What would you have in your bag??? Natural Stuff.

[stackeyha]

Okay, we are planning a hospital birth...I know, that's weird coming from me...but long story short...Dh has requested that I just leave it alone and stop talking home birth...so there it is.

I've delivered at this hospital before and I get to room in and they pretty much left me alone which was GREAT so I know that I can easily bring stuff without being under the watchful eye. So I'm bringing a BAG of stuff to the hospital, even if my dh has to smuggle it in...and here are my thoughts so far.

I want to make a batch of real chicken stock...the kind that you make with chicken bones in a pot as opposed to the powdered stuff that they'd give me in the hospital, cuz I can have clear liquids all through my labor and cranberry juice just DID NOT cut it last time....so I'm bringing a thermos of that.

I take quite a bit of Vitamin C and so am bringing a supplement for baby to prevent rebound scurvey.

I'm bringing my vitamins and herbals

I was thinking I might should bring some Arnica for sore muscles and stuff for me and maybe some Quercitin/Bromelain for pain...but wondered if anyone had any other ideas.

But what about garlic or some of that natural antibacterial stuff...I mean we are going to be in a hospital with the various things floating around and at best we'll be there 24 hours...had to be there 48 with my 2nd dd.

Anyway, assuming you had to birth in the hospital and were a natural medicine type person...what would you have in your bag?

[Carmen]

Well, you've already mentioned what I was going to say. Arnica is a drfinite MUST in my opinion. Never give birth without it !!. Start taking it immediately after baby is born and every few hours after that.

Bach Rescue Remedy is great to have on hand.
it can help to calm you in the throes of labor.

After I read your other post about hospitals I was going to mention bringing your own food. A big thermos of home made bone broth is a great idea. The recipe in Nourishing Traditions is great for making it the most nutritionally packed.

Another homoepathic that is great to have on hand is Pulsitilla. It is used to help turn posterior babies. If you are having a lot of back labor it is generally b/c baby is posterior (facing front instead of back) and taking pulsitilla can help.

If I think of anything else I'll let you know.

[DaiseyMama]

I've known about putting an Arnica Gel on Bruises, or injuries...but what does taking Arnica internally do for us? Very interested.

-Daisey

[stackeyha]

Same thing...as a matter of fact it took me awhile to find topical arnica and then the first one that I got was a spray that contained alcohol so I didn't want to use it on open wounds for my kids...that stuff stings...

Anywhoo...so I gave them those homeopathic pearls, 3 every 20ish minutes for the first hour or until they stopped complaining whichever came first...works like a charm.

Okay, another question regarding arnica and labor...do I take it DURING labor or only after?

And yeah on Pulsatilla!! We use that on everything from snotty coughs to weepiness. My dh swears that because I've taken pulsatilla periodically HE's had it easier this pregnancy. So okay, I'll add that too.

[Carmen]

Every thing I read said to start taking it immediately after birth.

[Mom2boys]

I have a recipe for the rescue remedy if anyone wants it.

[DaiseyMama]

Yes please!!!!

[Mom2boys]

I don't have exact amounts. I thought I did. It is a composite of Cherry Plum, Clematis, Impatiens, Rock Rose, and Star of Bethlehem.