Herbs for pregnancy, postpartum and breastfeeding

HERBS FOR PREGNANCY, Postpartum + Breastfeeding
 

If you’re expecting, recovering from giving birth, or preparing to breastfeed, you may be looking for information about herbal remedies to maintain optimal health during pregnancy and postpartum. Caring for mothers is a social responsibility that touches every human being on the planet, regardless of whether we plan to give birth or not. As giving birth has changed over the past few decades, with increased medical interventions in many Western countries, it’s important to consider the potential benefits and drawbacks of medical treatment. For those experiencing healthy pregnancies, there is compelling evidence to support less or no medical intervention or pharmaceuticals.

Herbalism has been the primary form of healthcare for most people on this planet since antiquity. However, accessing reliable information about nourishing herbs and foods that are most beneficial for pregnancy, labor, and postpartum has become difficult. Each pregnancy is unique and requires individual support, which is why our herbalists have put together a guide for birthing individuals to share with their trusted healthcare providers. This guide can help you and your birthing team decide which herbs are best for you and your baby during this sacred time of growth, expansion, and recovery. We encourage you to work with your co-parent(s), midwife, doula, physician, naturopathic or homeopathic doctor, and experienced herbalists to ensure that you receive the best possible care.

Adriana Ayales, founder of  Anima Mundi, a few hours before the arrival of her daughter

Herbs for pregnancy

When it comes to choosing herbs for pregnancy, postpartum, and breastfeeding/chestfeeding, it’s a highly personal decision. To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of herbs that are generally considered safe for birthing people to use. This list includes herbs that can help alleviate pregnancy-related symptoms, as well as a guide to all four trimesters of pregnancy, including the postpartum period. The postpartum period is a critical time for healing and restoration for both parents and babies. We hope this guide will be a helpful starting point for you and your healthcare team as you navigate this journey.

  • Alfalfa: High in vitamins and minerals, helps with symptoms of morning sickness, bosts milk production.
  • Dandelion leaf: Gentle diuretic for pregnancy-related water retention. Can help fight fatigue and constipation.
  • Moringa: Nutrient dense herb full of vitamins and minerals, such as antioxidants & iron
  • Chamomile: Helps soothe the stomach, promotes relaxation, and benefits the nervous system.
  • Oatstraw: Nervine rich in calcium and magnesium, which helps to provide restful sleep.
  • Ginger: Clinically proven to help ease nausea & help treat morning sickness. Treats heartburn associated with pregnancy.
  • Echiacea: It has been shown to reduce the length of colds and also prevent htem from recurring.
  • Nettle: High in bitamins and minerals, nourishes and strengthens the kidneys. Nourishes and tonifies the blood.
  • Red Raspberry Leaf (second and third trimester): Mineral rich, nutritive tonic herb used to supoort healthy pregnancy and to tone the uterus.
  • Lemon balm: Gentle, calming herb that helps support the nervous system and cognitive function.
  • Peppermint: Helps ease nausea, morning sickness, and flatulence.

 

Herbs for postpartum

After childbirth, new mothers face a challenging recovery period that requires a supportive network of family, friends, and helpers. They must balance rebuilding their strength while also caring for their newborns and prioritizing healthy food and rest. This postpartum period, also known as the “fourth trimester” or the “first 40 days,” requires special care just like the preceding three trimesters. Many midwives and communities throughout the world recognize the importance of this period and provide unique support to new mothers during this time.

  • Oatstraw/Mily oats: Demulcent nervine that treats exhaustion, nourishes the body, and helps rebuild adrenals.
  • Carmp Bark: Antipasmodic herb that helps ease tension and cramps; best used in the first 1-2 days after giving birth.
  • Lady’s Mantle: Helpful for postpartum bleeding, this herb tops bleeding due to its high concentration of tannins.
  • Passionflower: Eases anxiety, particularly when associated with diffuculty sleeping.
  • Skullcap: Decreases stress, anxiety, and alleviates sleep issues, particularly when postpartum insomnia is due to worry and nervousness.
  • Calendula + Witch Hazel (external use): This combination is a great option to close up wounds and to stop bleeding. Add a strong tea to your bath for extra perineal healing.
  • Ashwagandha: Traditional postpartum practices emphasize warmth for postpartum healing. This root is a warming adaptogen used in the ayurvedic medicinal system to support endocrine function, to regulate circadian rhythms, and to restore and rejuvenate the body.
  • Yellow dock root: supports the body in assimilation iron. Healthy iron levels are critical for postpartum recovery and for sustaining normal energy levels.

Herbs for breastfeeding

Sarah Manguso poetically described how motherhood changes one’s identity, saying “My body, my life, became the landscape of my son’s life. I am no longer merely a thing living in the world; I am a world.” Despite the natural bond between a mother and child, many postpartum parents find breastfeeding to be a daunting task due to various reasons, such as social stigma, lack of access to resources, and the fear of inadequate milk supply. Unfortunately, there is also a lack of attention given to supporting breastfeeding and chestfeeding individuals in preparing them for this consuming task, leading to statistics that reveal only 50% of infants receiving any breast milk by the age of six months, and less than 25% receiving it exclusively (source: CDC).

  • Morninga: Sometimes referred to as nature’s multivitamin, moringa is restorative after giving birth and boosts milk production.
  • Fenugreek: Helps stimulate the production of breastmilk and also soothes disturbed digestion.
  • Blessed Thistle: Helps with milk production, as well as stimulates appetite and promotes digestion.
  • Fennel: Sweet, licorice, esque herb known to increase milk production due to its natural estrogen-like properties. Soothing for the stomach.
  • Shatavari: Ayurvedic herb high in prolactin, which is the hormone that stimulates milk production. Helps bring hormones back into balance.
  • Elderberry: Immune supportive herb safe for both parent & baby. Supports respiratory system.
  • Cumin: stimulates milk production, wards off anemia due to its high concentration of iron. Also known to aid digestion.
  • Star Anise: Licorice like herb that has been found to increase breastmilk due to a compound called anethole. Also benefits digestion and immunity.
  • Milk Thistle: Has been found to increase breast milk due to silymarin, the plant’s active ingredient.
  • Ginger: A promising natural galactagogue to improve breast milk volume in the immediate postpartum period.

Apothecary picks for all four Trimesters

Moringa

boost milk production with ”nature’s multivitamin”

Mushroom Mocha Milk

high in iron + magnesium, also safe for children

Mangosteen Hibiscus

rich in folate, a critical nutrient during pregnancy

Rose body oil

high in iron + magnesium, also safe for children

Nettle leaf

nourish the kidneys + tonify the blood

Spirulina

boost immunity + combat inflammation

DISCLAIMER:

This content is purely informational and not intended to encourage self-diagnosis. We do not suggest using any of these herbs in place of medicine or as medicinal alternatives. It is essential to work with your chosen herbalist, birthing professional, and/or physician on how to integrate these and other herbal remedies into your wellness routine. The ancient wisdom of plant-based remedies requires guidance from practitioners whose expertise cannot be summarized in just one article. Please use plant medicines carefully and intentionally and discuss any questions or doubts directly with a healthcare practitioner.

anima mundi

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