During the last month of your pregnancy, you might feel miserable with your skin feeling like it will just burst away with all that baby pressure. Clinging to your due date, like a shining beacon of hope and comfort, could be the reason for keeping you going. But if your 40 weeks passes by without any signs, you might be ready to try anything to bring on labor.
Methods such as sexual intercourse, castor oil, and spicy foods are commonly known ways to bring on labor. Additionally, raspberry leaf tea, brisk walking, and nipple stimulation, are all ways that some midwives, nurses, grandmothers and friends recommend to bring on labor, without the help of major pharmaceuticals.
But candy?
It is true that licorice could bring on labor, speeding up the wait for delivery! When in full term pregnancy, eating large amounts of black licorice could bring on labor. There is also scientific proof supporting this. Natural licorice contains glycyrrhizin, which is one of the main components of licorice root, and the reason for its sweet taste. In recent studies, glycyrrhizin has been associated with preterm delivery. An international group of researchers found out that heavy consumption of licorice (500 mg/week) was associated with a more than twofold increased risk of early delivery, which means giving birth on week 37, or earlier (Am J Epidemiol). Thus, pregnant women should avoid using black licorice as a supplement, or consuming large amounts of licorice as food, before their estimated due date.
Pharmacists have known the effects of natural licorice for long. As natural licorice and the chemical glycyrrhizin tend to cause contractions of the uterus, it has been used to bring on labor when the pregnancy becomes overdue. Actually, some pharmacists might even recommend licorice instead of castor oil when you are buying something to bring on labor.
Before you are too desperate to try any labor inducing remedy, you should understand that herbal remedies can be powerful. Herbs can be just as harmful as using medications, especially when used during the wrong times or in large doses. Also, it's beneficial to know that, in general, licorice could affect hormone production in the adrenal glands. It could also cause low potassium levels, high blood pressure, and other complications in some people. Thus, it's important to take medicinal herbs only under supervision of an experienced herbalist.
If you have eaten some licorice candies recently, there is no need to panic though. The licorice sold in most stores, similar to Twizlers, does not contain enough actual licorice. It may be necessary to speak to the pharmacist in order to get natural licorice, containing a high enough level of glycyrrhizin, to bring on labor.
After birth licorice can be helpful: additionally, black licorice is a mild laxative. So, eating black licorice, or drinking tea containing licorice root, works great as a post-partum stool softener that makes your life a little bit easier.
Death is a robber and thief, takes away, but grief and sorrow can give it back. As hard as it is and perhaps daunting at the time it is possible to recover from grief with new strengths, a new focus and a new direction. To grieve is natural and healthy. The healing process starts as you release your grief, and start to recognize and sort your emotions ( which can be conflicting at times) and move to the acceptance of your loved ones death. The healing process will bring an increased awareness and new understanding.
A child once told me that she had seen a rainbow near the beach where she and her deceased brother had played. She said that the rainbow was his way of letting her know that everything was okay and she should stop worrying about him.
What is synonymous of New Zealand are the number of crosses that have been erected along roadways to mark the death of a loved one in a fatal accident.This is not only a reminder for the families setting up a memorial for there loved one but has made the public aware of a death and to slow down. Many of these road side memorials are lovingly cared for (with flowers) year after year.
Whether it is a cross or rainbow we all need something in our lives when a loved one dies. We need to arrive at that place of rest and peace, and go on with our lives whether we are six years old or sixty.
5. Ways to Commemorate a loved one.
1. Celebrate the life on the day of death. Make this a special day for you and your family. I know of a family who always made it a fun day - a meal out and a visit to the movies. 2. Plant a tree A tree represents new life and a living tribute to the deceased. As the tree grows tall and strong in stature so will you and the family. 3. Display Photographs. Make a display board for the photos. I saw a wonderful example of photos enlarged on the photocopier then pasted on a large piece of particle board. As the photos were not all the same size they overlapped.The board was then sprayed with a clear sealant. It would make a wonderful activity for children. 4. Visit the grave. Let this time be a positive reflection, not occasions for sadness. You might find it comforting to voice your thoughts and feelings to the loved one. If you have children present make sure that they understand that this is not "contacting" the person but rather the expression of comforting oneself. 5. Establish a commemorative tradition in the community. Create a scholarship fund at your local school, give a trophy to a football team, maintain a flower bed in your neighbourhood or city .........these are all uplifting and lasting ways to commemorate the deceased.
Commemoration is a vital part of healing and recovery. It promotes acceptance of the loss and helps the survivors move forward. There is no longer any room for guilt, remorse, or regret. Instead we are filled with love and peace.
I will leave you with a prayer written in 1934 by Reinhold Niebuhr God, grant us the serenty to accept the things we cannot change, Courage to change the things we can, And wisdom to now the difference.
Both Lena Leino & Lynn Zingel are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Lena Leino has sinced written about articles on various topics from Acupuncture Chiropractor, Family and Fitness. About the author: Maternity acupressure specialist, Dr. Lena Leino, shares her secrets . Her techniques to naturally induce labor have b. Lena Leino's top article generates over 33100 views. to your Favourites.
Lynn Zingel has sinced written about articles on various topics from Sleep Disorder, Energy Healing and self improvement and motivation. Visit . for commissioned portraits. Let me do an embroidered portrait from your photo. What a wonderful everlasting remembrance of. Lynn Zingel's top article generates over 14800 views. to your Favourites.