So I am not a new mom but I am a new aunt to a beautiful 5 month old baby girl and have quite a few girlfriends who have given birth over the past few months. Being surrounded by a bunch of new moms I am learning a lot about the effects pregnancy has on the body.
The most recent discovery was when my dear friend called me this week to ask for advice on how to get rid of this rash she had developed after giving birth to her son. The poor woman was going crazy with a horrible rash all over her body and terrible itchiness. She went to a walk-in clinic where an ancient allergist diagnosed her condition as scabies. First thought, ew gross! My poor friend, already feeling pretty down about herself after the pregnancy was now being told that she had possibly contracted a highly contagious parasite that has been plaguing the human race for over 2500 years. Silly allergist never stopped to think that maybe when a body has been inhabited by another human being for 9 months that the hormones would get a bit out of whack and the liver and kidneys would have a harder time getting rid of the toxins which have accumulated during the pregnancy.
Now I am no health care professional but having a vast interest in health and natural healing after a bit of collective research we found that the rash is quite common in pregnant and post partum women. It's called Mama Hives or PUPPP (Pruiritic Urticarial Papules and Placques of Pregnancy) and it's funny that more doctors aren't aware of it. The rash can present and last on average of 6 weeks. To learn more about PUPPP click on http://dermatology.about.com/cs/pregnancy/a/puppp.htm
The rash is result of the body's inability to rid itself of the toxins left over from the pregnancy. The toxins get released into the bloodstream and present as a red swollen itchy rash. It tends to present on the stomach, breast, buttocks, legs and arms but rest assured that at least it does not tend to spread to the face.
Some effective treatments include doing a liver and kidney cleanse post pregnancy however it is recommended that nursing be stopped during this time as toxins could be released into the breast milk and passed on to the child.
Colon hydrotherapy is also a safe and effective method to rid the body of toxins and the mother can continue nursing safely during the course of the treatment. It is recommended to take probiotics during a colonic program. The therapist can suggest which kind to take but it's very important the probiotics are kept in the fridge or a cold dark place at all times to keep the bacteria alive.
Eating basil is effective for treating acne and skin disorders as it's a good blood purifier and bacteria killer and dandelion root helps to clean the liver.
http://ezinearticles.com/?Pupps-Rash---Extreme-Itchiness-During-Pregnancy-With-Red-Marks&id=1894408
In addition the rash should be treated topically.
Food grade hydrogen peroxide works well as it reduces swelling, disinfects, dries and helps to heal the spots quickly with minimal damage to the skin. Food grade H202 can be found in some health food stores or natural healing clinics. www.torontocolonics.com. If you're going to use food grade hydrogen peroxide, remember that it is must be a 3% dilution, it will be to strong if you do not dilute it. Avoid the non-food grade kind, it is not as effective because it's potency is deminished.
Additional natural topical treatments include witch hazel and calendula to relieve itching and reduce swelling. An oatmeal bath is also very soothing to relieve itching.
If you have any questions or concerns about any of the above mentioned remedies it is recommended that you consult a homeopathic physician to ensure safety for yourself and your child. This rash sounds like a total bummer but hopefully we have armed with you a few tools to get rid of it quickly and naturally. Good luck!