Living as a mama with RA or Lupus

Being a mama is hard work. It requires bending, moving, running, heavy lifting and the list goes on. From sun up until sun down, moving quickly is a necessity. Flipping the pancakes at breakfast, lifting up the baby from the crib, reaching for the plates in the cupboard, bending down to get the juice out of the fridge, twisting the top on a sippy cup, lifting up the toddler to help her wash her hands, bending down to put the baby in her bouncer, lifting the toddler into her high chair, carrying the plates with food over to the table and this is only before breakfast! Needless to say, my body is sore by the end of the day. Arthritis and other inflammatory diseases are hard to live with. They cause a struggle of pain and agony every day. You suffer with deformity, swelling, pain and stiffness. The mornings are the worst. Seasonal changes aggravate it. It can be debilitating at times, but children never stop needing you. You can't put their needs on hold until you are feeling better. You have to push through the pain even on your worst days. If you're anything like me, you have tried all sorts of pain medication and none of it works 100% of the time. The pain always comes back and is usually much worse than before. It is because you are masking the pain and not curing it. Besides that, if you are nursing or breast feeding many of the medications aren't safe to use. I have a few natural alternatives for you to try. Trust me, it is worth it!
There are so many natural options for people with arthritis, many of them date years back. Medications and treatments have become so complicated! Let's go back to the basics. Start with your diet. Eating a diet rich in vitamins and minerals, especially antioxidants and Vitamin E will make a drastic difference.  Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables to keep your symptoms at bay. Foods that are high in Beta-Cryptoxanthin, such as grapefruit, butternut squash, apricots or pumpkins, are great for your bones and cartilage. Foods high in Alkaline have also been said to balance pH levels and help reduce inflammation. A healthy lifestyle starts at the foods we consume.
Omega 3 fatty acids are found in fish oil, flax-seed, soybean oil, pumpkin seeds and walnuts. Omega 3 fatty acids help reduce inflammation caused by autoimmune diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus. Several studies have shown a reduction in the need for corticosteroids in patients who used fish oil supplements, which are high in Omega 3's. Evening Primrose oil is another great supplement that I swear by for myself. I would tell anyone who is suffering through pain caused by arthritis to try one of these supplements and see what works best for you. And since we know that pregnancy, lack of sleep and breast feeding can cause flare ups, adjustments to your daily life may be necessary. Keep in mind that mothers with Arthritis, Lupus and Fibromyalgia are far more likely to have postpartum depression. Eating a balanced diet, getting rest and allowing others to help will notably decrease the risk of postpartum depression. 
Diet and supplements in combination with regular non-strenuous exercise can significantly decrease the need for other invasive medications and improve quality of life. We have talked a little about diet and natural remedies, but have you tried a nice hot bath? I know how hard it is to find time for yourself as a mama, but an Epsom salt bath can be soothing and help with immediate pain. Remember, if mama is happy and healthy, everyone in the house will be happy!