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Pregnancy: Healthcare for mother and child

The safe and effective use of herbal medicine has been an integral part of supportive health care during pregnancy, in childbirth and post partum for thousands of years. Women have always been concerned with securing safe deliveries of their children and have sought the reduction of vulnerabilities during this extraordinary time. Applying proven natural remedies can prevent complications like haemorrhaging and infections as well as building strength for a speedy birth and recovery. In Europe herbal medicine is officially used in obstetric care and is regarded as the first choice in preventing and treating common ailments in mother and child. Today scientific studies support this practice.

In the times before high-tech birth intervention and access to powerful medicines like antibiotics, women were acutely aware of their vulnerabilities during pregnancy and childbirth. With death during childbirth a common event, preventing complications and infections (childbed fever) as well as ensuring a quick recovery after birth was high on their priority list. Internationally renowned Swiss herbalist, Father Kuenzle wrote in the early 20th century, that many husbands would still have a wife and many children a mother, if she had drunk Lady's Mantle during pregnancy. The regular use of Lady's Mantle is known to prevent uterine infections, to reduce excessive bleeding and heal the womb after birth. This is still valuable support in the modern 21st century.

There are a number of beneficial herbs that women in Europe traditionally use during pregnancy in order to support the health of both mother and baby. On the continent the most treasured herbs for pregnancy additionally to Lady's Mantle are Raspberry leaves, Nettle, St John's Wort, Lemon Balm, Horsetail and Yarrow. During gestation these herbs help to tone the uterus, strengthen the nervous system and help to cope with tiredness commonly experienced, ease fluid retention and reduce lower back discomfort. They also help to build up the strength of the uterine muscle for a speedy birth and recovery post partum. Every expectant mother greatly benefits from using these herbs.

My principal teacher, who was both a midwife and a herbalist, transmitted to me a famous midwifery recipe that combines the above mentioned herbs. I now offer this well balanced traditional formulation that works synergistically to enhance the benefit of each single herb whilst being absolutely safe. It has proven to be highly effective in supporting the expectant mother and is officially used in obstetric care in Switzerland. In fact this herbal combination is officially taught at the University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland, which is a teaching hospital for doctors, nurses and midwives.

The herbal combination in this traditional pregnancy support recipe, help to make a pregnancy more enjoyable, as they support the pregnant body in coping with the many changes that occur in pregnancy and can minimise discomforts that may occur during gestation and after birth. Indeed, the good health of the expectant mother before and during pregnancy prepares the way for a trouble-free 9 months gestation period, an easy birth and a robust and healthy baby. Health enhancing herbs, a nutritious whole-food diet with increased intake of protein and moderate exercise are basic and effective tools to keep the expectant mother and subsequently her unborn child as healthy as possible. It also helps to ensure that the baby will have the head-start that good health provides.