Chandler, Arizona
Sweet Pea ​Births
Sweet Pea ​Births
...celebrating every swee​t pea their birth
...celebrating every swee​t pea their birth
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More Homebirth Secrets
| Posted on March 2, 2012 at 7:32 AM |
Here are two more herbal therapies we used in
preparation for our homebirth. As I
commented in my first post about the things we did differently as a result of our choice to have a homebirth, I have no idea why these are not more widely used
in pregnancy. The only idea that has occured
to me since then is that since these are not pharmaceuticals, there is no money to be made
from promoting them.
Herbs have been used as “medicine” for countless years. As such, I must put on my Bradley® instructor
hat here and say that these worked for our family; each family must do their
own research and decide if any of these herbal therapies are suitable for them.  Red Raspberry LeafThe most common way to use this herb is to make a tea and drink 2-3 cups per day. I learned about it from our first doula, who
recommended I drink a tea made from Red Raspberry Leaf in the third trimester
for uterine toning. I wasn’t sure about
using herbs since the FDA regulates none of them. Since then, I have learned to do research and
trust my source if I am going to use herbs, especially during pregnancy when
everything we consume passes on to the baby. “Most
of the benefits ascribed to regular use of Raspberry tea through pregnancy are
traced to the nourishing source of vitamins and minerals found in this plant
and to the strengthening power of fragrine - an alkaloid which gives tone to
the muscles of the pelvic region, including the uterus itself. Of special note
are the rich concentration of vitamin C, the presence of vitamin E and the
easily assimilated calcium and iron. Raspberry leaves also contain vitamins A
and B complex and many minerals, including phosphorous and potassium.” - susunweed.com Red
raspberry also turns out to be a source of calcium, and some mothers find that
it helps with milk production. Read
more about red raspberry leaves here  Polly-Jean Five-Week Antenatal FormulaThis
was another recommendation from our midwives.
Not having used herbal therapies like this in our other pregnancies,
Bruss and I decided to trust their expertise and take the herbs. The following is an excerpt from
birthjunkie.com. I have commented on the
benefits below – they are in the purple text and NOT from the website: "Polly
Block, a midwife, writes in her book, Polly's Birth Book--Obstetrics for
the Home: "We have found the Polly-Jean Formula--an herbal combination that gravidas begin taking five weeks prior to anticipated date of delivery--to be a boon to the home birth movement. It assists in the following ways:
Other formulas on the market have helped many mothers, but over the years
midwives have found that these formulas did not assist enough in preventing
hemorrhage in women with borderline anemia, the Rh-negative factor, and other
conditions. We found that when pennyroyal was included in the formula, bleeding
continued to be heavier than it should be. We also found that black cohosh
seemed to increase the normally stepped up production of estrogen, adding to
the hemorrhage problem. Jeannne Johnson and I eliminated both these herbs when
we developed our formula. The Polly-Jean Five-Week Antenatal Formula tends to create a
balance in the stepped-up hormones toward the end of pregnancy. Over the
years women have reported that they have found no better 'female corrective'
than the Polly-Jean formula, pregnant or not." - Except from www.birthjunkie.com As
I researched for this post, I found that the Polly-Jean
Five-Week Antenatal Formula contains a
blend of herbs that lend the following properties: uterine stimulant, uterine
toning, hormone balancing, anti-nausea and anti-vomiting, galactagogue (increase
milk supply) and pain relief. Allow me to reiterate that as a Bradley® instructor,
and as a consumer and research driven mama, I strongly suggest that you do your
own research and decide if either of these herbal therapies are right for
you. Our midwives at Freedom and the Seed have an herbalist in their
office. If you have any questions about
using herbal therapies for pregnancy, postpartum or for breastfeeding support, you can start by
calling Juliana
Soderberg at 602.482.5544. You can also visit her website at www.herbaljules.com. What has been your experience with herbal therapies for pregnancy, postpartum and breastfeeding? Disclaimer: The
material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
Categories: Herbalist, Homebirth, Labor Marathon, Labor Sprint, Midwife, Midwifery Care
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