Homebirth Herbs

[tracymom1]

So I am trying to compile a kit of homeopathics/herbs to have handy for my home birth. My midwife carries some of the basics (arnica, belladonna, cimiciugna, chamomillia, ect...). Are there any unusual or less frequently used remedies that you came across that were very helpful to your labor or post partum time? What were you so happy you had that may have been an afterthought or something you didn't think you were going to use?

[groovynaturemama]

i bought a pre-mixed herbal sitz bath at my local apothacary. i also bought some large muslin tea bags for the herbs, but a 4x4 gauze pad (unfolded) works well to wrap up the herbs too. for the kind i bought, someone then puts the wrapped herbs in a stock pot of water and lets it simmer for about 1/2 hour or so, then adds it to my bath postpartum. i will also use some of it in a peri bottle for when i go to the bathroom. i also bought an herbal tincture called "cramp eze" (like the after ease tincture) for afterpains since this is going to be my second birth (afterpains tend to get worse with subsequent births). as far as homeopathics go, my midwife carries a vast array, so i am not buying anything in particular.

[Comtessa]

On my herbs list so far:
- red raspberry leaf (for drinking in labor)
- nettles (to add to RRL tea)
- comfrey (for freezing on pads for postpartum)
- lavender, calendula, rosemary, and sage (for postpartum sitz bath)

But still open to other recommendations... :

[jul511riv]

[josie423]

I have never used herbs in labor, but my midwife prepares an herb bath for after the birth. It is lovely, I will need to find out what she puts in it. I plan on having some cramp bark on hand for those oh-so-lovely afterpains. (Anyone else have recommendations for afterpains? They have been terrible for me the last two times.)

[emmaegbert]

arnica was very helpful (200c preparation) for afterpains and I have some on hand. I took a dose every 15 minutes for the first few hours, then as needed.

I also will have someone (husband or mom, I guess) prepare post-partum herbs for a peri-wash. (comfrey leaf and root, lavender, rosemary, sea salt, goldeseal and calendula.)

would love to know what others do for afterpains. they were pretty bad with my first, worse with my second, and I've heard it gets worse each time! (this will be third).

[camprunner]

My afterpains were with my second child than with my first. I did drink a lot of RRL tea through the third trimester with the third though.