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Ask the Herbalist_questions on Pregnancy/Fertility/Nursing
plantain seed
dodder seed
Saw palmetto
Sao yang, cistanches
Ru cong rong
Cordiceps
Use Red Ginseng for testosterone hormonal problem
Use He shou wu for deficient blood
increase essential fatty acids and zinc which are essential to normal reproductive function.
TUBAL REVERSAL
Question: I have a question and I hope you can help. I am 38 and had a tubal reversal
done in February of this year. I have been taking Prometrium to extend the
last phase of my menstrual cycle. Currently I am "late" a home PG test was neg.,
and this is a long weekend. Is there something in the herbal word that would increase my progestrone
levels that I could take at least for a few days. If I am PG I don't want to
risk miscarrying.
Answer:
If you are trying to get pregnant I wouldn't play with hormones or herbs at this crucial stage, although Raspberry leaf
has been traditionally used prior, thru and after delivery to tonify and prep the Uterus, also get on a Folic acid
supplement usual range is 800-1200 mcg per day to prevent neural tube defects. See my previous question/answer on
pregnancy if you become pregnant there might be some ideas there to think about. If you are not, there is a previous
question/answer on getting pregnant you might want to review it.
INDUCING PREGNANCY
QUESTION: I am 37 weeks pregnant. I have just seen a perinatologist who performed
a level 2 ultrasound. He says my baby is too large for the gestational
age (measured today at 8.1 lbs-8.8lbs). Because the fetus grows on an
average of 1/2 pound per week, he doesn't want to let it go till my due
date on 7/15. He is recommending inducing labor. He said if I attempt to
wait for nature to take its course, I could have the shoulders get stuck
and he described the worst case scenario. The health of the baby at
this point is very good - it's just big.
I'm afraid of being induced and even more fearful of a c-section. I want
labor to occur naturally. The reason I don't want to be induced is
because they make you stay on the monitors, IVs and blood pressure cuff
for the duration of labor. I wanted to void an epidural, but with the
above conditions, I don't see how I can manage the pain if I'm not
allowed to move around. The whole thing sounds like a complete ordeal.
My cervix isn't ripe and I'm afraid that induction will lead to a
c-section because the cervix won't cooperate. I'm a large woman and big
babies run in the family. I'm not sure what decision to make. I think I
could deliver a big baby, but I'm not sure how big. He really scared
me. My blood pressure has been elevated for a week but I'm really
stressed out from work because I have a lot to do before maternity
leave.
I have some black cohosh and blue cohosh capsules but I want advice on
whether to take them and in what doses. I know they probably won't work
until the cervix is ripe. I read somewhere that I could take them in
smaller doses in the last month or pregnancy as a tonic. I know blue
cohosh elevates blood pressure so I'm concerned about that as well.
ANSWER:
I may be able to help but it is hard to tell with the information at hand. I want to stress one thing, you have a
baby that is yours inside you. The method of deliver does not matter as long as the result is a healthy child and
mother. My advice 9 months or more ago would be to find a Midwife lay or certified to help you with a natural child
birth. At this point I would do whatever is necessary to achieve a happy and healthy outcome for you and your child.
My wife and I recently had our second child and although she and I wanted to go natural, she also needed induced.
Once labor started it was very quick and relatively pain free. We used Raspberry leaf throughout the pregnancy and
post delivery to maintain uterine tone. Two weeks before delivery she started on a product called Mother's cordial and
additionally Evening Primrose Oil, which has been used for years by mothers to prepare for delivery. We were
delivered by a certified nurse midwife. Angelica is a happy healthy 8 month old.
My main goal was the health of my wife and child foremost, natural is good but if necessary make use of the
modern technological, equipment and procedures. I believe Modern medicine has its place and herbal medicine has its
place each has strengths and weaknesses, utilize the best of each to achieve you 9 month goal.
Remember your goal for the past 9 months or more has been to produce a child. Make that your most
important issue and concern and don't let the other things bother you.
Print this out and give to your Doctor for discussion, but I stress to you a successful delivery is the utmost goal.
As to your natural-herbal questions here is the information I can provide on herbs, pregnancy and delivery:
I have a Midwife friend who uses Evening Primrose Oil (EPO) to ripen the Cervix ingest it internally and apply
to Cervix to soften and ripen. It helps dilate the cervix because of prostaglandin's found in the oil. Prostaglandin's are
the first step of induction, usually a cream or pill is inserted in the vagina close or on the cervix. The drawbacks of EPO
is that it is expensive and dosage is high. But if you want to start with a natural prostiglandin try EPO, with you Doctors
involvement.
Here are the herbs traditionally used for pregnancy and delivery, discuss them with your Doctor.
Blue Cohosh, Latin Name: Caulophyllum thalictroides: This herb is a Partis preparator - used in last 2 weeks of
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