Eve's Treasures™

Pregnancy, Birthing, and Post Partum Care

Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also , and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. ~ Proverbs 31:28-29

Remember, we are not diagnosing, prescribing or any other medical stuff. In no way are we telling you what to do. Just sharing our own opinion on what we and other moms have found helpful.

PG-T ™ Mix

Chlorophyll

Labor, Delivery & Postpartum

New Mama's Bath™

Baby's Cord Care

PG-T ™ Mix - Pregnancy Herb Tea

Our PG-T™ Mix is one of the best herb combinations for pregnancy, birthing and postpartum. It is a combo of equal parts of Red Raspberry Leaf, Oatstraw, Nettles, and Alfalfa providing a lot of good nutrients. Probably one of the greatest benefits women look to these herbs for is in preventing bleeding problems/ hemorrhage and reducing postpartum flow. It is also very good for strengthening your reproductive system ahead of delivery, and healing and restoring it after, and providing nutrients to the growing baby. Some of the nutrients and benefits of the individual herbs are listed below. Many more are not listed; there's so many; I just hit the main ones.

Red Raspberry Leaf - very absorbable calcium, vitamins A and B-complex, many minerals - tones the uterus - reducing uterine spasm and improving contractability during labor, and helps prevent miscarriage and postpartum hemorrhage...

Nettles - calcium, vita. K, rich in chlorophyll, (and many more) increases hemoglobin count, rebuilds and strengthens kidneys, circulatory system toner, stabilizes blood sugar, improves energy level, immune system function, liver function, nervous system, muscle tone (this is what helps prevent postpartum hemorrhage and vaginal tears), and quality and quantity of breast milk.....

Alfalfa - known as the "Father of all herbs" - calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, all the known vitamins - including K, B8 and P, general tonic for regaining and maintaining health - balanced and complete absorption.

Oatstraw - calcium, superior source of vitamin B-complex, (and more) builds strong pliable bones, stabilizes blood sugar, helps with circulation problems, hemorrhoids, varicose veins, stress, improves muscle tone (uterine function, reduces leg cramps), improves circulation (blood supply to uterus). (Not for people with gluten allergies.)

Because it has so many great properties, it is a great women's formula for anytime (other properties not mentioned are for the ovaries, and reproductive system in general) and as you can tell from some of the things listed, it is a great formula for the whole family.

It's recommended to drink 1-2 quarts of tea made from these herbs per day, throughout the entire pregnancy, but especially during the last 6 weeks and through the 6 week postpartum period. To brew, I use a handful (approx. 1/4 - 1/3 cup) of PG-T™ Mix per 1-2 quarts of distilled water. Put in a quart jar (or in a large teaball in a quart jar - I use a 3" Stainless Steel Mesh Teaball), add boiling water, cap jar shut, let it steep overnight. In the morning, strain (or remove teaball), and you have your day's supply. I pour it into a 2 quart pitcher and add another quart of water for cold/iced tea as I don't like it as strong as only 1 quart makes it. If I'm going to drink it hot, I like it a little stronger so I don't add another full quart of water, just enough for my own taste. You can also brew for only 15-30 minutes, if you are in a hurry, but I use quite a bit more Mix if I do this. Overnight is best, as it will extract the most amounts of the nutrients. You can also make it like "suntea" with cold water and steeping all day in the sun.

Chlorophyll

Chlorophyll is a great blood builder for those who tend to be anemic or lose more blood than they should. In addition to the high levels of chlorophyll in the PG-T Mix, those with a history of these things may wish to take extra chlorophyll as an added precaution. Some midwives recommend that all new moms take added chlorophyll until the bottle is gone.

You can get it as a liquid that is mint flavored (much better than the natural "grassy" flavor, IMO). You can take 1-3 TBL. per day just straight, followed by a glass of water, or I mix it in either a glass of cold or cup of hot water for mint "tea". The one we've used (that has the mint) is "Chlorofresh" put out by Nature's Way. [Update: My mom has recently needed to take Chlorophyll. She found drops that didn't have the grassy taste and were more concentrated and convenient to use.]

Labor, Delivery, and Postpartum

For labor, delivery and postpartum herbs beyond the PG-T™ Mix, here's some things digested from a mid-wife's workshop that I went to and an herb book, "Herbally Yours". I have other herb books, more extensive, etc. but when this one gives me what I'm looking for, I rarely search further.

Blue and Black Cohosh, and Squawvine are all good for helping initiate and keep moving along a slow starting/moving or stalled labor and are also good for "easing" labor, and afterpains. The Cohoshs are also good for bleeding. The mid-wife has a quart of Blue Cohosh ready at all births for mom to drink even if she doesn't bleed. It is probably the #1 "labor herb". Motherwort is good for relaxing and exhaustion and general pain relieve (in labor and afterpains), so is St. John's Wort (homeopathically known as Hypericum). Valarian is really good for pain (what Valium originally was patterned from - but *smells awful!* like dirty socks), as is Lobelia (good for pain, not as smelly :- ). Both are "strong" (harsher) herbs.

Blue Cohosh can be added to the PG-T™ mix, or taken in extract form, during the last 6 weeks. Black Cohosh is stronger and I wouldn't use it until during labor. Pennyroyal is another one that is used to "get labor going", but it is quite strong. There are many other herbs, but these are the main ones, ones that are common and pretty all purpose.

I personally stay with the gentler herbs. Meaning the PG-T™ mix throughout and stepped up the last 6 weeks. I've never taken any "drugs" for my births, so don't want to become dependant upon strong herbs as a substitute. So during labor I brew up the gentler (but stronger and more specific than the PG-T herbs) additions of: Blue Cohosh, Squawvine, and Shepherd's Purse (for bleeding or a slow coming placenta) that I will add to my PG-T if we run into a problem that I need it. I also have Blue Cohosh in drops (extract form) on hand in case of emergency (bought before they discontinued). (and Lobelia drops, but I've never used them in birthing.) I use to get a extract blend called "Labor Ease" that had a combo of several labor herbs in it, but I don't know if it's still made or not.

I also have "Flower Rescue" (another brand is called Rescue Remedy) on hand for emergency use for shock, as well as a home-made mixture of Sea Salt (1 tsp), Baking Soda (1/2 tsp.), juice of 1/2 Lemon, and Honey (1 tsp) in 1 qt. distilled water (for electrolyte replacement or near shock) if needed. I have Motherwort extract (and Hypericum) for afterpains, if needed. And take Arnica (homeopathic pills - but you can get the herb drops) for muscle soreness. Which are also both good for shock or respitory distress too, as is Lobelia. (See, good all purpose herbs listed in my kit.)

New Mama's Bath™

The other herbs I use in birthing are in my after birthing "New Mama's Bath™". This is very soothing and relaxing as well as good for bleeding, and healing and restoring tissue. It contains comfrey (for closing wounds and soothing stretched out tissues and muscles), Shepherd's Purse (for preventing and controlling bleeding), Sea Salt and Garlic (anti-septic - cleansing and infection preventing), Uva-ursi (for healing reproductive organs and urinary tissues - prevents infections there). This is prepared as a strong "tea" that is added to a warm bath that mom and baby get in right after birth. This is as soothing and comforting for babe as for you, and healing for his cord too.

Also Comfrey Tea in your peri-bottle is soothing and healing, you could add Uva-Ursi to it too.

Baby's Cord Care

For baby's cord stump, nothing beats goldenseal powder. It keeps it from getting infection and also dries it out real fast. It heals and falls off so much sooner. I've found the easiest way to use it is to buy it in capsules. That way I can just open one up and use it. I don't put it on after EVERY diaper change, but whenever the cord gets wet and several times a day when I change diaper. To keep from making such a mess I usually take a gauze pad and cut it from one corner to the center and place this around the cord stump, then sprinkle the goldenseal on to cover the cord. The gauze catches the extra and I can just throw it away.

Nursing

For nursing, Blessed Thistle (as well as the Red Raspberry Leaf and Alfalfa in the PG-T) help bring in your milk - good, rich milk :- ) I've never used it much. Never had a problem in that area. I find a healthy, Good for You-Naturally!™ diet, drinking plenty of pure water and fresh juices, and keeping baby close and nursing him often bring in good rich milk real soon without it. Also, Fennel (Therapeutic-grade - YLEO) Essential Oil can be helpful. A few others are listed on the Mykayah's Things resource page.(See Essential Oil page.)

PG-T Mix and New Mama's Bath are names belonging to Me and My House products. These products are not for sale through the internet, but you can make your own based on the info provided here.