Unforseen circumstances have extended my trip in Europe. I will be staying abroad for a few more weeks. I hope to be back home in the Bay Area in the first week of November. I'm sorry for the delay, but look forward to hearing from you!

I will be riding my bike along the Camino De Santiago in Spain and will be mostly disconnected from internet and cell phones until I get back to the US. Upon my return I will be checking voicemail and emails, and will get back to you as soon as I am able. Until then, I hope your October is wonderful, and I look forward to talking to you!

Yes, there are a lot of changes happening with me both personally and professionally. I am moving back to San Mateo, CA, where I grew up, to be closer to my family. While I am so sad to be leaving Grays Harbor County and will miss the Pacific Northwest after having lived here for the past 13 years, I am so excited to be coming home to serve home-birth families in and around San Mateo County! I will be continuing to care for clients in the Grays Harbor who are due through mid July, and plan to be open for business in California this September!  

Yes, it's true.  La Ventana Midwifery is now doing business as Natural Birth Services. Please let me know if you find my old name listed on any directories (or in my website) that I will need to change. I know this process may take awhile, and I appreciate your help!

This is my favorite Nourishing Pregnancy Tea blend, however there are many other herbs that are wonderful during ​pregnancy that can help with more specific conditions during pregnancy. I have included some of those herbs at the end of this post. 

Please consult with your midwife or doctor before taking this tea. 
Stop taking and consult with your midwife or doctor if you have any ill side effects. 

1 part   Nettles
1 part   Red Raspbery
½ part   Alfalfa
½ part   Oatstraw
½ part   Chamomile
 
Mix all the herbs together and store in an airtight container away from heat and light.
 
To Brew Your Tea:
Place ¼ cup of the mixture in a quart sized jar. Add boiling water to fill the jar, cover and let steep for at least 30 minutes. Strain and enjoy!
Drink 1-4 cups daily

​A little About These Ingredients:
 
Nettles- Contain lots and lots of vitamins and minerals including vitamins A, B C, D and K as well as protein, calcium, iron, magnesium, and potassium. Nettles can be used throughout pregnancy and they improve energy, strengthen blood vessels, reduce varicose veins, alleviate leg cramps, prevent anemia, and decrease the chances of hemorrhage after birth.  It is my favorite herb for everyone, especially during pregnancy.
 
Red Raspberry Leaf- This herb is full of vitamins and minerals and helps to tone the uterus, and is said to make labors go faster and smoother as well as speed up the healing process afterwards. Red raspberry leaf is generally considered every pregnant woman’s best friend, although I have also met one woman who had contractions too early in pregnancy whenever she took red raspberry leaf and she needed to stop taking it in fear that it would cause miscarriage.  For women who are at risk of miscarriage or who seem especially sensitive to contractions before 37 weeks pregnancy, I suggest avoiding red raspberry leaf until 36-38 weeks of pregnancy.
 
Alfalfa- High in protein, Vitamins A, D, E, B6 and K, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, trace minerals and digestive enzymes. Hi in chlorophyll and carotenes. Can be taken throughout pregnancy and may help prevent postpartum hemorrhage.
 
Oatstraw- A nerve tonic, which promotes relaxation, sound sleep and healthy muscle function, oatstraw is also good for bone-building, and an excellent source of  calcium and magnesium.
           
Chamomile- a gentle nervine to help you relax and feel calm. It reduces tension and helps with sleep. Chamomile also improves digestion, nausea, heartburn, constipation, and it helps prevent urinary tract infections.

​Other Herbs that can be added to your Pregnancy Tea:
 
Burdock Root- Mineral rich, this root also strengthens the liver while supporting urinary organs. It helps balance blood sugar, stimulate digestion and the pancreas, and it is a gentle laxative. I have read that it was originally used as a uterine tonic, and it may help to prevent herpes outbreaks. 

Dandelion Leaves- Support liver and kidney function, helps regulate blood sugar and blood pressure, and aides in digestion and nausea. Dandelion leaves are a diuretic, so I suggest avoiding them at night so you don’t have to get up to pee even more often than you probably already do.

Dandelion Root- Dandelion root improves liver function which is critical during pregnancy and can help prevent preeclampsia.

Ginger- Ginger is another great way to add flavor to your tea and may help with morning sickness.

Lemon Balm- This tea tastes delicious and it is a nervine, so it helps you relax and stay calm while helping with digestion. It can be added to the tea or it can replace Chamomile.

Mint- Mint is a great way to add some pleasant flavor to your tea. Mint may also help with heartburn and digestion.

Rose Hips- High in vitamin C to help with immune and circulatory systems.

Yellow Dock Root- This is a great source of absorbable iron while preventing constipation, and it supports liver function. It is best taken as a syrup iron absorption. 

This is my favorite salad, hands down, and even folks who refuse to eat green things love it!  

Dressing:
¼ c. Mayonaise
1 ½ Piece of ginger, minced
1-2 Garlic cloves ( I think I usually add more)
2 T Brown rice vinegar
2 T Tamari/Soy sauce
¼ c. Sesame oil
½ T. Chili flakes or fresh peppers (less if you don't like spicy)
Dash of Cumin
¼ bunch cilantro, chopped
Salt if needed
 
Blend all ingredients with a blender 
 
Kale (Iacinato Kale [Dinosaur Kale] is the best to use) - Finely Chopped 
Toss the Kale with the Dressing
Add:
            Carrots (slivered)
            Sunflower Seeds

This forum is a great place to start a conversation and hopefully get some questions answered. I don't have all the answers, but I do have a lot of information to share and I do have access to a lot of resources where I can get that information if it's not already in this big head of mine.  So ask away! If I can't help you, maybe one of the other readers can! ​

If you would like your question to be more anonymous than what this forum offers, please feel free to email me and ask me to put your question in my forum.  There's a good chance someone else has the same question, and I'd be happy to share it for you!

I wrote this poem awhile ago... I'm guessing sometime in 2013, and it's been decorating my homepage ever since. It's time for it to come down, but I wanted to still be able to share it with you.

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