While there should be absolutely no judgment over what type of birth you prefer or require, it's worth considering the natural tools that can help you avoid preventable birth interventions.
— Dr. Aviva Romm
Our bodies have been birthing since time immemorial. As my midwife said to me, "if we just get out of our own way..." Our bodies know how to birth.
Even so, preparation is needed to help support our bodies physically and emotionally to create good conditions for birth.
Physical Preparation
- Healthy diet
- Good rest and sleep
- Regular exercise
- Hydration and relaxation
Mental and Emotional Preparation
- Gather information about your local birth resources
- Take a hospital tour to know the layout
- Make a birth plan with copies for your team
- Learn coping techniques for labor intensity
- Consider having a doula or midwife who knows herbal medicine
Helpful Herbs - Last 6 Weeks
Red Raspberry Leaf
You can take this in a tea blend from the second trimester onwards. Research has found that drinking RRL tea or taking capsules can:
- Decrease likelihood of preterm labor
- Decrease likelihood of going too far past your due date
- Decrease need for artificial rupture of membranes
- Lower overall rates of cesarean section, forceps delivery, and vacuum extraction
Partridge Berry (Mitchella Repens) - Squaw Vine
I used this herb for all three of my babies' births during the last month of pregnancy. It helped shorten the length of labor and seemed to smooth out contractions so that they were more effectual.
If administered once or twice daily for the sixth and seventh months of pregnancy, three times daily for the eighth month, and in larger doses as confinement approaches, the influence upon the entire system will be most marked.
Dates
Traditional cultures, especially in Iran, use dates to help ripen the cervix for birth. Eat 6-8 dates a day starting around week 37 until delivery. Dates contain fiber, vitamins, minerals, protein and carbohydrates. Also helpful as a labor snack for energy.
Homeopathic Labor Preparation
Take up to 10 days before but often works in 3 or 4 days:
- Arnica 30c
- Gelsemium 30c
- Caulophyllum 30c
- Cimicifuga 30c
- Pulsatilla 30c
Add one or two pellets to water and take one sip a day around the same time, for up to 10 days.
Always consult with your healthcare provider before using herbs during pregnancy and labor.