Birth & Breastfeeding Resources 

  As one whom his mother comforts so shall I (God) comfort you in Jerusalem. Isaiah 66:11                                                           

 Along the bank of the of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither nor will their fruit fail. They will bear fruit every month, because water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food and their leaves for medicine. Ezekiel 47:12

Nutritional and Herbal Help for Pregnancy

Morning Sickness- lack of protein, lack of B vitamins, Try eating ½ orange – not juice before going to bed, a 1oz cube of cheese before retiring; eat 6 small meals a day with lots of fluids. Nausea, is usually a blood sugar yo-yo. If you crave sweets it is a sign of a protein need. Ginger tea or Red raspberry Tea will help with nausea.

Leg Pains, cramps, lack of B vitamins, crossing your legs, not enough exercise, or calcium. Increase the calcium in your diet; don’t sit with legs crossed. Get out in the sun and exercise by walking or swimming. Add brewer’s yeast or alfalfa tablets to diet. Use maternity support hose if needed.

Swelling in legs, is usually from poor diet, not enough protein, salt, or way too much salt, not enough calcium. If you have blurred vision, headaches, spots see your health care provider immediately as this may be pre eclampsia, if caught early it can be corrected with diet. Vitamin B6 also helps with swelling. A little swelling late in the day in late pregnancy is normal. Have the Doc show you how to check for pitting edema. Avoid MSG, sodium nitrite, or nitrate as well as artificial sweeteners.

Dry itchy skin stretch marks increase vitamins E and A.

Hemorrhoids- can be helped with witch hazel to ease discomfort, but increase fiber – veggies in diet and add water – 6-8 glasses per day. This also prevents constipation a forerunner of the piles.

Urinary tract infections- go to the bathroom frequently every 2 hrs. Holding urine holds the bad bacteria in. Drink lots of water, add cranberry juice to you list of liquids. Also empty bladder after sex, as the germs can be washed up from the rectum. Dandelion is particularly effective diuretic. Help prevent the infections and stones.

Feeling run down, lack of protein, iron, and exercise. All of these are needed for adequate growth of the baby and moms expanding blood volume.

Heartburn- go low fat, especially late at night. Also sit up just a little while after eating- don’t just go to bed. Remember you need fat to grow yourself and a healthy baby, but do it earlier in the day.

GO FO A WALK- OR A SWIM, both are great exercises for pregnant women they keep you in shape and make you feel good.

Low iron levels, general weakness. This usually occurs in second or third trimesters. This is usually due to the expanding blood volume in the pregnancy. Try adding alfalfa, nettles to salads or greens. Eat at least two green leafy vegetable servings a day. Oat straw tea is also refreshing, high in iron too. Try adding liver to the diet.

Preparing for labor. Drink At least 1 quart of red raspberry tea a day. May also be drunk freely in labor for energy and hydration.

Eat several small meals a day and carbo- load 2- 3 weeks prior to delivery it gives quick energy.

Take a series of Childbirth classes- knowledge is power.

Practice relaxation techniques and exercise daily.

Seek out professional labor support (a doula) they reduce the need for pain meds by 40 percent, epidurals by 40 %, C- Sections by 50 percent. This support is continuous throughout the labor, and the support person helps you with your birth plan.

Evening Primrose oil, or borage oil to prepare the cervix and perineal area for stretching, called perineal massage, using this an massaging the perineum helps to stretch it an reduce the need for episiotomy.

EPO (Evening Primrose Oil) can be taken orally as well. High in the essential fatty acids; it makes for richer mothers milk.

Cohoshes, black and blue are only safe for the last two weeks of pregnancy and even during labor can be used, to enhance or start contractions. Otherwise should be used with caution in the first trimester they are considered abortifacients. Use with professional help.

Premature labor contractions, check to see if UTI is going on, and treat,

Otherwise lobelia and Wild yam root are excellent at withholding contractions and cervical dilation False Unicorn may also be used.

PIH- hypertension, Calcium and magnesium are essential 1200 to 1500 Calcium, half that of magnesium 750- mg, then zinc 40 milligrams daily are recommended. Sodium – salt to taste

Gestational diabetes, lack of adequate salt, and protein in the diet. Many places unless women are having specific symptoms no longer do glucose tolerance tests due to the high number of false positives. 60- 80 mg protein a day are recommended; 3-4 meat servings the size of a deck of cards. More protein if you are expecting twins.

Folic acid- iron 400-800 mg of folic acid to reduce Neural tube defects, in babies and prepare their iron stores in the last 6 weeks of pregnancy.