Emergency preparedness in pregnancy

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Radiation protection clothing for pregnancy

What to Expect When You’re
Expecting, is a best seller!
More than 18.5 million copies
sold, and it's a classic book
read by 93% of women who
read a pregnancy book.
Pictured right, this book
received accolades by U.S.A.
today when they wrote that
it is one of the “Most
Influential Books of the Last
25 Years.” We agree, and yet
page 364 has a short chapter
about what to do to prepare
for an emergency. It's not
enough detail for preppers
about what to do if
emergency strikes.

Mother's Milk

Organic Infant Formula (4-pack)

Diapers on Amazon

Anti-Nausea Ginger Gum (24 Pieces)

Earth Mama Bottom Balm

Citronella and lemongrass stick naturally help fight mosquitoes

Navy beans are a rich
source of iodine.

Sleep on your left side during pregnancy

Portable Bidet

Portable Bidet/Sitz Bath

Essential oils to
avoid if you are
pregnant or lactating
include:

Angelica
Basil
Calums
Celery Seed
Cinnamon Bark
Citronella
Clary Sage
Eucalyptus
Fennel
French lavender
(lavendula
stoechas)
Hyssop
Marjoram
Myrhh
Nutmeg
Palo Santo
Rosemary
Sage
Tansy Idaho
Tarragon
Wintergreen

Frankincense - Boswellia serrata

Aloe Vera Gel

Mother's Milk

Prepper Deal Alerts Check
our daily deals for prepping
gear and food storage.

Lamaze Guide

Birth Emergency Skills Training

obste t rical kit

Emesis bags

Maternity pillow

Practice good hygiene. Wash hands often both before and
after giving birth.

Use your Big Berkey. Pregnant women and infants are more
vulnerable to infections or toxins in the water. A Big Berkey
water filtration system can help relieve the worry.

Pest control around the homestead during pregnancy.
Since pesticide exposure is tied to autism risk, Web MD.
suggests looking to natural pesticides, including
diatomaceous earth, which kills bugs by dehydrating them.

Ease stretch marks with Vick's VapoRub. It's not a stretch
to say that you can erase stretch marks with the help of
Vick's Vaporub. The anti-inflammatory properties help shrink
the skin in the same way it does for hemorrhoids. Learn
more about the surprising uses of Vick's VapoRub.

#12: Upgrade your self-defense.
The physical condition of a woman who is pregnant is an obvious
vulnerabilty.

Happy endings...
Keep your eye on the prize! The more you know about the
birthing process, the less anxious you'll feel when the time comes
to give birth. You can give birth naturally like millions of women
before your time.

Did you know salt intake during pregnancy can reduce chances of
mental retardation in your unborn child? Ask your doctor! Read
more about the benefits and uses of salt in prepping.

Related articles...

More articles for pregnant preppers:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product
is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Products are not intended to
diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. This information is intended for your general
knowledge only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific
medical conditions. Never disregard or delay in seeking medical advice when available. For any
health or dietary matter, consult your physician.

Prepare to live happily ever after with us at happypreppers.com - the emergency
preparedness Web site of prepping, survival, homesteading, and self-reliance.

vagikool

Get ready for postpartum bleeding.
Heavy menstrual pads should be enough for ordinary postpartum
bleeding; however, here are some considerations:

Undergarment protection. A period panty, pictured right,
can help postpartum bleeding by preventing excess liquid.

#10: Gather the lactation supplies.
Breast milk is always better for baby, than manmade kinds but if
you are unable to lactate try these lactation solutions:

Beer. It may seem odd, but Danish researchers discovered
that beer can help the mother relax and have an easier time
lactating. Give it a try!

Fenugreek. Anise, blessed thistle, coriander, fennel and
fenugreek all have the power to promote healthy lactation,
but f e nugreek is perhaps the most widely recommended by
lactation-consultants as a dietary supplement.

Traditional Medicinals Organic Mother's Milk Tea. This tea
has it all -- anise, blessed thistle, coriander, fennel, and
fenugreek all have the power to promote healthy lactation,
and Organic Mother's Milk Tea, picured right has it all. While
your bundle of joy will cause much happiness, you might also
feel overwhelmed and tired, especially when it comes to
breastfeeding. That's when you should try Traditional
Medicinals Organic Mother's Milk Tea. This herbal tea has
traditionally been used to help mothers support their
production of breast milk and to promote healthy lactation.*
Anise gives the tea a sweet, licorice-like taste.

#10: Plan for baby's needs.
If you're in the last trimester especially you'll want to pack
formula that's commercially sterile and ready to go. use clean
hands to attach any clean standard nipple and ring.

The CDC has little information for pregnant women and newborns.
and there's little valuable information available on emergency
preparedness in pregnancy on the Internet, but there's a free
guide on Amazon, pictured right. "Emergency Childbirth A
Reference Guide for Students of the Medical Self-help Training
Course."

CPR and child safety classes. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
(CPR) is an important skill to have and preparation. One of
the best ways a mother-to-be can prepare is to take a class
on child and baby CPR, offered by the American Red Cross or
the American Heart Association.

Diapers. New moms will find that newborn diapers are
difficult to find in the grocery stores especially in the Fall.
While you need the tiny newborn diapers only a short while,
it certainly seems that when you need them, some other
mother has nabbed the entire supply! Do yourself a favor and
get them in advance. Amazon has a terrific Subscribe and
save program. Next, get diapers of the next size up, at least
one of every size so you always have a supply.

Formula. The best formula is mother's milk and you should
do everything you can to stimulate and support lactation. It's
good to have a backup.

Onesies. You'll be getting plenty of clothing from friends and
family if you're having a baby shower, but what if a long-
term, grid-down scenario happens before your shower? If
supplies are cut off you'll have to find scrounge to find
appropriate clothing for the season. Better to prepare and
grab a few inexpensive things you find now.

Safety products. Your infant will grow up quickly! Before you
know it, s/he'll be a toddler. Consider buying these safety
products:

Cabinet locks. Baby safety locks. These lock up
cabinets (and not the baby, silly). These simple
mechanisms are easy to adults to open, but your baby
won't be able to, keeping your little one safe from
dangerous chemicals, dangerous tools or from playing
with the toilet.
Outlet covers. Outlet plugs or outlet covers. Outlet
Plugs help protect toddlers from putting fingers into
open electrical outlets. Look for extra tight child
protecting fit for the outlet plugs to make sure the caps
stay where you put them. Even better are self closing
electrical outlet covers, pictured right.
Coffee table pads. Help avoid a trip to the Emergency
Room with a coffee table pad.
Stroller net. Keep baby safe from mosquitoes with a
mosquito net.

For more, see our prepping with kids article....

#11: Plan on staying healthy.
Preppers can take an extra measure of precaution with these
ideas...

Radiation protection clothing for pregnancy. The maternity
top pictured right, is radiation protective maternity wear
that reduces the risks of everyday radiation for your unborn
child. It blocks excess RF radiation, but not for fully blocking
cell phone signals purpose.

Sleep on your left side. An especially ideal position during
pregancy and even if you're not pregnant, when you sleep on
your left side you not only relieve pressure from the back,
but you increase blood flow to the uterus and kidneys and
also to the fetus! Why so? In sleeping on the left side, your
body has more time to filter toxins, fluid, and wastes
through lymph nodes and the thoracic duct. In other words it
improves the lymphatic system. Conversely, sleeping on the
right slows the lymphatic system.

Fridababy Fridet ~ momwasher portable bidet

Handle the hemorrhoids!
Earth Mama Bottom Balm, pictured right, is a soothing, natural
herbal salve made to help ease prenatal and postpartum
hemorrhoids and perineal soreness. Earth Mama Bottom Balm
soothes and cools with an organic olive oil base infused with
healing organic herbs — St. John's wort, yarrow, witch hazel,
calendula, shea butter, and more. Store it in the refrigerator and
apply often.

You may also like to consider VagiKool. Pictured below, this
reusable femine cold pack naturally reduces swelling, provides
instant itch relief:

Citronella and lemongrass sticks

Bounce them away. Hang bounce fabric softener sheets to
get rid of all sorts of pesky bugs, including mosquitoes.

Repel mosquitoes with Vick's VapoRub. Dr. Joseph
Mercola says one of the best insect repellents made of
natural ingredients is Vick's VapoRub.

Handling mosquito bites:
Be cautious about what you put on your skin.Traditionally,
Benadryl, hyrdocortisone creams and calamine lotions have been
the go to for handling mosquito bites, but for women who are
pregnant, caution is best left with natural options.

Apply ice pack to reduce swelling. The simple act of
bringing a cold pack to the swell is effective.

Minimize swelling with an organic aloe vera gel. Aloe vera
gel can soothe the itch to help you avoid scratching or
rubbing the bite. Be sure to use an organic aloe vera ge! Did
you know the thick gel-like Aloe you usually find in stores is
loaded with chemicals? Amara O rganics Aloe Vera Gel,
pictured right, is the best selling aloe vera gel from a
trusted source, Amazon! With more than 1035 reviews it
gets 4.8 of 5 stars. It's 99.75% pure, and contains no added
color, fragrance, or alcohol. During pregnancy, you can also
use this for after sun care.

---------------------------------------------
* Zika virus is of most concern in the United States as it has links to a
severe birth defect, specifically Microcephaly, which is a failure of the brain to
grow at a normal rate. Microcephaly has the profound anomaly of a below
average head size, and it affects around 25,000 children in the U.S. annually.
The mosquitoes are here in the United States and pregnant preppers can
avoid Zika Virus by taking precautions.

#7: Heed warnings about essential oils in pregnancy.
Prepper women and homesteaders love essential oils, but use of
essential oils comes with extreme caution during pregnancy. As
with all essential oils, do not use internally unless you have
express approval from a certified practitioner.

Essential oils and pregnancy.
Talk with your physician, but essential oils generally regarded as
safe for topical use during pregnancy include:

citrus oils: lemon essential oil, sweet orange essential oil
frankincense
geranium
lavender essential oil (Avoid French lavender: lavendula
stoechas)
peppermint
spearmint
ylang ylang

Always consult your healthcare practitioner when using essential
oils and the associated carrier oils. Anything that you put on your
skin is absorbed into your blood stream.

WARNING ~ Avoid these essential oils during pregnancy:

aniseed (may bring on contractions)
basil (may contribute to abnormal cell development)
clary sage (may bring on contractions)
cinnamon (may bring on contractions)
citronella (may bring on contractions)
jasmine (may bring on contractions)
juniper berry (may affect kidneys
rose (may cause uterine bleeding)
rosemary (my increase blood pressure and cause
contractions).
sage (may cause uterine bleeding)

Do NOT use neem oil during pregnancy. Neem oil is a
natural biopesticide. The leaves apparently have spermicidal
qualities. Dr. Kulreet Chaudrhary, M.D. a neurologist
blanace modern life with ancient knowledge, says "If you
are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breastfeeding,
you should not consume products with neem because it can
result in abortions and toxicity to infants." While it's been
used in cooking, lotions, shampoos, toothpaste, and
medicines, neem also has been used for natural birth control.

Myrrh essential oil can induce labor!

Warnings

: As with all essential oils, do not use internally.

Essential oils for

consumption must be food grade and taken

with caution. Consult with a

physician or healthcare

practitioner if you are pregnant or nurse. Also, do not

use

essential oils in eyes or on eyelids, and keep of reach of

children.

#8: Plan foods storage around your pregnancy.
With pregnancy comes the need to re-evaluate the prepper's
pantry. The importance of foods you keep for food storage grow
with your growing family. Below are some ideas to help you get
started...

Suggested refrigerator meals during pregnancy...
Keep your fridge full with fresh kitchen staples including eggs,
milk, greek yogurt, apples, oranges, bananas, and spinach:

eggs are rich in choline to promote your baby's growth and
brain health
milk
greek yogurt has twice the protein of regular yogurt and an
ideal source of calcium vital during pregnancy.
apples
oranges - adequate intake of vitamin C is important because
a Vitamin C deficiency is one of the causes for preeclamsia
bananas

Spinach can help you prevent and treat anemia in pregnancy.

Importance of freezer meals during pregnancy...
Preppers stock their freezers full of healthy foods and even more
so as their due date draws near. If you haven't already stocked
casseroles and stews, check out this guide of f ree printables for
17 freezer meal plans. The guide includes grocery lists.

Selection of shelf-stable pantry items for pregnancy...
Beyond freezer meals, and what you already stock in the
prepper's pantry, such as beans and lentils and oats, be sure to
stock your pregnancy pantry with the right foods for an
emergency, including plenty of:

Freeze dried fruit
Whole grain crackers
S unflower seed spread (nut butters have allergens)
granola bars
Powdered milk

Importance of storing iodine rich foods...
Essential to the development of your baby's brain and nervous
system, iodine thankfully is available in foods you may already
stockpile:

Canned tuna.
Navy beans. Navy beans have respectable amount of
protein, copper, potassium, calcium, folate, and iodine.
Powdered milk.
Consider growing potatoes or raising backyard chickens as
whole potatoes and eggs are rich sources of iodine.

Concentrate also on foods high in folate...

Beans, peas and lentils
Canned corn
nuts: almonds, flax seeds, peanuts and sunflower seeds

Your pregnancy prepper's pantry should also include...

c rackers
prenatal vitamins
water bottles
ginger to help with nausea (morning sickness).
toddler foods
Manual food mill to make baby food.

Anticipate the foods you may crave!
During pregnancy, many women crave PopTarts. A case in point is
the many famous Pop Tart pregnancies (many of them stem from
foods they enjoyed in childhood):

#9: Plan your postpartum medical supplies.

Buy a bidet.
One of the most important things a prepper can do in planning a
pregnancy is to get a portable bidet. Not only will this help
provide soothing relief postpartum, but it will be invaluable when
the toilet paper runs out! The momwasher portable bidet,
pictured below is marketed to women, but any portable bidet will
do. It has a one-way air valve for continuous, gentle water
pressure exactly where you need it.

Food mill to make baby food

Drip Drop Oral Dehydration Powder

For headaches, a pregnant or nursing woman should NOT take
Feverfew nor Gingko Biloba. It's better to choose natural
headache relief, including use of a simple ice pack.

It's important to stay hydrated during pregnancy! A woman can
avoid some birth defects by hydrating properly. Water helps form
the placenta. The most critical time for hydrating is in the final
days before giving birth to ensure a safe delivery and adequate
breast milk for the baby. Women will find they will vomit less and
feel better during natural childbirth if they are properly hydrated
as well. Hydrating during pregnancy is critical to avoid:

inadequate breast milk production,
low amniotic fluid,
neural tube defects or
premature labor.

To stay hydrated during birth:

Use ice chips
Do NOT use Feverfew nor Gingko Biloba for nausea.

#5: Re-evaluate your bugout bag.
A pregnancy changes everything -- even the bugout bag. The
bugout bag you had before you were pregnant isn't entirely
useless, but you will need to make some accommodations and
this will add some weight.

Also, since carrying a bugout bag or get home bag can put an
undue strain on the pregnancy, you'll need to plan with your
partner who can carry some of the load. Another option is to have
prepper carts to help ease the burden of lugging your necessities.

Consideration for how to update your bag include:

Prenatal vitamins. Repackage them in a zip lock.
Anti-nausea gum.
Hydration. Oral rehydration powder for nausea can help
immensely. Ask your physician for help.
Spotting. Pack maxi pads for spotting or when your water
breaks.
Lactation supplies. Ask your friends about nipple shields,
herbs for lactation support and other lactation supplies.
Bugout bag food: Food in the bugout bag should
concentrate on your prenatal needs. Good choices fro the
bugout bag include dried navy beans, peas and lentils and
corn, and canned salmon as they are high in folate. Consider
also almonds, flax-seeds or powder, peanuts, sunflower
seeds. You'll also need to deal with your food cravings
(every pregnancy is different). See #8 on food storage for
pregnancy.

#6: Handle pesky mosquitoes.
Now more than ever preppers have a concern with mosquitoes. It
may seem like mosquitoes prefer pregnant women over the
general population, but whatever the case, there's certainly more
worry.

In addition to the concern of Zika virus * there's a host of other
mosquito-borne diseases, including Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever,
Yellow Fever, Malaria and West Nile Virus .

How to handle these pesky mosquitoes during pregancy?
Below are some tips for avoiding mosquitoes...

Wear light colored and loose-fitting clothing. If possible,
cover with long sleeves long and pants.

Stick it to them! Kick mosquitoes off your back with
citronella and l emongrass sticks. Consult a practioner
regarding using any essential oils on the skin.

Pregnancy in crisis
Emergency preparedness during pregnancy

Prepper's guide to preparedness while pregnant:

What to Expect When You're Expecting
The authors of What to Expect When You’re Expecting will tell
you just about everything you need to know about a pregnancy;
however, they published just a page on emergency preparedness
and this falls short from a prepper's perspective.

It's a great book, but the prepper family who is expecting to
survive a crisis needs more information on emergency
preparedness with special concern for a pregnancy. Preparing for
emergencies while pregnant has many considerations, and
preparing for emergency birth is just one of them:

Putting together an obstretical kit
Bugout bag revisions for pregnancy.
How to avoid Zika virus from a prepper's perspective and
how to avoid other mosquito borne illnesses.
Essential oils that are safe and unsafe for pregnancy.
Lactation and newborn prepping supplies.

Learn how to survive an emergency while pregnant! Below is a
guide for preppers on pregnancy and emergency preparedness
from a prepper's perspective...

Guide for Preparedness While Pregnant
A little prepper is on the way and you're wondering how to
prepare for your pregnancy. Below are some tips to get you
started on your journey whether this is your first child or you are
counting...

#1: Learn Lamaze to give birth with confidence.
Every prepper considering getting pregnant should learn Lamaze
to give birth with confidence. During a long-term crisis you may
not have access to pain management drugs and Lamaze will get
you through naturally with out drugs. Pictured immediate right is
the official guide, and you can also ask your OB/GYN for classes.
The process of Lamaze is for the couple and working with an
instructor will alleviate many of the concerns you may have.

Face it now prepper mama, no one will be there to "bitch-slap"
you with an Epidural in a severe emergency! Lamaze really does
help you give birth with confidence and you can give birth without
drugs if you have a normal delivery. Besides, you'll feel proud of
yourself for giving birth naturally.

#2: Consider gaining midwivery skills.
Becoming a midwife isn't for everyone, but certainly having the
skill set, particularly in a rural community could prove beneficial
in many regards. Preparing for emergency birth is the kind of
serious topic you will learn.

The Birth Emergency Skills Training (BEST) book, pictured right, is
the interface between the world of midwifery and the world of
medicine. BEST will improve the midwife's ability to act decisively
in an emergency and to see it though until resolved or until
mother and baby are under physician management.

Topics covered include pain and bleeding in pregnancy,
hypertension, preterm labor, malpresentations, undiagnosed
twins, abnormal fetal heart rate, neonatal resuscitation, shock,
trauma, syncope and cardiac arrest. This may be the book that
saves a life.

#3: Put together an Emergency Obstetrical Kit.
The components of an obstretical kit are the things related to
childbirth that you can put together and have ready in case
delivery is not when you expected it.

Have a kit of emergency supplies in your home; such as:

clean towels and sheets
underpad for the bedding (even plastic sheeting)
clean scissors
sterile gloves
sanitary pads
emisis bags
newborn diapers
Survival medicine handbook
instructions for infant-rescue breathing

Most pregnant women never think of putting together an
obsterical kit, but preppers generally will have a survival
medicine handbook and the one pictured right by Joseph Alton, M.
D. and Amy Alton A.R.N.P is an excellent resource. It discusses
pregnancy complications, such as hypertension, Hyperemesis
Gravidarum (excessive nausea during pregnancy), miscarriage
and related antibiotics, which may be necessary; pregnancy care,.

A basic kit that will serve you well for an emergency delivery is
the obste t rical kit contains:

1 - Scalpel
1 - Gloves (Pair)
1 - OB pad
1 - Lined underpad
1 - Blanket
1 - Towel
4 - Gauze Sponges
1 - Bulb syringe
2 - Umbilical clamps
1 - Apron
1 - Plastic bags for placenta
1 - Ties
2 - Towelettes

Doppler monitor. The more advanced prepper may also like
to add a doppler monitor. This is a personal home use sound
amplification product that allows you to hear your baby's
sounds like kicks, movement and heartbeat. It is a high
performance model (heart rate) with LCD digital display. The
Cobely Heartbeat Monitor / Fetal Doppler is available on
Amazon for around $65-70.

#4: Prepare for nausea and headaches.
Hyperemesis Gravidarum (excessive nausea during pregnancy) is
possible, but most women will experience ordinary nausea
associated with their pregnancy. Hydration is critical! Here are
some ways to prepare for this inevitability:

Emisis bags. Pictured right in blue, emesis bags
Anti-nausea gum. Ginger is know to help with morning
sickness relief. SeaBand anti-nausea ginger gum, pictured
right, offers safe and effective relive of nausea, and it's
gluten free.
Oral rehydration powder, such as Drip Drop: