I have always been fascinated by the process of pregnancy and birth. Over the years I have had the privilege of working with lots of pregnant mums and have treated them using Herbal Medicine, Reflexology and Massage at the practice in Hythe, at home and in the hospital setting.
There are so many herbs and Reflexology techniques which can assist women through pregnancy and labour. The alternative viewpoint, which I subscribe to, challenges the ‘normal’ understanding around birthing.
As a Herbalist and Reflexologist I work with patients to empower them and trust that their body knows exactly what it’s doing! The Herbal Medicines themselves assist in this by supporting the natural labour process. The overuse of interventions (such as epidurals, caesarean-sections, oxytocin drips, and episiotomy) are transforming a normal physiological event in a biomedical procedure and many of my patients work with me to avoid such interventions if possible.
Since there are many mechanisms involved in birthing they all need to be taken into account. There are hormonal, physiological, emotional and spiritual processes involved in the birth process and how a woman is supported during labour greatly affects her experience of it.
The mechanisms of birth can be greatly affected by stress. It’s no wonder that many women have extremely painful labours as fear and stress affect the sympathetic nervous system. This system needs to be relaxed and not active during labour in order for a normal and straightforward birth to take place. For some it would be extremely difficult to stay relaxed in a starkly lit hospital room linked up to monitors and flat on your back, for others that environment would bring them comfort and reassurance! It’s so important that as a practitioner I fully understand my patient, how they are constitutionally and their thoughts and feelings around pregnancy and birth as this makes a big difference to the types of herbal medicines they would be prescribed during labour and the kind of support that they might need.
A lot of the patients I attend to during labour want to avoid conventional pain relief and Herbal Medicine can be really useful in lessening a patient’s pain. People are often amazed by the scope of Herbal Medicine treatment during labour, here is an idea of how herbs can help –
To improve circulation to the pelvis
To assist relaxation of the cervix
To assist and improve regularity of contractions
To improve energy levels throughout
To improve the normal functioning of the Uterus
To treat a rigid Os, rigid perineum & vaginal rigidity
If the cervix is slow to dilate and to ripen cervix
For pain relief
For the release of tension
For restlessness
For emotional strength
To relieve fear
For shock
For bleeding
To assist the third stage of Labour should this be necessary
I have found Herbal Medicines, Reflexology and Massage to be really effective during labour, there are some fabulous natural medicines available that can assist the body in it’s normal functioning and since it’s totally normal for women to give birth I would say that Herbs couldn’t be more suited!
Jodie Foreman BSC (Hons) MNIMH – Medical Herbalist & Reflexologist
