Birth Resource List

In addition to the resources listed below on this page, please go to our Pinterest boards for more articles and information.

 

Anemia

You can also use Alfalfa, Nettles, Beet Root and/or Yellow Dock, all of which you can purchase from Mountain Rose Herbs. 

Mother’s Life Tea is another great option. 

Trying plant based supplements in general (like the ones listed above) is recommended because of the way the body absorbs and uses the properties, as opposed to an iron supplement, which does not get absorbed very well and can cause severe constipation.

Birth Stories + Videos

Blesingway Planning

With a traditional baby shower the focus is generally on gifts, silly games and unpleasant stories of birth. A Mother Blessing, or Blessingway, is a celebration for a new life. The new life being the life of the baby, and the new life the mother is transitioning into. It can be used for anyone expecting a baby, adopting a baby, or just in need of a celebration of womanhood in general. Unlike your typical baby shower, there is no commercial gift giving emphasis. Guests may be asked to bring something such as a bead to go on a piece of jewelry for the mother, a healthy meal to be frozen and eaten postpartum, etc. The guests are invited to spend time with the mother-to-be and to honor her as the goddess that she is. The tone of the Mother Blessing is much more positive.

Here are some examples of activities at a Blessingway:

Breastfeeding

Find a Lactation Consultant:

*CBC= Certified Breastfeeding Counselor

*IBCLC= International Board Certified Lactation Consultant

Find a Breast Pump Rental

  • Medela Pump Rentals - Call to find the location nearest you: 1800-TELL-YOU

  • Babies R Us - 888-222-9787

Nursing Bras, Clothing & Accessories                                                                   

Online Retailers

Tips for Low Milk Supply                                              

Engorgement

Mastitis

Thrush

  • Watch sugar and carb intake

  • Eat plain, whole milk yogurt or kefir (can be ordered locally thru The Real Food Club)

  • Caprylic Acid

  • Pau d’Arco

  • Home Remedies Breastfeeding Video

  • Grapefruit Seed Extract

  • hot water and vinegar: lean over a bowl and soak breasts

  • oregano oil

  • gentian violet

  • acidophiles twice a day on empty stomach

  • probiotics daily

  • mix 1 tbsp vinegar with one cup water and gargle 3xs day

  • Rule out Hand Foot and Mouth (often misdiagnosed as thrush) with your care provider

  • 1 tsp baking soda with one cup water and wash inside of mouth with it 3xs day – make fresh every day

Breastfeeding & Baby Loss

Milk Donation: Giving & Receiving

Tips to Dry Up Milk Supply

*Keep in mind milk dries up on its own – these are suggestions for discomfort in that process.

  • A snug fitting (not too tight) sports bra to help with physical discomfort

  • Advil or Motrin

  • Ice compresses

  • 1/4tsp of sage 3xs per day for 1-3 days. Can mix in food or vegetable juice

  • Drink sage tea: 1tbsp in one cup boiling water, steep 5-10 minutes

  • Green cabbage leaves topically – chill leaves, place in bra until they wilt, make sure you break up leaves – no hard spots

  • Birth control pills containing estrogen

  • Do not pump. Hand express a tiny bit to relieve discomfort only if absolutely necessary. Breast milk is supply and demand.

  • Do not restrict water intake. This has nothing to do with milk production and will just dehydrate

Breech Babies

Click here for articles and info on breech babies/birth

Tips to Help Baby Turn

Cesarean/VBAC

Click here for articles and info about Cesareans/VBAC

International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN)

Cupping Technique & Cesarean Scars:

Cupping is incredibly amazing on any scar, but so very important for c-section moms. It can be done 2 weeks after surgery and, besides the physical results, there are often interesting & important emotional releases happening with this kind of work.

Definition of Cupping

Childbirth Education

Birthing From Within Official Website

Hypnobirthing

Hypnobabies Official Website

Hypnobabies Home Study Course

Bradley Method Official Website

Circumcision

Cloth Diapers

Community + Resources for Dads

Doulas {Birth & Postpartum}

Click here for articles and info about doulas

Find a Doula:

Dona.Org

DoulaMatch.net

Have a Fussy Baby?

Healing + Recovery After Birth

CONSTIPATION

  • prune juice – 2 ounces to start

  • watermelon

  • glycerin suppositories

  • increase fiber

  • make sure to increase water too

  • fruit with lots of water

  • extra magnesium (oxylate, citrate, etc.)

  • epsom salt baths

  • vitamin c

  • steel cut oats

  • be careful if taking any stool softeners – they can drop milk supply

  • Check prenatal vitamin. Too much iron can cause constipation. Choose food based prenatal. New Chapter and Rainbow light are great and have probiotics built in so good on tummy

  • probiotics

  • apple or applesauce daily

  • walking

  • blackstrap molasses

  • fish oil

GAS/BLOATING

  • Plenty of water

  • fiber

  • papya based digestive enzyme

  • probiotics

  • fennel, mint or raspberry leaf tea

AFTERPAINS

  • Homeopathic Arnica

  • Warm showers & heating pads

  • Self massage – rub your uterus. A lot of small contraction are better than several big ones.

  • Cramp Bark Tincture 

  • Mother’s Life Tea

  • Chakra 4 Herb’s Joyful Mother Tea - call to order - 602-283-1210

Hemorrhoids

  • Make a poultice with grated potato. Relieves pain and shrinks them – work quickly.

  • Nettles, Parsley, Oatstraw – eaten raw or made into a tea.

  • Baking soda for itching

  • Increase daily intake of vitamin E to reduce and eliminate

Postpartum Depression

Heartburn

  • Anything with peppermint in it – candies, tea, etc.

  • Papaya Enzymes

  • Heartburn Tea

  • Diane Bajus’ (local AZ midwife) Tranquil Tummy Tea 480-496-2651 or 602-579-2436

  • Lemon water or strong lemonade

  • Dr Jenny’s (local AZ chiropractor) Trick

Herbs

Home Birth

Click here for articles and info about home birth

Hyperemesis

Insomnia

  • Meditation

  • Melatonin

  • Coffea Cruda

  • Mama Calm

  • Bach’s Rescue Sleep

  • Calms Forte

  • Start and stick to a bedtime routine for yourself

  • Avoid stimulating activities at night (TV, phone calls, loud music, etc.)

  • Get out of the house during the day, get some fresh air and sun light.

  • Have quiet time during the day so you don’t feel like the only time you an get it is at night.

  • Get a chiropractic adjustment

  • Have your hormone levels checked

  • Rule out postpartum depression

  • Drink some chamomile tea before bed

  • Try vetiver essential oil in a diffuser next to your bed

  • Take a hot back with epsom salts and lavender oil

  • Have your thyroid checked

  • Acupuncture

  • Diet changes (eliminating sugar, caffeine, chocolate, etc.)

Morning Sickness

  • Find ways to reduce stress

  • Drink plenty of water, as dehydration can cause nausea

  • Drops & rises in blood sugar can cause nausea – have a bite to eat before you get out of bed in the morning and eat high protein meals or snacks every couple of hours

  • East just before bed to help with nausea in the morning

  • Suck on Preggy Pops

  • Try Morning Sickness Magic

  • Drink Boost or Ensure if you can’t keep anything down

  • Drink fresh peach leaf tea

  • Chew gum to distract you from feeling nauseous

  • Take 50mg of B12 twice a day

  • Try ginger power in capsules, ginger in raw form, Sprouts brand ginger snaps, Reprivex, or ginger chews

  • Smell lemon or peppermint essential oils – make sure they’re good grade. You can try putting a few drops of oil on a cotton ball and putting it in your bra so the scent is constant.

  • Sip anise or fennel seed or peppermint tea

  • Try wearing Sea Bands

  • Get an Acupuncture treatment

  • Your Prenatal Vitamin could be the cause – try switching brands

  • Sip water with food grade tangerine oil in it

  • Don’t guzzle down liquids

  • Warm baths with epsom salts to help stay hydrated

  • Eat a lemon when you feel nauseous….or lemon drops, lemon in water, lemonade, etc.

  • Most oils, teas, supplements, etc. can be found through one of the vendors listed on our Herbs page.

Multiples

Miscarriage/Loss

Click here for articles & info on miscarriage and loss

MISS Foundation 

Obstetricians

If you desire a normal, natural birthing experience - hire a midwife. It's as simple as that. If you have a legitimate medical reason (a very small percentage of women do) that you need to be in the hospital while you give birth, please look into hiring a CNM (Certified Nurse Midwife = a midwife that can practice in the hospital). CNM's always have a back-up OB, which gives CNMs the ability to work with the majority of pregnant women, even if they are in high risk situations. Remember that obstetricians are trained surgeons, whereas midwives are trained in normal, physiological birth. If you desire a normal, natural birth….it is not advised that you seek care from a surgeon.

The articles listed below are very important to read, particularly the interview questions.

Preterm Labor - Natural Remedies

  • Cramp bark tincture

  • Black Haw tea

  • False Unicorn tincture

  • 3 quarts of hydration drink per day

  • sea salt baths (3c sea salt per) several times a week

  • Powdered magnesium drink every night

  • Up your caloric intake

  • Discontinue use of body, mouth, cleaning, laundry and hair products (unless 100% natural, organic and non-toxic)

Recommended Reading + Watching

Items marked with an asterisk (*) are available in our lending library

Watch:

The Business of Being Born

Birth Story

Pregnant in America

Read:

Books for Siblings

Resources for Doulas

Networking - The best advice we could give to a new birth professional (or a seasoned professional who is just new to this area) is to get in with the community both in person and online.

Below are some avenues to do that!

Make personal connections with other doulas, childbirth educators, prenatal massage therapists, yoga teachers, etc. so that they think of you when providing references to their pregnant clients. Also ask if they'd like some of your business cards, and ask to be added to their resource list if they have one. I can't stress how important it is to make and keep personal connections. As a birth professional myself, I find that I only recommend people/providers who are fresh in my mind. 

See the "community" section above for other good local and national facebook groups, facebook pages, and blogs that will keep you up to speed on birth and parenting issues in general, as well as stay an active part of the community. 

Doula Bag Supplies

  • Rice sock

  • Essential oils

  • Massage oils

  • Hair ties

  • Warm socks

  • Chap stick

  • Lotion

  • Hard candies

  • Energy bars

  • Frozen water bottles

  • Tennis Balls

  • Rolling Pin

  • Change of clothes

  • Toothbrush/deodorant

  • Bathing suit

We also have a pinterest board with other resources for doulas

Waterbirth

Birth Tub Rentals/Sales

Women's Health

Also see "birth centers" and "midwives" above

State Assistance

Katie DiBenedetto