life stages 147
good supply of nutritious breast milk for your baby. British women
breast-feed their babies less than any other European women. A breast-
fed baby receives vital lifelong immunity factors as well as irreplaceable
physical and emotional nourishment. Breast milk also helps form good
brain cells. I have never seen herbs fail a mother who really wants to
breast-feed. Fenugreek seed, fennel seed, marshmallow root, and
motherwort leaf are classifi ed as galactagogues and will all help provide
an abundance of rich nutritious milk. Intake of plenty of water is
important, but by drinking plenty of these herbs as teas, your fl uid intake
will be up anyway.
Breast-feeding should start at delivery — the clear colostrum that
comes at birth and lasts for the fi rst two days is vital immune-enhancing
and nourishing food for the baby. Only stay in hospitals where you are
encouraged to sleep all night with your baby and to feed the baby the
colostrum. You should be allowed to feed as needed. If you feel very tired,
look at the broader pick-me-up herbs such as Siberian ginseng root,
which is the primary choice, but also Pfaffi a root, Schisandra berry,
Rehmannia root, Astragalus root, burdock root, red raspberry leaf,
marshmallow root, fenugreek seed, licorice root, and damiana leaf if you
feel particularly exhausted. You can also take evening primrose oil
capsules. If you suspect that you may be anemic, it is important to treat
the problem quickly.
nutrition and natural healing
Plenty of rest is important while recuperating from labor and the nine
months of pregnancy. You have to have the energy to care for and feed
this new bundle of joy. Being constantly woken up in the night to feed can
be very draining if there are not occasional blocks of time when you know
you don’t have to keep an eye or ear open, but can sink, instead, into a
completely undisturbed sleep. Good food is, of course, vital, and if you are
looking for a good ready-prepared source, superfood will be ideal. It may
be that you need to seek some extra professional help at this time to fi nd
out how best to meet the nutritional needs of the two of you. But as a
general rule, look for calcium and iron sources to back up the nettle
leaves and marshmallow root, do not forget to support your nervous
system by using herbs like vervain leaf and oat straw, and take Siberian
ginseng root and a little Chinese licorice root as they will support the
adrenal glands.
Practice pelvic fl oor exercises. You should have learned these during
pregnancy to make labor easier. They are also very useful throughout
one’s menstruating and lovemaking life. These exercises help maintain a
147 The Complete Home Guide to Herbs, Natural Healing, and Nutrition