Known widely as the “the woman’s herb” red raspberry leaf tea contains the alkaloid ‘fragine’, which can help strengthen the uterus and pelvic area. It’s high in vitamins C, E, A and B and also has large amounts of minerals including magnesium, potassium, calcium and phosphorous.
I’m convinced that it works, not only because there is actual research to back it up, but also because I’ve heard from so many mothers who have had positive experiences with it. One study found that it can help to reduce labor time and resulted in fewer medical interventions, including cesearians.⁴³ It's also been known to reduce pain during labor and after birth. Labor may be shorter and less painful due to the effect it has on toning the muscles used during labor and birth. Red raspberry leaf can be taken as a tea or in tablet form, and the general recommendation for optimal results is to take it in tablet/capsule form from 32 weeks gestation. It is recommended that pregnant women don’t consume it any time before the third trimester.
EMOTIONS AND YOUR UNBORN BABY
“Positive maternal emotions have been shown to advance the health of the unborn child. Thoughts which infuse the developing baby with a sense of happiness or calm can set the stage for a balanced, happy, and serene disposition throughout life.” - Dr Thomas Verny
Many of us consider only the effects of our physical actions on our unborn child, such as the food and supplements we put into our body, and neglect to consider the power that our emotions and thoughts have. Nourishing your baby isn’t just about putting healthy food into your body. It is also about nourishing yourself and your unborn baby with positive thoughts, intentions and healthy emotions.
In a book which he co-authored called ‘The Secret Life of The Unborn Child’, Dr Thomas Verny, who was also the founder of the Association of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health states this:
“Everything the pregnant mother feels, and thinks is communicated through hormones to her unborn child, just as surely as are alcohol and nicotine.” ⁴⁴
What pregnancy research is now showing is that a pregnant woman’s thoughts and emotions have a great impact on her child. When the mother feels anxious or stressed the stress hormones released into her bloodstream cross the placenta to her baby. A mother’s hormones when she has been experiencing intense stress can profoundly affect the distribution of blood flow in her baby, and even affect the child’s physiology. At only six months into a pregnancy an unborn baby is already emotionally active, aware and reactive. They are also able to hear, taste, feel and even learn.
Positive emotions also have a health-enhancing effect on your baby. When a pregnant woman feels joy and calm, her body releases natural endorphins. These allow the baby’s nervous system to work harmoniously and have been shown to be helpful in promoting a sense of calm in your baby.
All of us have stress and negative emotions at times. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t be human. The emotional ups and downs I felt as a pregnant mother were at times overwhelming and extremely difficult for me to process. I remember in my first trimester randomly bursting into tears, wondering what on earth was wrong with me, when I was simply going through the normal hormonal changes of early pregnancy. If you’ve had similar feelings during your pregnancy, then you might have simply been experiencing the effects of hormonal fluctuations as well.
Having tools to help you at those times is vital. I used yoga, meditation, grounding, and other self-care practices to help me. It’s so important to know how to deal with negative emotions when they come up. By being more conscious and aware of negative thoughts and emotions, we can use the necessary tools to help process them.
What Can You Personally do to increase this Positive Effect on Your Baby Whilst Pregnant?
One very powerful way to positively affect your unborn baby’s health is through visualization. Visualization exercises are fantastic as a way to promote a natural and healthy birth, and a healthy growing baby. Bruce Lipton, author of ‘The Biology of Belief’ has said that a mother can influence her baby’s genetic development through imagery.⁴⁵ Visualization was used in ancient times by healers, so much so that it was thought of in some cultures as the very first method of healing.
Research has confirmed that visualization can even influence blood flow and grow healthy cells – a powerful example of the mind-body connection.⁴⁶ Another technique that many mothers use to help encourage a healthy birth is to use affirmations, which can be in the form of single words or phrases. These can be repeated daily to bring about the desired intention. I used affirmations throughout my pregnancy as a tool for easing my mind and creating a more positive and confident birthing outcome.
The powerful combination of thoughts, emotions and intentions can be a potent tool for a pregnant mother to gain the confidence she needs in the lead up to her labor.
PART 1 - TAKEAWAYS - PREGNANCY
1 Be aware of common sources of toxins in pregnancy. High intake of pesticides should be avoided, and the dirty dozen list is a useful guide when buying organic foods, especially if you can't afford to buy all organic.
2 Vaccines during pregnancy are not safe and contain unacceptably high levels of aluminum and other toxins that can reach the baby through the placenta.
3 The scientific research does not support the routine use of prenatal ultrasounds in low risk/healthy pregnancies. Discuss the risks vs benefits with your care provider.
4 Avoid synthetic folic acid and instead choose natural folate in either whole foods sources or high-quality natural folate sources
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