From Midwifery Today E-News: At the
beginning of my practice as a midwife, we had a homebirth client who was
expecting her fourth baby. She had hemorrhaged badly after each of her prior
hospital births. I called [midwife/herbalist] Lisa Goldstein and asked her,
expecting a negative answer, if there was anything we could suggest so this
woman would not bleed at her homebirth. Lisa's one-word answer: "Alfalfa."
Alfalfa's roots go extremely deep into the soil; it contains every vitamin
and mineral known to man; and it is a good source of vitamin K, a natural
blood clotter. The mom began to take alfalfa religiously and had completely
normal—scant even—bleeding postpartum (she had a wonderful homebirth!).
Since then I have learned quite a bit more about avoiding postpartum heavy
blood loss. During the past 11 years, it has been extremely rare for a client
of mine to bleed seriously. Most of my clients choose to try the following
suggestions, and nearly all have had minimal, normal bleeding. I keep
medications on hand but throw them out and replace them, unused.
Here is the crux of what we do:
- Check the mom's hemoglobin at 28 weeks and again at 36 weeks; use
natural means to help her avoid anemia.
- Recommend an excellent multiple vitamin from NF formulas (available
through birth supply firms), Spectrum 2C, at the full 8-per-day dose,
throughout pregnancy. The number of capsules seems large, but the beneficial
minerals, etc., are bulky. (many prenatals simply don't supply much in their
one-a-day form).
- Require that women take alfalfa, 8–12 tablets per day, any brand.
- For other reasons, especially the formation of the baby's brain, I
recommend taking fish oils (4 capsules per day) or vegetarian DHA capsules.
It is a lot of pills, but think of it as the nutrients your food is
missing. I suggest taking half of them in the morning and half in the evening.
Bagging one month's worth in small ziplocks makes it easier. Keep them where
you will remember to take them (e.g., where you brush your teeth).
I have been able to compare my methods with those of other caregivers
because I also worked in a birth center and assisted other midwives whose
clients have not had the benefit of these protective components. I have seen
some serious bleeding in women who don't use these methods. Even then, it is
usually stopped with herbs. My favorite is 30 drops (three droppersful) of
Lady's Mantle tincture, which stops bleeding "right now"! The Web site, www.gentlebirth.org/archives/,
gives other midwives' suggestions.
I assume you will eat healthy food and take a good brisk walk (30–45
minutes) each day. It would be great if you found someone with a calmer
approach to placenta birthing!
— Julie Martin, CPM, NHCM