Category: Read - Part 6
Herbs for Labor IV: Ragwort
Green blessings! Plant medicines are everywhere and are instrumental during pregnancy, labor and the postpartum. In this edition of the series called “Herbs for Labor” renowned herbalist Susun Weed describes the uses and benefits of ragwort, also known as life root, throughout a woman’s cycle and during pregnancy. Herbal medicine is a welcome addition to…
Helping Baby Sleep: Knowledge is Power
In today’s world, expecting parents are bombarded with a myriad of information about how to care for their new bundle of joy. Still, for various reasons, quality information about how to promote healthy baby sleep patterns is often not absorbed by families who are preparing to nurture the little one. Heidi Holvoet, PhD, specializes in…
Quit Smoking During Pregnancy! For a Healthy Mom and Baby
Most people know that using tobacco is a dangerous habit for anyone, and especially for expecting mothers. The news of a baby on the way often motivates women to quit smoking, but staying off of nicotine is generally short lived. In this piece, Pamela McColl, doula and tobacco prevention activist, gives a glimpse into the…
Acupressure for Constipation During Pregnancy
Constipation during pregnancy is often caused by a blockage of energy, or Qi, in a pregnant woman’s large intestine. In this piece, acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist Rebecca Young provides a practical tool for midwives and doulas to help pregnant women overcome this unpleasant challenge during the nine months. By using acupressure on the expectant mother’s…
Prenatal Yoga Prepares Mothers for Today and Tomorrow
Yoga is known for its ability to strengthen and relax the practitioner, but this is only the beginning of what this ancient practice has to offer, especially for pregnant women. According to Senior Pranakriya and Kripalu yoga instructor Jacci Gruninger Reynolds, prenatal yoga offers expecting mothers community support, physical and mental preparation for labor, and…
The Ancient Wisdom of Parenthood
Through the processes of preconception, pregnancy, childbirth, and raising a human being, ancient wisdom is expressed through the parents at every moment. In this piece, Breatharian couple Camila and Akahi Salas describe parenthood as a sacred gift that shapes not only a child’s life, but the life of the parents, and the future of humanity….
Placenta Medicine
In some ancient traditions and increasingly today, incorporating the placenta as medicine is an important part of the postpartum recovery for the mother. In this piece, herbalist Jade Alicandro Mace shares bits of the history and research behind this time-tested treatment, as well as one recipe for preparing the placenta for consumption. Incorporate placenta medicine…
Physiologic Postpartum Care: Remembering our Global Postpartum Tradition
Both Birth, as our rite of passage, and postpartum, as our integration into a whole new life, contain traditions that connect all of humanity, many of which are rooted in our physiologic design. In this piece by Rachelle Garcia Seliga, CPM, we explore the importance of Physiologic Postpartum Care, how it is connected to our…
Herbs for Labor XVII: Schizandra Berries
Isabelle Wilson is an internationally renowned medicine woman and herbalist who is known for her work, the Wise Woman Way. In this final edition of the series called “Herbs for Labor” written for Birth Institute, she shares how bright redschizandra berries, an herb of longevity, reduces physical exhaustion and fatigue and promotes restful relaxation. Become a holistic…