Katelyn Pavlovsky 9/30/22 Katelyn Pavlovsky 9/30/22

The Best Books To Read During Pregnancy (And Which Ones To Avoid)

If you’re anything like me, you like to do your research when embarking on a new endeavor. When you’re expecting a baby, it’s only natural to seek out information about pregnancy, birth, and parenthood to help yourself feel prepared about what lies in store. However, the books you read will have a profound influence on your experience. For example, if you read a book that includes very negative rhetoric about pain during labor, you will probably fear labor more and it will influence your birthing decisions (and could actually make birth seem more painful). If you read a book that is very supportive of breastfeeding and offers sound, practical advice to help solve any issues you may run into, you are more likely to have a positive breastfeeding journey.

For this reason, I actually find myself feeling very conflicted when I am asked to recommend a ‘natural pregnancy and birth’ book to expecting mamas. In my opinion, there are no books that are absolutely perfect— they are all flawed in one way or another. Plus, pregnancy is a rite of passage that challenges us to draw upon our own innate wisdom and to surrender to the process. We are all fully equipped to birth our babies without depending on a book for information or guidance. I personally believe that having a birthkeeper, doula, midwife, wise woman, or close friend who has a DEEP TRUST of natural birth is a far better resource than any one book could ever provide.

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Are you trying to find the best books to read during pregnancy to prepare for a natural birth?

Due to popular demand, I’ve compiled this list of books that I am okay with recommending. I’ve also included a list of books to AVOID (and included my reasoning for doing so).

I DON’T recommend that you run off and read every single one of these. I simply wanted to create a list of books for you to choose from when you are expecting, or for you to gift to your friends who are expecting. Don’t overload yourself. If you choose to read more than one book, then find books on different topics (pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, postpartum, nutrition for mama & baby).

The Best Books To Read During Pregnancy:

Ecstatic Birth, by Sarah Buckley
The first ‘book’ on my list isn’t a book at all— it’s a PDF file of an essay by Dr. Sarah Buckley. This essay gives a fantastic overview of the hormones involved in childbirth. I give this file to all of my clients because it is so important to understand the hormonal and biological reasons why undisturbed physiological birth is key to a positive, healthy, unhindered birth experience. When preparing for a natural, undisturbed birth it is important to have a strong ‘WHY.’ If you do not have a strong ‘why,’ or a strong belief in your choices, then the intensity and challenges of labor can overwhelm you. Reading this PDF during my first pregnancy (before my planned home birth) gave me a very strong ‘why’ for the choices I was making, as well as a foundational understanding of the ‘science’ of birth (and how to work with it rather than against it). Sarah Buckley also has a book titled, “Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering” that you could read if you enjoy this essay and would like to read more from her.
Ancient Map for Modern Birth by Pam England
If you want ONE book that will be a quite thorough holistic guide to birthing, I highly recommend that it be this one. I appreciate Pam’s use of a classical myth to help illustrate the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual challenges women face when laboring and birthing.
The Mama Natural Guide to Pregnancy & Childbirth by Genevieve Howland
I won’t lie, I haven’t actually read this book— but it comes highly recommended from mothers who I have worked with and I do frequently point people to the Mama Natural blog, so I trust this source.
Real Food For Mother and Baby by Nina Planck
I ADORED this book during my conception/pregnancy journey with my first baby. I believe it is so helpful because a well-nourished pregnancy is a healthy pregnancy. This guide makes it simple to care for yourself nutritionally during pregnancy.
Brighton Baby Book
Okay, so this book might be slightly overwhelming for some and so I wouldn’t recommend it for just anyone. But if you are someone who likes to be OVER THE TOP prepared and who really wants to take a deep dive into the ways you can prepare holistically for creating life within our toxic world, this is your book. This is also a phenomenal resource for anyone struggling with infertility. This book should be read in preparation before trying to conceive, ideally.
Ina May’s Guide To Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin
No ‘natural birth book’ list would be complete without this classic by Ina May Gaskin. So many women have been inspired by this book, and the wisdom within has been very encouraging to many mamas I’ve worked with. I think this is a perfectly good choice of book to read, with the caveat that sometimes even Ina May can be a little intervention-happy. This is what I mean when I say every book will have its flaws, even some of the best ones. Still, this book has a solid place on this list.
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by La Leche League International
This book is an excellent resource for any mama who plans to breastfeed. It is so encouraging and has a solution for almost every problem you could run into during your breastfeeding journey. I think women tend to under-prepare for breastfeeding, which is an issue since many of us do not have close relatives who breastfed who can offer support and wisdom. We do not have a knowledgable community available to support us, since the formula industry has successfully taken over. I highly recommend this book— I read it myself before having my first babe and it was a great resource to have.
The First Forty Days by Heng Ou and/or The Fourth Trimester by Kimberly Ann Johnson
Another overlooked aspect of bringing a baby into the world is POSTPARTUM. Many women are not prepared for what we call “The Fourth Trimester.” Our culture is no longer set up to support women during this sensitive time. It is important to prepare for this time as best as you can in order to set yourself up for a positive early parenting experience.
Birth and Breastfeeding by Michel Odent
An intellectual read, this book is great for a philosophical mother who wishes to feel validated in her desire to birth naturally. It is a thought-provoking book that invites us to view birth through a natural, mammalian lens. Michele Odent’s views on labor, birth, and breastfeeding have absolutely influenced and shaped my own. This is not so much of a guide as it is a collection of his thoughts, beliefs, and philosophies about birth— an explanation of and investigation into WHY undisturbed, physiological birth is important.
The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin
This resource is mostly for parents who are unable to avoid birthing within the hospital setting (due to complications, high risk pregnancy, etc), but it could be useful to anyone. What I like about it is that it gives an unbiased, matter of fact explanation of hospital procedures and drugs that are used during labor. It is written in a way that is directed toward the partner rather than the mother. It includes a very comprehensive guide to labor, what to expect, possible medical interventions/drugs, postpartum, and even breastfeeding. It is a valuable resource, even if it isn’t ONLY geared toward natural birth.

Pregnancy Books and Baby Books To AVOID:

The “What to Expect” Series
Seriously, just skip this whole series. They have earned nicknames such as “What to Freak Out About When You Are Expecting” and “What to Expect if You Want to Develop an Eating Disorder” (that last one is a reference to parts in the book that recommend women don’t gain too much weight during pregnancy if they want to remain attractive to their husbands… yeah, it’s that bad). These books propagate anxiety and paranoia surrounding all things motherhood. They also recommend practices that are NOT evidence based and give advice that is not scientifically sound. Just… avoid these books. If someone gives you one as a gift, I hear they make great kindling.
On Becoming Babywise
This book isn’t just bad, it’s downright dangerous. If you’re interested in completely neglecting your baby, I guess you could read this book. But why bother reading a book if that’s your strategy? The American Academy of Pediatrics has stated that this book outlines an infant feeding program that has been associated with dehydration, slow growth and development, failure to thrive (FTT), poor milk supply failure, and involuntary early weaning. The AAP spoke out about this book back in 1998, but unfortunately you can still find this book on the shelves. 10/10 DO NOT recommend.
The Girlfriend’s Guide Books
”The Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy” is a book that goes out of its way to perpetuate the myth that birth is inherently painful and traumatic. The author does not provide factual data and statistics, but simply speaks to the reader as a “girlfriend” who happens to be overly negative in an attempt to be humorous. Honestly, it is everything wrong with how our culture views birth. Do you want to have a positive birth experience? Avoid this book.

And as you continue your conscious parenting journey, these are some books I recommend having on hand as resources for keeping your babe healthy as they grow:

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you are looking for a doula or birthkeeper in San Antonio, Boerne, Kerrville, Fredericksburg, or the surrounding areas.

Katelyn Pavlovsky 9/6/21 Katelyn Pavlovsky 9/6/21

The Truth About "Naturally" Inducing Labor

According to the 2013 Listening to Mothers III survey, 41% of mothers in the United States reported that their care provider tried to induce labor. Out of those mothers, over 60% said they were induced because they were close to their due date or “overdue.” (YOU NEED TO READ THIS IF YOUR BABY IS “PAST DUE” or if you’re worried about going past your “due date.”)

Many providers (both OBGYNs and licensed midwives) are pressured by state regulations into forcing their patients/clients into labor before 42 weeks, and before their bodies and babies are ready. Induction (of all kinds— “natural” or medical) multiplies the risk of serious complications and interventions such as shoulder dystocia, fetal distress, forceps-assisted delivery, cesarean section, and more. In reality, there is NO NATURAL WAY TO INDUCE LABOR. All labor induction is inherently unnatural.

I understand that you are nearing the end of your pregnancy. Your ankles and feet are swollen, your low back hurts; you are tired; you have heartburn constantly. In other words, you are forgetting how magical this experience is and you are ready for it to be over. Almost every mother reaches a point when she’s ready for pregnancy to end. It’s a normal transition into the next stage of life. If you’re too comfortable, you’ll never be ready to let go of those sweet little flutter kicks in your abdomen. But if your goal is to have an intervention-free, natural, undisturbed labor + birth, then you need to trust that your body and baby know when it is time to begin labor.

If you choose to induce labor, even “naturally,” before your body + baby are ready, then you will have to continue forcing labor throughout the entire experience. This means you will endure a long, grueling labor in which you are constantly fighting your body to force it to contract. Most of the time, this ends in a hospital transfer, Pitocin, and an epidural due to extreme exhaustion and lack of effective contractions.

Seriously, read this article if you are worried about going past your due date.

Labor WILL start when your body and baby are ready. It is simply a variation of normal for women to go past 42 weeks of pregnancy. I myself have gone to 42.5 weeks of gestation and I have a few dear friends who routinely reach 43 weeks and even round the corner toward 44 weeks. Yet they have perfectly intervention-free, safe birth experiences and healthy babies.

These interventions are considered “natural” induction methods, but truly have detrimental consequences which result in a cascade of further interventions: “stretch and sweep” (it is never natural to allow a provider’s fingers anywhere near your cervix), castor oil, breast pumping, herbal tinctures (cotton root bark, cramp bark, black or blue cohosh, Wish Garden’s Labor enhancer), foley or cook’s catheter, artificially rupturing the membranes (breaking your waters), and even evening primrose oil, to name the most common ones.

There is NO such thing as a natural induction. All inductions carry great risk of leading to a cascade of interventions.

However, there are a few things you can do to help prime your body for labor. The key is to be relaxed, well cared for, and to increase your oxytocin levels. Mammals have to feel safe and secure in order to give birth. This is a natural, instinctive mechanism that ensures the safety of our young. If we feel anxious or unsafe, our hormones tell our uterus that it is not time to deliver because our baby might not be safe in this environment.

This is why it is imperative to work WITH our hormones rather than against them. The best way to hinder and sabotage labor is to stress a woman out by putting her on the clock and poking/prodding her body til it goes into labor, or by intervening in her natural bodily processes in any way. One of the first questions I tell my clients to ask when interviewing potential care providers is “Do you place any restrictions on mothers who are nearing or past their estimated day of delivery?” Because if they have ANY protocols for routine interventions that are triggered by “due date” based deadlines, it is a huge red flag that they do not trust the natural process of birth, and that they answer to the state first rather than giving individualized care for their clients/patients.

Here are some self-care techniques you can follow to prepare your body + mind for labor:

Red Raspberry Leaf Tea
Don’t wait til 38 weeks to start drinking this uterine-toning tonic! Start sipping on this concoction once you enter your second trimester. Increase your consumption as you get closer and closer to your due date. Red raspberry leaf tea is known to strengthen the uterus and pelvic floor. A strong uterus means strong, efficient contractions. To function properly, the uterus needs a lot of vitamins and minerals and this tea is full of them. Red raspberry leaf is high in Vitamin C, A, B, E and has significant amounts of important minerals like magnesium, potassium, calcium, and phosphorus. It tastes similar to black tea.

Another great option is to drink the NORA tea blend, which provides holistic nourishment for your body throughout pregnancy. Read more about creating your own NORA tea blend here.

Click here to buy a supply of my favorite Red Raspberry Leaf Pregnancy Tea from Birds & Bees Tea Company… This one is great for using throughout your entire pregnancy.

Click here to buy my favorite tea that includes red raspberry leaf that is formulated for when you are in your third trimester. It is called “Ripe and Ready” and it tastes delicious!

Pro tip: Drink it hot with a teaspoon of honey, or chilled mixed with orange juice or lemonade to mix it up a little.
Acupressure / Acupuncture
Using acupressure / acupuncture points is a very gentle yet effective therapy. You must visit a professional to receive acupuncture, but acupressure can be done by yourself or with your partner at home. When acupressure is done with a loving partner, you may get an added benefit of increasing your oxytocin levels. Acupuncture is a great excuse to get out of the house and relax for an hour. Once the acupuncturist places the needles, you can nap and listen to guided birth meditations. I recommend starting to see an acupuncturist during your second trimester, especially if you are prone to tension and anxiety. You can have them stimulate the points that counter anxiety, and encourage relaxation. Relaxation and a sense of calm and wellness is key for a healthy, efficient labor process. Acupuncture is a wonderful modality of preventative, holistic care throughout all of pregnancy. Your acupuncturist can work with you to help lessen your pregnancy discomforts and anxieties, which will have many beneficial effects when it comes time to birth your baby. Once you hit 38 weeks, you can choose whether or not you feel comfortable having them stimulate the points to encourage labor. These points, in my opinion, do not force labor to begin if your body is not ready. They simply encourage the natural processes IF you ARE ready. However, if you do not feel comfortable doing ANYTHING that might interfere with your natural processes, I respect that! I still advise going for general holistic care for any issues you may be having, and for relaxation and anxiety prevention.
Nipple Stimulation
This technique should be used SPARINGLY not aggressively. Aggressive use of this technique is not recommended— it would entail using a breast pump at regular intervals. Aggressive nipple stimulation is a labor-inducing intervention that can lead to a cascade of other interventions.
That being said, nipple stimulation can be a totally normal and natural practice! Ideally, it should be done with your partner to stimulate oxytocin, loving sensations, and a sense of security and connection.
Sex
Having sex is a great tool for ripening the cervix and producing uterine contractions. Orgasms trigger a release of oxytocin from the pituitary gland, producing uterine contractions. Yes, I’m encouraging you to HAVE ALL THE ORGASMS! Have sex or set aside some “self-love” time—whatever works for you! Added bonus: Sperm contains prostaglandins, which ripen the cervix. Cervidil, a vaginal-insert of synthetic prostaglandin, is used frequently to begin a medical induction (and it is quite dangerous and comes with a very serious list of detrimental side effects for you and baby). Why not use the real thing to naturally induce labor instead?

Evening primrose oil also contains prostaglandins but is very controversial. EPO can cause your amniotic sac (“bag of waters”) to rupture prematurely, so I don’t recommend it.
Emotional Release
Have a big cry! Confront any buried emotions you may not be addressing. Watch a very sad movie and cry it out. Pour out your soul into a journal. Listen to music that pulls at your heartstrings. Big emotional releases have the tendency to naturally induce labor once you are full term.
Be Oxytocin Obsessed
Rev up your oxytocin levels by doing anything that makes you feel ecstatic. Snuggle a fluffy baby animal, cuddle intimately with a loved one, hold a friend or family member’s baby, watch romantic movies, get massaged or tickled by your partner. Find what works for you and do it often!
Chiropractic Care
The Webster chiropractic adjustment relieves tension in the uterus and creates space in your pelvis. Closer to your due date, this can help give your baby room to descend further into the birth canal so their head is resting on your cervix. This will encourage your cervix to soften and dilate. The adjustment involves no external forces on the baby directly. It is an extremely safe and even comfortable way to naturally induce labor or encourage optimal fetal positioning.
Walking
When you walk, the rhythmic swaying of your hips sifts your baby into a beneficial position. Gravity causes your baby’s head to put pressure on your cervix. Additionally, as you continue to walk, the rhythmic pressure of your baby’s head on your cervix is thought to stimulate the release of oxytocin. So many benefits to walking! It’s great to get into the habit of taking a leisurely walk every day throughout your pregnancy. Get those hips swaying!
Massage
Everyone needs an excuse to get a massage, right? Massage activates your parasympathetic nervous system, causing you to relax. When you are fully relaxed, your body knows it is safe to have your baby. If you are stressed, cortisol and adrenaline are pumping through your veins. Those hormones tell your body it is not time to have your baby until you find a safe space. A good massage can also trigger an oxytocin release. There are so many benefits to massage throughout pregnancy that it should be a regular part of your self-care regimen. If you’re looking to use it to encourage labor, I recommend going at least once per week past 36 weeks.
Birth Ball
Get out your ball and bounce! Like walking, swaying your hips while sitting on a birth ball is a wonderful way to sift that baby into a good position. Alternate swaying and bouncing. Bouncing will add force on your cervix from your baby’s head, with the help of our good ol’ friend gravity. It’s a good idea to get in the habit of sitting on your birth ball from the start of your second trimester to encourage optimal fetal positioning.

My clients have expressed their love of this ball, available on Amazon, because it comes in a variety of sizes. Also, there is a size chart posted in the product images so you can find the size that will work best for you.
Last but not least— the most IMPORTANT thing you can do to encourage a smooth, unhindered labor process is to unlearn all of the myths and collective fears that you’ve absorbed about birth. I created my one-on-one virtual birth prep course, Birth Alchemy, to guide you along a journey of self-discovery to uncover your fears, blocks, strengths, vulnerabilities, personal and inherited traumas, and anything else standing in the way of your ability to trust yourself, to surrender to the process, and to tap into your own power and sense of authority. My framework intertwines the physical, emotional, psychological, and metaphysical aspects of pregnancy and birth. By the end of the program, you will be prepared body, mind, and soul to experience this miraculously transformative rite of passage without pathologizing your individual journey. Learn more & enroll here.

Remember, your baby WILL come. Due dates are very inaccurate. The best thing to do is take care of yourself, trust your body, and relax.

Katelyn Pavlovsky 9/6/21 Katelyn Pavlovsky 9/6/21

NORA Pregnancy Tea

NORA Tea is an important part of your Prenatal Care, because it is very nourishing, especially for the Pregnant or Nursing Mama. It stimulates your system to optimal health, optimizes mineral absorption, guards against anemia’s and maximizes the health of the liver, thereby helping to prevent many common pregnancy complaints, or minimize them. In my experience it prevents possible complications during the birth by helping to promote proper contractibility of the uterus, release of the placenta and by doing so it prevents hemorrhage and because of the health of the tissues, it reduces tears and the degree of them. After your baby is born, it will help your milk come in quickly, and the amount of production to stabilize. Also, it will help reduce the amount of time that you have a lochia flow postpartum.

NORA Tea consists of four ingredients: Nettles, Oat Straw, Raspberry Leaf, & Alfalfa. Begin to drink NORA Tea after the 16th week of pregnancy. Try to drink a quart daily, since then it will become a daily habit to prepare the tea. If you find it difficult to drink it daily, it is important to drink it at least 4 times a week, or half the quart daily.

NORA Tea — A Nourishing Tea for Pregnancy and Lactation

Blend the herbs:

Mix 2 parts (8 oz.) Raspberry Leaf and Nettles to 1 part (4 oz.) Alfalfa and Oat Straw. Mix well and place in a ziplock baggie. A large plastic Rubbermaid type container works well for mixing it. You can also add either Peppermint, Spearmint, Lemon Balm, or Rose Hips (a slightly tangy taste) for flavor. Buy small amounts at a health food store, in order to try them.

Prepare the tea:

(In the Evening) Place a half an inch of herb in the bottom of a quart size canning jar (a handful or two). Experiment with the amount of herb and strength of the taste to find what works for you. But please make sure there is at least approximately 1⁄2 an inch in the jar. Fill the jar to 1⁄2 to 3⁄4 of an inch from the top with boiling water. Stir the herbs down into the water so that they are all wet and mixed in and not floating. Cover the jar with a lid or small plate to retain the essential oils and let sit overnight. In the morning, strain using a small mesh strainer into another canning jar and your “tea” (technically an infusion, a concentrated tea) is now ready. Since this is a highly nutritious drink it is also strongly flavored. Some women love it and cannot get enough of it!! Some tolerate it and others have a difficult time. These suggestions are offered to help you maximize the amount you do drink. Feel free to experiment, so that you are sure to drink it frequently

To use:
Add some of the flavorful herbs listed above to make the flavor more enjoyable.
Add ice.
Add Honey, blackstrap molasses (source of iron), molasses, sorghum, or maple syrup to sweeten.
Blend 50:50 (or desired ratio) with fruit juice.
Add a squeeze of lemon, or lime, especially nice with Lemon Balm.
Cut with water (50:50 or desired ratio) to reduce strength of flavor.
Blend 50:50 (or desired ratio) with another herbal tea.

Please do NOT use artificial sweeteners in this tea.

(My favorite blend includes rosehips and lemon balm, and I like to mix it with lemonade over ice.)

Throughout this post I have linked to my trusted herbal sources for dried bulk herbs. I recommend buying in bulk (8-16oz) for the main herbs considering you will go through a lot of this tea if you drink it throughout your second and third trimesters, and into postpartum… but if you prefer buying in smaller quantities then you can purchase through Rosemary’s Garden. For the flavoring herbs I linked to smaller quantities (about 4 oz per herb).

*Here is a link to some handy large glass storage containers for your bulk herbs and teas.

During the postpartum period, I like to also add echinacea leaf to this mix in order to help ward off infections and mastitis during that sensitive time. During postpartum you should NOT use spearmint/peppermint as they may reduce milk supply.

Herbal info:

Nettles:

Scientific Name: Urtica Dioica

Active Ingredients: Histamine, Tannin, Saponins, AcetylcholineFormic Acid, Sterols, Chlorophyll, Glucoquinine, Serotonin, Iron, & Vitamin A, C, D and K in an easily absorbable form, very high in minerals, including silicon.

Actions: Astringent, diuretic, nutritive, detoxifier, galactagogue, decongestant, hypoglycemic & tonic.

Astringent means it reduces discharges. Galactagogue means it supports the production of breast milk.

Nettles are one of the most widely applicable plants we have. They strengthens and support the whole body. This is one of the most powerful plants we have to deal with allergic rhinitis, or more commonly known as pollen allergy or hay fever. Studies are also showing that it has a broad range anti-inflammatory usage, so is useful with migraines, arthritis, lupus pain etc. It is an extremely nutritive plant, high in vitamins and minerals, particularly iron, silica and potassium, and is showing broad antifungal effects as well. Through its diuretic effect it promotes detoxification and works to prevent bladder infections. It also strengthens the kidneys and adrenals, an important function during pregnancy with their increased work load. The readily assimilated high calcium content helps to diminish muscle pain in all areas of the body during pregnancy including the legs, round ligaments, cervix, back and also during labor as well. With its high Vitamin K content, it also is proactive in preventing excessive bleeding after the birth. Because it strengthens the blood vessels and maintains arterial elasticity it helps prevent hemorrhoids and varicose veins, because of this, it also helps to maintain a normal blood pressure. After the birth, it helps in the production of breast milk making it nutrient rich for the newborn. It has also been said to reduce postpartum hair loss.

Oat Straw:

Scientific Name: Avena Sativa

Active Ingredients: 50% starch, proteins, alkaloids, saponins, flavones, sterols, Vitamin B, silica, & calcium, magnesium, silicon, potassium, & iron.

Actions: Nervine tonic, anti-depressant, nutritive, demulcent, vulnerary.

Demulcent means soothes irritated tissue, and Vulnerary means aids in healing of wounds.

Oats is one of the best remedies for “feeding” the nervous system. It is useful for exhaustion and depression; it strengthens the whole nervous system, making it a preventative and protective herb to enhance your ability to cope with stress.

While being stimulating and energy-giving, they are also relaxing and an aid to sleep. Oats is also a uterine tonic, and works on strengthening the thyroid and balancing hormone production. It can be helpful for high blood pressure, varicose veins and hemorrhoids. It is also a soother for the digestive tract. It also lowers blood sugar and is useful for fluid retention.

It is one of the best sources for magnesium, helping irritability and calcium absorption.

Raspberry Leaf:

Scientific Name: Rubus idaeus

Active Ingredients: volatile oils, pectin, citric acid, malic acid, tannin, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, & zinc, Vitamin A, B, C & E. Has the highest known herbal source of manganese.

Actions: Astringent, tonic, toning, pelvic and uterine relaxant.

Raspberry leaves have a long tradition of use in pregnancy to strengthen and tone the tissue of the womb, assisting contractions and preventing excessive bleeding. Raspberry also tones the mucous membranes through out the body; soothe the kidneys and urinary tract, and preventing excessive bleeding after the birth. Raspberry works on the digestive tract, stabilizing it. It continues its good benefits after birth by working to help milk production and recovery.

The tonic and relaxant actions on the smooth muscles of the uterus act to reduce the pain of uterine contractions during childbirth and makes them more effective and productive, shortening the duration of labor.

Currently there is some controversy surrounding the use of Raspberry leaf during pregnancy, which is unfortunate since it use has been associated with pregnancy and birth since ancient times according to their writings. The concern is early miscarriage. For this reason, it is recommended to use NORA tea after 16 weeks of gestation. I sincerely hope this controversy is settled quickly, so that women can again enjoy Raspberry’s wonderful help in dealing with the nausea of pregnancy, with out concern for their growing baby.

Alfalfa:

Scientific Name: Medicago sativa

Active Ingredients: Vitamin K, iron, chlorophyll, Vitamin A, B-6, E, D, & K, beta-carotene, biotin, folic acid, pantothenic acid, fatty acids, saponins, high in copper.

Actions: bitter, general tonic, alterative, diuretic

Alfalfa has a history going back to ancient times, cherished for its nourishing abilities for people and their animals. It has a deep tap root and grows in rich soils, making it very rich in trace minerals that it pulls up from deep below the surface. It purifies the blood, and is a powerful tonic. It balances the blood sugar preventing the swings of hypoglycemia common in pregnancy. It soothes the digestive tract, and contains the digestive enzyme betaine, and the saponins balance the intestinal flora.

Peppermint:

(Mentha piperita)

Soothes the digestive system, and circulatory system and relaxes the nervous system.

NOTE: Discontinue usage of Peppermint after you give birth as it is a lactation suppressant.

Spearmint:

(Mentha Spicata)

Same usages as Peppermint, it is a different species in a plant family.

Lemon Balm:

(Melissa Officinalis)

Soothes the digestive system, reduces stress, and has a tonic effect on the heart and circulatory system. Traditionally it has been used to bring the afterbirth. Combats allergies.

NOTE: Using large amounts of Balm may inhibit the body’s utilization of Thyroid hormones. Added as a flavoring to NORA tea, I feel is a safe usage of the herb, and not a “large amount”, which would mean 12+ cups daily.

Rose Hips:

(Rosa canina)

Nutritive, one of the best natural sources of Vitamin C we know of. Excellent tonic, aids the gall-bladder, kidneys and bladder. Strengthens connective tissue and helps relieve stress.

Bibliography:

The Complete Woman’s Herbal, Anne McIntyre
Nutritional Herbology, Mark Pederson
Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year, Susus S. Weed
The New Holistic Herbal, David Hoffman

This info was originally compiled by Vickie Liguori of In Due Thyme, 2006 (Source.)

Edited + added to by me, Kate Rose.

Katelyn Pavlovsky 7/7/21 Katelyn Pavlovsky 7/7/21

Our Wellness Arsenal

Our society is currently facing a global health crisis. Real, nourishing foods have been replaced with “frankenfood”— addictive, synthetic, processed food-like substances that trick our bodies into craving them, even though they lack vital nutrients and are highly toxic to our systems. Because of soil depletion due to irresponsible agricultural practices, even the real, whole fruits & veggies we can buy today are far less rich in vitamins and minerals than they were 100 years ago. This impacts our lives on a physical, mental, emotional, and even spiritual level— whether or not most of us are aware of it.

I began my health journey back in 2014 when Joel and I decided to begin growing our family. I joined an online community of natural-minded mamas in order to plan for the transformational year ahead of me. It was within that community that I began to learn about the toxic substances in our cleaning products, hygiene products, and even our food. Horrified, I set out to detoxify our lifestyle. I read Nina Planck’s book, “Real Food for Mother and Baby,” (life changing!) and began implementing her recommendations immediately. Real, organic food and pasture-raised, sustainably-sourced meats became the foundation of our diet. Our health improved dramatically, and after months of trying to conceive, I finally became pregnant with our first babe.

7 years and 3 kids later, I am still very passionate about health and wellness. I believe our health is our most valuable asset, and I invest a lot into the health of my family. Our health is our own responsibility, and I take that responsibility seriously. I do not believe that health comes in the form of pharmaceuticals. Taking synthetic medicines and pills is sickness management, not health.

We have a daily wellness routine and a whole food & herb based wellness arsenal that supports our health holistically— promoting deep cellular nourishment while consistently, gently detoxing our bodies from the toxins we inevitably encounter daily…

Our Daily Wellness Regimen includes…

Eating real foods: pasture raised meat/dairy/egg products and organic produce. Avoiding overly processed products whenever possible. Eating all the colors of the rainbow.
Reducing our exposure to environmental toxins as much as we can without causing undue stress. No products with synthetic fragrance, naturally derived cleaning supplies (we love Puracy everything and I also use Thieves cleaner from YL), no artificial flavors or colors, no chemical pesticides and herbicides, limiting plastics, using clean personal hygiene products, etc. Check out my Amazon Storefront to see some of the products we use.
Getting sunshine and fresh air. When we go for longer without sun exposure due to the weather, we will supplement with Cod Liver Oil + Vitamin D.
Exercise— working in the garden, evening walks, time at the gym, swimming, home improvement… we are active people.
Keeping house plants! House plants are natural air purifiers that reduce the toxic pollutants in your home. They can help reduce the chance of getting seasonal sicknesses (such as the common cold), remove airborne contaminants (volatile organic compounds or VOCs), reduce the chance of headaches, lift your mood, decrease your blood pressure, reduce allergies, improve sleep and much more. Magical! (Check out the top 10 indoor plants for removing toxins.) We also have air purifiers with HEPA filters. We just use the Levoit LV-PUR131 (large main rooms) and the Levoit LV-H132 (bedrooms), which were relatively affordable and get good ratings. I’m sure there are far fancier systems out there, but these guys do the job within our budget.
Using CLEAN drinking water from our Berkey. Check out my H2O toxicity highlight on instagram to learn more about the toxins found in drinking water and how to find out how clean YOUR tap water actually is.
Adding powerful superfoods into our diet that help our bodies consistently detox from the environmental toxins we are exposed to on a daily basis.
- In the summertime, I add these to our smoothies, but in the winter when we aren’t into eating cold foods I create my own gelatin capsules with these superfoods:
  - Wheatgrass - Supports immune function; aids in production of red blood cells which increases oxygenation, providing protection from various environmental pollutants; energizes and alkalizes the body; is one of the most detoxifying foods in nature; reduces inflammation; regulates blood sugar; improves digestion; rich in chlorophyll; has high levels of antioxidants to aid in reduction of free radical damage; contains 19 different amino acids including 9 essential ones; aids in the treatment and prevention of cancer; improves mental health and clarity.
  - Cracked Cell Chlorella - another incredible superfood I only recently learned about. It is packed with a wide range of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, iron, antioxidants, magnesium, zinc, potassium, copper, folic acid, and vitamin B. Studies have shown Chlorella is especially useful in removing heavy metals such as cadmium, mercury, and lead, and in reducing bioaccumulative toxins that cause reproductive issues, developmental problems, and cancer.
  - I do about a 70/30 blend of Wheatgrass to Chlorella and take 2-6 of the 00 gelatin capsules daily. I use an encapsulator like this one (I got mine on amazon but can’t find it on there anymore).
- Dandelion Leaf - a powerful herbal ally that is a friend to our liver + kidney function. Helps gently detox while also providing tons of micronutrients and antioxidants. Sometimes I create an Apple Cider Vinegar based tonic (like a tincture with vinegar as the base) with dandelion leaf and other kidney + liver support herbs, of which I drink a tablespoon daily. Other times I take 2 00 gelatin capsules of ground dandelion leaf. You can also eat dandelion leaf that you find and harvest yourself by adding it to salads or cooking it! I recommend reading up on herbal allies in the books I list at the end of this post and following your own intuition.
- Nettles - these provide tons of micronutrients, increase energy levels naturally, gently detox your body, strengthen your bones and connective tissue, relieve allergies and eczema, promote lung health, support reproductive health, and so much more. This is a powerhouse herb that you want in your life daily! I drink nettles infusions or take 2-6 00 gel capsules of them daily.
- The last magical, powerful yet natural detoxifying supplement we use is Fulvic Zeolite. (Use that link to purchase to receive a $50 off discount — or use code “katekismet”… another favorite on the market is Coseva TRS).
  - Zeolite is a silica-based volcanic ash that forms over time when ash and lava from volcanos chemically react with sea water. Zeolite has a cage-like structure that is created by aluminum and silica that are trapped in a small tetrahedra (pyramid-like structure) created by oxygen atoms. These form 8-sided and 10-sided rings that stack on top of each other to form channels. The aluminum is positively charged and the oxygen around it is negatively charged, giving the entire molecule a net negative charge. This is a very stable compound which creates an invincible molecule that acts like a vacuum, sucking the toxins out of your bloodstream and then trapping them in a cage. When the toxins are trapped, they are neutralized in such a way so that the liver does not recognize that they are there. Your body then passes it on to the kidneys so you can eliminate them through urination without taxing the liver. Zeolites bind to and help detox: heavy metals, environmental toxins, mold, radioactive materials, and microbial pathogens.
  - Purium’s Zeolite has been synergistically combined with fulvic acid to create “Fulvic Zeolite”. Fulvic Acid is often called “nature’s miracle molecule.” It is an important naturally-occurring organic acid found in nutrition-rich humus (the decomposed matter that forms a layer in the earth’s crust). It can be difficult to obtain from a healthy diet, short of eating dirt itself, and is most commonly gathered from Shilajit. Fulvic Acid serves as an indispensable vehicle for carrying vitamins and other nutrients to the proper places in our bodies. One single fulvic acid molecule is capable of transporting 60 or more minerals and trace elements directly into our cells.
- We also incorporate Tart Cherry Juice for antioxidants + deep rejuvenating sleep + immune boosting components like quercetin.
- I try to also include Collagen Peptides (skin/joint/bone/hair and overall health), and Gelatin (joint health, adrenal fatigue recovery, hormone regulation, anti-inflammatory, supports liver detox, and more) in our recipes as much as possible. I add collagen to our daily smoothie or juice, and I add gelatin to soups/stews to thicken them. I also use Gelatin to make gummy fruit snacks and healthy jello for treats, and I add Collagen peptides to our hot chocolate.

I used to feel very very overwhelmed trying to avoid every environmental toxin I learned about. It felt like as soon as I rid our house of one, I learned of another! It was also clear that there were some things I’d never be able to fully avoid. While I still believe it is important to eliminate as many toxins as possible from our environments, I also know it is so important not to send ourselves into an over-stressed state by being constantly paranoid over the things we cannot control. Stress isn’t good for the body or mind either! Being able to conveniently detox our bodies daily has given me peace of mind, knowing I am doing what I can to support my body and my children’s bodies to detox whatever toxins I am unable to cleanse from our environments.

We are not unwell often, but when anyone in my family does need healing support due to injury or illness, I reach for my herbal & homeopathic remedies first:

Vitamin C from Nature
Elderberry Syrup
Probiotics! Find some that are good quality and kept in the refrigerator section of a store near you.
Fire Cider
Nettles (as a preventative/wellness support mainly— I brew a tea for myself during my moon time that includes red raspberry leaf as well, and we use this during allergy season to reduce our allergies.) Nettles are so high in vitamins and minerals! I highly recommend nettles infusions for preventative care and the Nora Blend during pregnancy and postpartum. My friend Cari makes a wonderful “Green Goddess” tea that has all the necessary herbs plus more for a good flavor— she offers this in her shop Apothecari Officinalis (code KATE10 gets you a 10% discount).
Cordyceps/Mullein Capsules: These I use when I feel I need extra lung support— like during or after a cold, or during allergy season. I create capsules with 50/50 mullein powder (ground finely in a coffee grinder) and cordyceps powder (this comes powdered).
Zinc Capsules for immune support as a preventative or during illness.
Golden Echinacea or Echinacea tincture (no goldenseal if pregnant or breastfeeding— goldenseal is good for current infection, echinacea is best for preventing the start of an infection from getting worse). I love this one for kids because it doesn’t have alcohol so I can drop half a dropper full straight into their mouths and they don’t complain, since glycerine is sweet to the taste.
Traditional Medicinals Echinacea Tea (to ward off a developing infection or for a soothing tea during infection)
Ginger Tea - supports immune system AND great for tummy troubles
Chamomile Tea - great for calming and for upset stomachs
Oil of Oregano or Oregano Spirits for very intense, acute infections (sinus, sore throat, heavy chest congestion— I reserve these for the times when an intense infection just will not respond to things like golden echinacea… not to be taken lightly. Basically an antibiotic. Take probiotics with these!)
CBD for pain/irritability/anxiety or help sleeping when feeling under the weather (code katekismet gets you $50 off of Purium’s CBD, which is what we use and love).
Garlic for infections or yeast issues. You can also make garlic honey.
Allium Cepa (homeopathic) - colds with watery discharge from eyes/nose
Pulsatilla (homeopathic) - whiny, clingy toddlers; colds with thick yellow discharge; painful indigestion with rumbling gas; car sickness; PMS/hot flashes…
Chamomilla (homeopathic) - teething; angry toddler; colic
Arnica (homeopathic) - bruising, healing injuries, postpartum healing
Our Homeopathy Kit - we reach for this kit so often for quick remedies we’ve become accustomed to, plus it’s great to have a full set on hand because when you need a remedy, you HAVE it. The book “Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child” includes guidance on which homeopathic and herbal remedies to use, so it’s good to have a home apothecary at the ready so you’re not in a frenzy trying to find things when someone is already having symptoms.
Anxiety Remedies
Comfrey salve (see DIY instructions in my instagram highlights under “Herbal”)- for bruising, breaks/sprains, muscle strains, arthritis
First Aid Salve - 1 part calendula, 1 part plantain leaf, 1 part yarrow, 1 part st john’s wort, 1 part comfrey leaf, 1 part burdock root (finely ground)… place herbs in a jar and cover with olive oil. Let sit in a warm window for 2 weeks. For each cup of oil, add 1/4 cup beeswax; melt into the oil with a double boiler. Stir in vitamin e oil. Pour into small 4 oz jars or tins. Use on small cuts, stings, bug bites, anywhere you’d normally use Neosporin, burns, etc.
Yarrow Styptic - simple dried yarrow flower or plant, ground up fine in a coffee grinder (one specifically for herbs only, not ever used for coffee). Used to stop bleeding and prevent infection.
Kloss’s Liniment - for poison ivy/oak and other oozy rashes
Mullein Garlic Oil (ear infections)
Host Defense Stamet’s 7 Mushroom Immune Support

I highly recommend these books as references for natural health support to further your own knowledge in how to heal yourself and your family at home:

… feel free to peruse my amazon storefront for more links to reference texts and other holistic health items I use for my family. As I think of things, I will add them here. So Bookmark this page and come back to visit!

Katelyn Pavlovsky 7/6/21 Katelyn Pavlovsky 7/6/21

Must Read Books For Families New To Homeschooling

Recently I’ve had quite a few people asking me about homeschooling. With schools out of session due to stay-at-home orders, people are adjusting to this “new normal.” Some are wondering how us homeschoolers do this every single day, some are feeling let down by the current system, some are enjoying “playing homeschool,” some are wishing that schools would just shut down completely instead of forcing everyone to comply with distance schooling efforts, and many seem to be getting curious about alternative schooling options. I’m happy to share what I have learned, as well as what works for us.

There is SO MUCH information out there regarding homeschooling. There are many different methods and philosophies. Most of us homeschoolers mix and match these to fit each of our family’s needs. I think that’s the most important point to make — every family is different. Every child is different. So everyone’s homeschooling methods should look a bit different. The whole point of homeschool is that it is flexible and adaptable, so it is better able to meet you and your child’s specific needs…

(Written Summer 2020, but these recommendations still apply.)

Another grand thing about homeschool is that the school hours are shorter. You don’t spend all day from 7 am til 4 pm work work working. Since you are able to give your child(ren) more 1:1 attention, the lessons and assignments are more efficient. There is more “free time” for self-directed study and play. Did I just say play? YES, play! Tinkering, exploring, and playing are important, emphasized parts of the homeschooling experience. We like HANDS-ON experience and activities. Things like baking, sewing, sculpting, painting, building, etc. Kids learn so much through playing and doing. And it’s FUN.

Which leads me to my next point... homeschool should be (mostly) fun. It shouldn’t feel like a chore. It shouldn’t be forced. Force creates resistance, and reduces engagement. Engagement is necessary for true learning to take place. The beauty of homeschool is that we can follow the hearts desires of our students. We can allow them to explore their interests and facilitate learning that way.

To me, homeschooling is about freedom and passion. It literally gives us the freedom to explore our passions! It fosters independence and free thinking. It can be challenging at times, but it is also so rewarding.

Like I said before, every homeschooling family is different. Therefore, I do not want to only share what we do here; I want to share the books I read that prepared me to find the curriculum and routines that work best for our family.

I also highly recommend joining local or country-wide homeschooling groups on Facebook to have a community to consult and learn from. There are many groups for every philosophy of homeschooling. There are “Secular” homeschool groups (a keyword that I was careful to always include since I knew I didn’t want any religious materials) as well as religiously affiliated groups. There are “eclectic” homeschool groups, which means they feature a mixture of methods. Then there are method/philosophy specific homeschool groups, such as “Charlotte mason” inspired groups and “Montessori” home school groups. You can also search by the age group your children are in (kindergarten homeschooling, high school homeschooling). You name it, you can find it.

Here are the books that inspired me and introduced me to homeschooling in a way that allowed me to form my own philosophies and routines:

The Call Of The Wild and Free by Ainsley Arment

This is by far my FAVORITE book about homeschooling. Reading it lifted a huge weight off of my chest as a homeschooling mother. It reminded me of all the reasons I homeschool and reassured me to follow my own intuition when choosing how to school my children. It introduces the reader to the many different homeschooling philosophies in a gentle, uncomplicated way. Inspired by the spirit of Henry David Thoreau—”All good things are wild and free”—mother of five Ainsley Arment founded Wild + Free to facilitate a community of mothers and families want their children to receive a quality education at home by challenging their intellectual abilities and nurturing their sense of curiosity, joy and awe—the essence of a positive childhood. Wild + Free is not only a book, it is also an entire community of parents. There are local meet-ups all over the place, and I encourage you to connect with the group in your area (or create one) once you have read the book! Find more info about the community on their website: https://www.bewildandfree.org/.

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learning all the time by john holt

John Holt has been a staple in my homeschooling library. He reminds his readers that learning is as natural as breathing for humans. Holt is widely considered the father of the modern-day homeschooling movement because he grew to believe that schools stifle the learning process. In this book, he presents his own observations and philosophies to show how young children can be encouraged to learn everything from reading and math to music and science without being coercive or having to “talk down” to them. He encourages reading aloud and discovery through play.

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How children learn by john holt

I just love everything from John Holt! In this book, Holt shares his personal observations as well as his research on the subject of childhood development. He emphasizes the importance of parents establishing positive connections with their children and providing them with resources that facilitate learning. He discusses how the “one size fits all” model of public schooling may be more harmful than beneficial, and how it is important to adapt lessons to children’s abilities and aptitudes (which homeschooling allows). This book illustrates how a child may achieve a quality education without going through the mainstream school system.

The homeschooling book of answers

This thorough book answers all of the frequently asked questions about homeschooling. Questions such as: What is the cost, and can I afford it? How many hours each week will I need to commit? How will my child make friends without attending school? How will I motivate, teach, and even test my children? How do I educate my special-needs child? Can I homeschool through high school? What if I want my children to attend college, can I still homeschool? …. and MORE! This book seriously answered so many questions for me when I was just beginning to research whether or not homeschooling was right for us. I still have it on my shelf to refer to when new questions pop up.

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a literary education emily cook

Emily Cook is actually the author of one of the curriculums that I use with my children (Build Your Library), which is how I found this book. This book is a WONDERFUL introduction for how to implement a Charlotte Mason Style homeschool routine in your home, while adapting her original philosophies for the modern secular homeschooler. It is a fabulous read if you are interested in creating your own curriculum based on “living books,” or if you plan to use Emily’s curriculum, which is based on “living books.” Living books are books that are (usually) written by one person who has a passion for the subject and writes in conversational or narrative style. The books pull you into the subject and involve your emotions, so it’s easy to remember the events and facts. Living books make the subject “come alive,” unlike textbooks and encyclopedias which tend to be didactic and dull to read. Charlotte Mason emphasized the use of living books instead of textbooks. She also stressed the importance of outdoor time, play, crafts, and exposure to art. Her original philosophies included Christian studies, but Emily Cook did an excellent job of adapting Mason’s original philosophies for families who love the idea of schooling based on living books and nature studies but want a secular education for their children. This may or may not speak to you. Homeschooling is so personal, and each family will have a style (or a mix of styles) that fits them best.

the brave learner by Julie Bogart

Ok I’ll admit I have not read this book YET but I just downloaded it on Audible so I thought I’d include it. I know SO MANY homeschooling parents who have been enormously inspired by this book. They tell me that Julie Bogart makes suggestions that are practical, yet thought-provoking and motivating. Along the same lines as many of the other books I’ve suggested, Julie Bogart encourages a culture of joyful homeschooling (rather than pushing children to do what we want them to). She shares helpful tips and tricks for making learning fun and reducing friction in the parent-child homeschooling relationship.

I’m so thrilled that more and more families are looking into homeschooling as an option. If you have any questions, don’t be afraid to reach out! You can comment here or send me a message on instagram.

And because everyone always asks:
We use the build your library curriculum.
Then we supplement with mathematical reasoning workbooks for math (which can be found in my amazon storefront under “homeschooling.”)

We are always moulding our homeschooling curriculum to fit our needs and preferences— I highly recommend it! There is no need to stick to one thing forever if it’s not working for you and your family.

Do you have a favorite curriculum or homeschooling tool? Please share in the comments below to let other families know their options!