In part 1 of this series of blog posts, we focused on nourishment during pregnancy. In my experience, even minimal nourishment set the bar almost impossibly high - it was especially hard to take in when all I could keep down were carbs and ice cream. As someone who takes her own nourishment and food choices very seriously, it was never harder for me to nourish myself with real foods than during my pregnancy. But beyond just the day-to-day, immune system changes and anxiety posed whole new challenges within my baby growing journey. 

If you’re like me, you rely on herbs and nutrition in regular, non-gestating life to not only keep you well but to rev up your immune response when you do come down with an illness. But during pregnancy, the world is turned topsy-turvy. Your immune system is not as activated and many of your bodily resources instead go towards nourishing the placenta and growing your mini-you. Viruses and bacterial issues may affect you differently than they would your non-pregnant body. And you have a whole other person living inside of you to worry about. Some women find that during pregnancy, they become remarkably resistant to illness, while some find just the opposite. Navigating these new territories of body wisdom herbally is what we'll explore below.

It’s hard to know what herbs and other natural solutions are okay to continue using during pregnancy. There are lots of conflicting sources of information and, interestingly, not a lot of data on the intersection of pregnant women and herbs exists, since this would be ethically touchy research to perform. But we do have tradition, plenty of anecdotal research, and the fact that even today, much of healthcare is performed by women, at home, with herbs and other natural solutions.

And whenever pregnancy paranoia gets the best of you, remember that as a general rule, many herbs on the market in small amounts are relatively risk-free and only a few categories of herbs must absolutely be avoided. See this downloadable chart from Dr. Aviva Romm (more on her below in the resources section) for more on what herbs to stay away from (though this is not a comprehensive list). Of course, if you are at all unsure about the safety of a particular herb during pregnancy, play it safe and don't use it until consulting your resources. 

Echinacea is my go-to first responder herb for so many immune and bacterial issues, and its usefulness in pregnancy is well-respected in herbalism, even over the long-term. It is easy to take as an extract in a little water, tea, or juice and should be consumed in relatively large doses. See our Echinacea Dosage Chart below and cut the dose in half (1 drop per 4 lbs of body weight) if your presentation is not yet acute. Dr. Romm also uses echinacea during pregnancy as a reliable antiviral and anti-infective for everything from occasional cold sores to post-miscarriage complications. Be sure you are taking a good-quality extract made from the fresh roots to optimize its potency and efficiency.

The ever-popular elderberry gets an ‘A’ safety rating in The Nursing Mother’s Herbal (see resources below), meaning, “No contraindications, side effects, drug interactions, or pregnancy-related safety issues have been identified. Generally considered safe when used appropriately.” Usnea, a lichen with known antibacterial and antiviral properties, and the third herb in our Immune Blend trio (echinacea, elderberry, and usnea) also earns an ‘A’. My favorite all-round extract for those times in my pregnancy when I knew I was about to come down with something unwanted was Immune Blend, which can be used both before and during acute immune distress to optimize the body’s defense system and speed you towards health. 

While ginger extract or tea should be avoided during the first trimester IF you have had previous miscarriages, it can be used in the second and third trimesters as a gently warming, spicy circulatory stimulant that may help hone the body’s immune response and improve overall well-being. And it can be used during the first trimester to ease occasional morning sickness. Plus, some pregnant women just crave the taste and spiciness.

Kudzu root is gentle enough for use during pregnancy and also offers immune system stimulation and soothing nourishment to the respiratory tract and sinuses, as well as the gastrointestinal tract.

Naturally, the pregnant body sends so much vital life force and qi, energy, towards the growing fetus that digestion for many women becomes sluggish. TMI? No such thing. I had never been so constipated in my life as I was when I was carrying my son and thanked the benevolent botanical gods on the regular that herbs like very gentle laxatives dandelion and yellow dock are helpful for pregnant women. When I chose proactively to engage in an iron-boosting protocol to counteract my anemic tendencies during pregnancy, I took 25-40 drops of yellow dock extract daily and found it to be just the thing.

Dandelion extract taken daily may also help to encourage normal bilirubin levels and skin color in babies, according to Weed. Dandelion, as an herbal bitter taken just before or after a meal, also helps to optimize healthy digestion. Tummy troubles that run the gamut from sluggishness and lack of digestive fire to gurgles to gastrointestinal distress may be aided by a few drops of lemon balm extract. 

If you have only heard of one herb in relation to pregnancy, I can pretty much guarantee it’s red raspberry leaf. Red raspberry’s claim to fame is its reputation as a well-known uterine tonic to be used during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters as a way of preparing the body for birth. It is booming with vitamin A, B complex, vitamin C, vitamin E, calcium, iron, and other minerals such as phosphorus and potassium that are vitally important for a developing fetus.

As a pregnancy tonic, it is unmatched. One alkaloid contained in the leaves, fragarine, is responsible for improving pelvic muscle tone and vigor. In midwifery, there are reports of red raspberry doing everything from defending against miscarriage to easing normal labor discomforts to making contractions more efficient.

Postpartum, its high nutritive content makes for top-notch breast milk. On its own, though, it tends to be a bit drying. We like to use it in a tea blend. Red raspberry is not as useful in an extract as it is in a tea, which will encompass its water soluble qualities. We blended Vita-Min, our pre-natal tea, specifically with red raspberry for all of the benefits above, and more. 

I kept a bottle of passionflower on my bedside table during my entire pregnancy, in addition to the *emergency* one in my purse. After reading Dr. Romm’s words, “Passionflower has marked benefits for pregnant women with extreme mood swings, particularly anxiety and irritability,” I knew it was going to be an important part of my journey into motherhood. No one is left unscathed by the marks that living in a society of stress leaves on us, especially not pregnant women. Pregnancy is a innately a helter-skelter time for emotions to storm up and scatter around. Moodiness during all three trimesters is, of course, normal and expected.

But herbal allies like skullcap and passionflower made life with an oven bun doable for me. They may be your allies, too, combined with other relaxation and mindfulness techniques like meditation, pre-natal yoga, journaling, and simply allowing yourself to be human (a human growing a human, that is).
 

You know what they say, when #momlife gives you lemons, make lemon balm tea. Seriously, though, lemon balm is known as a cheering herb of happiness that brings light to any situation. “Lemon balm is extremely gentle while being exceedingly powerful. It is highly effective as a general soother for our nervous system, subsequently aiding in anxiety and depression.” While excessive use of lemon balm extract is not advised when pregnant, a few cups of lemon balm tea (much less potent than the extract) are considered helpful. Dr. Romm also uses lemon balm to normalize some of the common side effects of pregnancy, including headaches, fluctuating blood pressure, changes in digestion, difficulty sleeping, leg cramps, occasional muscle aches, and cold sores. 

A Word on Alcohol-Based Tinctures During Pregnancy

For your quick reference, click here for a Short List of Herbs to Avoid During Pregnancy.

• The Nursing Mother’s Herbal - this go-to manual is quite thorough and I’ve come to rely on it heavily during the 3.5 years of nursing my child thus far. It issues each herb a clear safety rating, and is also appropriate during pregnancy.
• Conceiving Healthy Babies: An Herbal Guide to Support Preconception, Pregnancy, and Lactation - whether you’re TTC (trying to conceive), pregnant, or nursing, Dawn Combs’ is a lovely person and has a lovely book full of herbal advice on everything from fertility to kombucha to milk production. 
• The Natural Pregnancy Book - Dr. Aviva Romm is one of my heroines, a beloved teacher of mine, and the author of basically the ultimate guide on herbs during pregnancy. She includes rituals for celebrating pregnancy, lots of nutritional strategies, and advice on common concerns during pregnancy such as preeclampsia, stretch marks, UTIs, fatigue, and morning sickness. 

Check out the next post in this series, Part 3: Birth, for more herbal goodness and even a little wisdom.

Elderberry 

Kudzu Root

Lemon Balm