Everything in your body reaches for nurturing during pregnancy and using medicinal herbs carefully can keep you strong during your pregnancy. First, it is recommended that you consult both your doctor and an established herbalist before taking any medicines, natural or synthetic. It is important to remember that even though herbs are natural medicines, they are indeed medicinal and need to be taken with care.

“Your body will do what it is supposed to do if you keep yourself healthy. Women are made to give birth, and pregnancy should not be treated as a disease,” said Karyn Sanders, the founder of the Blue Otter School of Herbal Medicine in Yreka, California.  “If you do need some help with nausea or other symptoms of pregnancy, or if you have a history of miscarriage, herbal medicine—provided by a knowledgeable herbalist—can offer great benefits.” more »

Dr. Jennifer Gunter is an OBGYN and mother to twin sons, Oliver and Victor, who were born premature.  I can’t think of a person with more applicable experience, both professional and personal, to write a book on what to expect (& how to cope) if your baby is born before a full 37 weeks of pregnancy.

Gunter’s book The Preemie Primer: A Complete Guide for Parents of Premature Babies – from Birth through the Toddler Years and Beyond is an exhaustive source of information for parents of premature children, covering topics that range from what to expect in labor and delivery to dealing with specialized nutrition and school programs.  It includes the latest medical information, insider tips, and Gunter’s own personal anecdotes.

I recommend this book to any family that finds themselves in a similar situation that Gunter and her husband found themselves in, when their two sons were delivered earlier than expected.