Herbs for the last trimester and labor ease
Four million women give birth in America every year! About a month before the birth, your body will give you signs that it’s becoming ready. Some women will notice a burst of energy with the desire to prepare things around the house, like re-organizing the baby’s room, freezing extra food or cleaning out dirty cupboards. One of the biggest signs that you’re becoming ready is when your baby drops lower into your pelvis called “lightening.” Women report this can make breathing and digestion easier, but urination even more frequent! Bodywork tip: Rub cocoa butter, vitamin E oil, or wheat germ oil on the stomach and around the vaginal opening every night during the last trimester to make stretching easier and the skin more elastic during delivery. You can also gently stretch perineal tissues with your fingers to prepare for the birthing experience. Regular perineal massage may even help a woman avoid an episiotomy.
Five weeks before the expected due date, an herbal formula can help your body prepare for labor, aid in hemorrhage control and uterine muscle strength for correct presentation of the fetus. Herbs can also ease labor pain and anxiety, and allow for a faster recovery after childbirth. A simple raspberry leaf tea used in the last trimester helps soften the cervix in preparation for childbirth and stimulates milk production.
True labor symptoms to watch for:
• contractions follow a regular pattern, occurring closer together as labor progresses. Use a stopwatch to time your contractions.
• contractions last longer than 30 seconds at the onset and become progressively longer (up to a minute) and more intense.
• usually bloody show. Bloody show is the presence of a small amount of blood or pinkish discharge that usually occurs around the 40th week of pregnancy. Large amounts of blood are not normal and could be a sign of uterine hemorrhage. Seek medical help immediately.
• membranes will rupture (water breaking)
• pain begins high in the abdomen and radiates throughout your abdomen and lower back
• contractions persist and labor progresses regardless of changes in position or activity
Parturient Herbs help your body prepare for labor- Hemorrhage control
Evening primrose oil: provides high quality vegetarian EFA’s and can help soften the cervix in preparation for labor in late pregnancy.
Red raspberry: It is hemostatic to prevent excess bleeding during and after labor, and facilitates the birth process by improving natural contractions. Some women report that taking red raspberry throughout pregnancy significantly reduces labor pain during childbirth.
Bilberry: a good astringent and kidney tonic; hemostatic to prevent excess bleeding.
Bayberry/cayenne: hemostatic properties to control bleeding.
Shepherd’s purse: use as infusion after childbirth to curtail postpartum uterine bleeding and facilitate delivery of the placenta.
Nettles: replenishes vital minerals, helps control bleeding.
Yarrow: improves uterine tone and helps control blood loss.
Labor pain easing herbs
Cramp bark: uterine tonic; eases tension and pain from contractions.
Black haw: uterine tonic; eases tension and pain from contractions.
St. John’s wort: use as an extract in hot water to relieve labor pain or apply the oil to affected areas, especially good for relief of back labor.
Scullcap: strong pain and stress relieving properties; use as an extract in hot water.
Wild lettuce: high in minerals that relax the muscles.
Wild yam: especially good for relief of back labor pains.
Ginger: helps control nausea during child labor.
White willow: aspirin-like qualities for first stages of labor.
Earth Mama Angel Baby LABOR EASE tea
Nervine herbs for anxiety
Chamomile: calming, relaxing activity for anxiety during childbirth.
Lemon balm: stress relieving properties, but also energizing properties for fatigue and exhaustion during long labor.
Passionflowers: improves sleep during long labor.
Scullcap: a premier pain reliever and sleep aid, without the side effects or addiction consequences of narcotic pain medications.
Oatstraw: strengthens the nervous system. Rich in calcium and magnesium. Reduces anxiety and irritability.
Catnip: reduces stress and nervous stomach.
Valerian: improves sleep during long labor.
Calcium Magnesium source herbs
Kelp: a high calcium magnesium source with plentiful iodine and potassium.
Irish Moss: high in minerals; reduces pregnancy-related constipation. (moderate dosages)
Watercress: high in iron, calcium and folic acid.
Carrot powder: root vegetables like carrots are very high in calcium and magnesium. Precaution: Avoid wild carrot seeds during pregnancy. They can stimulate menstruation.
Nettles: high content of calcium, magnesium and iron. A blood tonic high in chlorophyll. Reduces risk of uterine hemorrhaging, and increases the richness of breast milk.
Alfalfa : very high calcium source with vitamin K to guard against excessive bleeding.
Herbs for postpartum depression relief
Dong quai: the “female ginseng” to fortify energy after childbirth
St. John’s wort: a serotonin balancer with antidepressant properties that rival conventional drugs. Use whole St. John’s wort not standardized for best results.
Motherwort: alleviates anxiety, mild depression and palpitations.
Hawthorn: a heart tonic that enhances a sense of well being; a specific for relief of panic attack or mild palpitations.
Ashwagandha: an energy tonic for relief of mental and physical exhaustion.
Ginger: mild “pick me up” for body sluggishness after birth, particularly constipation following use of narcotic pain medication.
Evening primrose oil: a good source of GLA (gamma-linolenic acid), an essential fatty acid that supports the body’s production of prostaglandins, which effects hormone balance through out the body.
Crystal Star Depress-Ex caps
For afterbirth pain: try Crystal Star Stress Out Muscle Relaxer drops in warm water (excellent results), an analgesic formula that helps the lower back and spinal block area, often within 20 minutes.
I spent a great deal of time during my pregnancy worrying about labor and birth, but in the end, my labor went well, lasting about 12 hours, and while I opted for some medical pain relief I labored naturally for many hours with the support of my herbals. friends and family. The birth itself was miraculous. Looking into my son's eyes for the first time completely overshadowed any pain or discomfort I felt.
Enjoy your pregnancy and celebrate your labor and birth!
-Sarah
