Pregnancy & Postpartum Care
What are pregnancy-related symptoms?
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Missing period
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Tender, swollen breasts
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Nausea with or without vomiting
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Heartburn
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Increased urination
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Fatigue
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Dizziness
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Moodiness/Perinatal depression
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Bloating
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Light vaginal spotting
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Uterine cramping
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Constipation
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Food aversions
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Nasal congestion
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Pregnancy-induced hypertension
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Gestational diabetes
What are postpartum symptoms?
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Matitis
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Blood clots
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Infection
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Postpartum depression (PPD)
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Stress urinary incontinence (SUI)
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Defecation disorders
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Hemorrhoids
What are the causes of pregnancy-related/postpartum symptoms in Oriental Medicine?
Oriental Medicine takes a global and dynamic view of human differences.
The concept of constitution in Oriental Medicine is an indigenous construct that serves as part of an explanatory model for understanding various aspects of life, including physical well-being.
It is believed that constitution is partly genetically determined and partly acquired, and classifies individuals’ constitution based on Oriental Medicine theory, multidisciplinary studies, and clinical practice.
In Oriental Medicine, hormonal change, which leads to UNBALANCED CONSTITUTION, is the main cause of pregnancy/postpartum symptoms.
It means disharmony in women’s internal environment and can be viewed as an individual’s susceptibility to specific diseases or symptoms.
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Sleep VS Unbalanced Constitution
Research shows sleep of pregnancy/postpartum is associated with pre-pregnancy BMI and depressive and fatigue symptoms during third-trimester pregnancy. Women with unbalanced constitutions have less proportion of good subjective sleepiness, who are also the most likely to experience depression in the postpartum period.
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Nausea and Vomiting VS Unbalanced Constitution
Research shows women with unbalanced constitutions in early pregnancy have a greater likelihood of severe nausea and vomiting influencing normal diet. A poor intake of necessary nutrients can further affect maternal and fetal health.
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Constipation VS Unbalanced Constitution
Progressively rising progesterone and estrogen levels, iron supplements and past constipation treatment are associated with constipation during pregnancy.