normally I do change them up a bit to serve our nutritional/dietary needs though and make them a bit more nourishing.

AllRecipes – A great searchable site for all kinds of recipes. Includes ratings from those who have tried certain recipes which is helpful to know which ones to try. My most used recipe site, and I just modify to adjust for our nutritional standards.

RecipeZaar – Another searchable site for recipes.

Tammy’s Recipes – A blog run by a stay at home mom of 3. She posts some great, easy, recipes.

The Nourishing Gourmet – Lots of Real/ Whole /Nourishing foods recipes!

Sue Gregg – This site includes nutritious and nourishing recipes.

Real Asian Made Simple – Has a great listing of some easy to make Asian foods.

The Pioneer Woman – Seriously, this woman can cook! I personally love her mac and cheese.

Rachel Ray – I love to browse her recipes.

Jaime asked:
Where do you shop locally?

Around here we have a store called Meijer. Think Super Walmart but regional and not so clouded in controversy! It’s where I pick up my odds and ends like weekly snacks for my husband. We also have a local health food store where I’ll pick up eggs if our farm is out of them as well as organic sugars, sea salt, etc if I can’t get all the way to a Natural Foods wharehouse where I buy all my bulk items. During the summer I also try to only buy my produce at farmers markets. Other than that, I pick up milk, eggs, honey, meat, and some fruits and veggies at the farm where we have a goat share.

While I would LOVE to say 100%, we just aren’t there yet. I’d say 1/2 the produce I buy is organic, but 90% is at least local. All of our beef is organic and grassfed, chicken is about 1/2 organic/free range. Our pasta is, as well as most my spices, butter, and oils. Over all I guess I’d say about 70% or so organic? It sounds about right. Hopefully after our harvest this fall I can say it’s a bit higher!

Are your children inoculated? If so, are they on a certain schedule?

At 3 years old, my son has been up to date on his shots for about a year. Though I was hesitant enough when he was born to not start them until he was 4 months old. And from then on he was on a slightly delayed schedule. (I couldn’t tell you what he got when though. It was more like at each appointment I discussed it with his doc and then he picked out a couple to give him) He also received the chicken pox vaccine at his last appointment. The one I knew I wasn’t going to do. They just snuck it in with another dose of something and I didn’t find out until we left!

My baby girl at now over 4 months old has yet to receive a shot. I don’t know if she’ll ever get them. I’ve done my research and know that I don’t like most of the vaccines out there. I honestly can’t think of one shot that I’d be okay with my kids getting. They and I won’t get flu shots either. My husband can make up his own mind about that one.

Considering how well your family is fed, what is your budget for groceries, and do you use coupons?

Great question! My budget is $300.00 each month, nothing more. I normally spend about $50.00 of that at the farm buying milk, eggs, and honey. Another $50.00 of that is used to buy bulk items like flour, sugars, nuts, oats, dried fruit, etc. I;m also in the process of trying to put at least $25.00 aside each month for my very large bulk orders like beef and chicken. The rest is spent mostly on produce, condiments, and odds and ends.

I used to coupon, but the healthier we began to eat, the less coupons worked for me. I no longer get the Sunday paper as the amount of coupons I was able to get out of them just wasn’t covering the cost. I’ll still print off coupons online for things like toiletries and every once in awhile I find a great one for an organic item or two.

And really, the more I make from scratch, the less I need coupons. Most of them that are out there are for prepackaged foods that I no longer need. I found I can save just as much as I would with a coupon by making it at home. Plus it’s loads healthier!!

If you had unlimited time and money, what would your menu look like?

I really had fun thinking about this one! Because in my dreams I know what I’d like. Here’s a small rundown.

• First and foremost my menu would consist only of things grown and raised on my own property. Fruits and veggies, grains, meat, milk, eggs. Both fresh and preserved.
• And because it came from my land, it would be 100% organic.
• Each meal we would be able to have the luxury of tons of “picked just before we ate it” fresh produce and beautifully prepared meats, thereby eating less grains.
• I would fully incorporate the “Nourishing Traditions” style of cooking.
• I would make all of my own pastas (a short term goal for me actually!)
• I would also preserve all the food we needed for winter
• I’d also incorporate more fresh, wild caught fish into my meal plans

Starryphate also asked:
Do you ever eat out at restaurants and order something greasy like a cheeseburger?
Yes and no. I got sick off a fast food hamburger once so I just can’t get myself to eat a burger from a place with no waiters! But I also love the bbq burger at famous dave’s, though I’ve only been there about once a year. And we do eat out every once in awhile. More so lately than I’d like to admit, and it’s all my fault for not taking things out of the freezer when I need them so we end up picking up food on the way home. I do try and keep eating out to a once a month occasion though!

Jen asked:
How do you handle grandparents, etc. that want to feed your child not-so-good food?
That’s a tough one. And it depends on what’s being offered and what he’s had to eat lately. If he’s been eating at home for the last week and hasn’t had any junk, a cookie or crackers from grandma is okay. Do I like it? Not really, but again we’re looking at the grand scheme of things and the 80/20 rule. There are some things that are an ‘absolutely not’ in my book though. Fake juices like sunny d and koolaid as well as any pasteurized milk. There are also somethings that I know he’d be sensitive too (products with lots of coloring/flavoring/preservatives) so I pull out the “he has a food sensitivity to it” phrase. I don’t mind telling people what he can and can’t eat. Especially now that I can actually see a difference in him when he eats certain things. I figure it’s my kid, I can decide what he eats!

Rachel asked:
When eating out, what do you try to feed your little one? (what do you choose/look for on the menu?)
Again, this may be more difficult as he gets older and learns to read a menu himself, but for now, I try to pick grilled vs. fried and choose a fruit or veggie side for him instead of fries. It also helps that he’s small enough and restaurant servings are large enough, that I normally just share my food with him when it’s a sit down restaurant. I also only get him water to drink while we’re out. As he gets older this may become more of an issue for us, but then again we don’t eat out often!

reprehriestless warillever asked:
How do you handle food on long trips – pack meals or buy carefully along the way?
My goal is to do both. I pack a lot of our own snacks (granola bars, fruit, trail mixes, etc.) and last time I traveled I also brought along things for breakfast since that seems to be the hardest meal to eat healthfully while out. Personally I would recommend bringing quick meals with you if you have a way to keep them cold. Even if it’s just for the first couple of days (a cooler w/ ice will normally be okay for the first night at least) Things like deviled eggs, cheese, and yogurt. If we ever went traveling for more than a day or two I’d also bring along some bread and peanut butter and jelly. A PB&J on homemade bread is healthier than Micky D’s for sure!

My favorite ‘not healthy’ snack? Always homemade ice cream!

Erica asked:
How did you come up with your blog title?
Funny story, I had it named something completely different for 6 months while I debated on whether or not to start actually writing this blog. Then one day, I just knew it was time, but the name just wasn’t catchy enough for me. So I found an online thesaurus for “modern/urban” words and typed in pregnant. Up came Knocked Up and I just knew naturally Knocked Up was meant to be!

Anonymous asked:
What’s your favorite “healthy” meal?
Again depends on the season! In the spring/summer it’s hamburgers with homemade pickles, roasted sweet potatoes and fresh green beans slathered with lots of yummy butter. In the fall/winter I love to make a beef or venison roast with lots of veggies and potatoes.

What is the one thing you would recommend someone do to to change their health for the better. (or what is the one thing you would tell someone to do to increase their fertility)

Stop buying processed food!! That’s it. The one thing that will change your health the most! Stop buying boxed and frozen meals, stop buying processed breads and meats and milk. Buy your food closest to it’s original state!

By not buying processed foods, yes you will have to make your food at home but you’ll stay away from excess sugars and salt. There won’t be any MSG or high fructose corn syrup in it either. You don’t need snacks like chips and cookies. You don’t need cereal. You don’t need juice. It just takes a little extra time to feed your body what it truly needs. And after awhile, most of those processed foods won’t even taste good to you.

LaurenS asked:

What brand of Cod Liver Oil do you use (if any)?

Well, believe it or not, I actually have never taken it. I know right?! I’m supposed to be all “eat everything that’s healthy” right? Well, I really started looking into the cod liver oil just as I became pregnant. And then the thought of taking cod liver oil just grossed me out to much to look into it anymore! But, now that I’ve done my research I know exactly what I’ll be taking and plan on purchasing some soon.

I’ll be buying it from Green Pastures. They sell fermented cold liver oil. Why fermented? Well, fermented CLO (yes, I’m getting lazy here. From now on CLO is cod liver oil!) is actually an unprocessed oil while the regular stuff is actually quite processed. And there is the fact that the vitamins A&D are taken out of the regular stuff and synthetic A&D are used instead. Now, I’ve talked about whole foods vs. synthetic vitamins before and the thing is…not only does your body have a hard time absorbing these synthetic vitamins, they can actually be bad for your health as well. The fermented CLO is also not heat treated at all.

They also sell the CLO combined with a high quality butter oil. Weston A. Price was quoted as saying “One without the other did not do his patients justice, but the two together worked like magic”. So basically we’re able to absorb and use more of the nutrients when our diet consists of both! Now, if you already consume a good amount of high quality butter there would be no need for this, but I think most people would benefit from the combo!

(and one more great thing about Green Pastures is that they give a discounted price depending on how many bottles you buy. So if you know others who want to give it a try, buy it together!)

and Becky also asked:

I have read at the Weston A. Price site that cod liver oil doesn’t do much on it’s own, but that it needs to be coupled with a good butter. Due to my son’s life threatening allergy to milk, we can’t “do” butter. Do you have any suggestions for a suitable substitute to pair CLO with?

I don’t, sorry! At this point I’ve yet to come across something else to pair it with. So I’m throwing this question out to the rest of you. Do you know a suitable pair for CLO that’s not butter?