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Speed Recovery After Birth
(This cover story was reprinted from GreatLife magazine, February 2002 issue)
New moms: Nurse yourself back to health with folic acid, iron, calcium, shepherd's purse and other natural remedies.
  ON FEBRUARY 14 1998, I GAVE BIRTH TO MY first child, Brandon. My husband and I were thrilled to have a beautiful, healthy son. But I found myself underprepared for the toll of giving birth and caring for a newborn, so I began a path of discovery...
Nursing Your Way Back to Health
Nursing a baby is one of the most natural things a woman can do, but many babies have trouble latching on, which can lead to sore nipples, and some new mothers develop mastitis, a breast infection characterized by sore, hard, red and swollen nipples. If you experience mastitis, contact your health practitioner and try the following mixture recommended by herb expert James A. Duke, Ph.D.: a dropperful of echinacea tincture, three cloven of raw garlic and 4- to 6-oz of carrot juice in a blender; drink the mixture every two hours.
Surprisingly, research shows that infants of nursing mothers who consume garlic may be better nursers. One study conduced on eight women and their 3- to 4-month-old infants in Philadelphia found that infants stayed attached to the breast longer, sucked more and ingested slightly more milk when the mothers' milk smelled like garlic.
If you can't or don't want to nurse anymore, homeopathy may help ease the pain associated with unwanted lactation. Researchers in France found that the homeopathic medicines Apis mellifica 9C and Bryonia 9Csignificantly improved lactation pain as well as breast tension and spontaneous milk flow.
Soreness, Bleeding, Incontinence
Expect to be sore after giving birth. Using lavender oil as a bath additive can reduce postpartum perineal discomfort. In one trial, 635 women were divided into three groups; one using six drops of pure lavender oil; one using a synthetic lavender oil; and the last using an inert substance as a bath additive for 10 days postpartum. Between the third and fifth postpartum days, the women using lavender oil as a bath additive reported less discomfort.
Some new mothers also experience urinary incontinence. Kegel exercises can help by strengthening the muscles in the pelvic and pubic areas. Ideally, these exercises should be performed throughout pregnancy. Your health care practitioner can provide more details.
Nurturing Nutrients
During pregnancy and for up to six months after giving birth, certain nutrients, including folic acid, iron and calcium, are critical. Folic acid is critical to cell division and is known to help reduce the risk of neural tube defects in the fetus, though this preventive benefit is only attainable when the supplement is taken during the early stages of pregnancy. A recent Lancel study of more than 20,000 women in China found that folic acid supplementation during pregnancy is safe. Iron is critical for transporting oxygen to tissues throughout the body, and calcium, which is found in dairy foods, calcium-processed tofu, kale and broccoli as well as supplements, is important for bone health. |
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