The Placenta Release Tincture is a blend of liquid herbal extracts traditionally used to support the third stage of labour and the expulsion of the placenta.
It contains:
Angelica archangelica – Susun Weed write in her book, Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year that this herb is a powerful emmenagogue and uterine stimulant. It has been used traditionally to release the placenta. It is understood to tone the uterus while relaxing the cervix.
Raspberry Leaf (Rubus idaeus) – this astringent herb is considered a “parturifacient” herb that is invaluable before, during and after childbirth, in nourishing the uterus and supporting uterine tone. It is useful to prevent and treat post-partum haemorrhage.
Motherwort (Leonurus cardiac) – an emmenagogue and spasmolytic herb which promotes uterine tone and effective contractions. It also, as a nervine, relieves anxiety, addressing the emotional component of a safely progressing third stage. It is a soothing, calming herb that helps prevent excessive blood loss.
How To Use:
The minimum dose is 5 ml. Add to a little water or juice and drink.
All usual safe third stage practices, to support optimal release of natural birth hormones, should be observed, such as warmth, privacy, peace and quiet, no distractions, and keeping mother and baby skin-to-skin.
We would normally wait 30-60 minutes for the placenta to detach on its own.
After this time, if midwife or mother have any concerns, this tincture is an appropriate measure.
Give a 5 ml dose. Wait 5 – 10 minutes, observe for cord lengthening, then administer another 5 ml dose if warranted.
SUGGESTED USE FOR HERBAL TINCTURES:
This is the usual order you would use the herbal tinctures:
1. Gentle Prep Tincture - during the last month of pregnancy
2. Birth Boost Tincture - during labour, when tired or discouraged, particularly in the case of a long or challenging labour. Often used as a last resort before Syntocinon (this is assuming everything else such as rest, food, positioning, making space in the pelvis techniques, rebozo, Spinning Babies, immersion in deep water etc has all been tried.)
3. Placenta Release Tincture - usually used sometime after 30 minutes following the birth of the baby. I would normally wait at least an hour for a physiological third stage. (This is the case of a spontaneous, not-induced, not-augmented, non-medicated labour. If intervention was required, usually herbal tinctures would not be appropriate during third stage. Augmentation during labour generally requires use of Syntocinon (synthetic oxytocin) for third stage.)
4. No Bleed Tincture - good to have at hand, but often not used at all. Use during third stage if at any point bleeding becomes a concern, either before or after the birth of the placenta. (Yes, it is OK to take this tincture if bleeding seems fine but you're just feeling nervous because you had a big bleed last time.) NOTE: if you are dealing with more than just slightly excessive bleeding that you'd like to see moderated - and you have an actual PPH on your hands, don't bother with tinctures - go straight to appropriate emergency care. Emergency care should not be delayed by faffing around with tinctures, in such a situation.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE TINCTURES ARE NOT A REPLACEMENT FOR APPROPRIATE THIRD STAGE CARE AND IT IS ASSUMED STRATEGIES FOR ALL CONTINGENCIES ARE IN PLACE.
5. After Pain-ease Tincture - for use after the release of the placenta, usually during the first 3-5 days after to birth, to take the edge of after-pains. I suggest a dose just before you put baby to the breast.
NOTES:
1. Herbs are no replacement for safe third stage care. The basic essentials to promote the peak flow of endogenous birth hormones for a safe third stage (separation and expulsion of the placenta, involution of the uterus, moderation of bleeding, initiation of breastfeeding) are:
- Privacy
- Warmth
- Dim lighting
- Peace and quiet, soft voices, no bustling, interruptions or disturbance.
- No separation of mother and baby - baby lying on mother for uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact, mother and baby both topless.
- "No hatting, no patting, no chatting, no texting" - Carla Hartley's maxim for preserving the "Golden Hour"; it means don't put a hat on the baby so mother may smell the pheromones; no one other than the parents touching the baby; no one but the parents speaking in the room, other than vital questions and instructions - what she means is avoid all but absolutely necessary work chatter; the birth isn't over yet so don't be whipping out devices and getting stuck into messaging etc - wait til after the placenta is safely released, bleeding is moderated and baby is boobing: THEN it's time to make the joyful announcements. This is vital for protecting the hormones mothers need so they *can* release their placenta and so that bleeding is kept to a safe minimum.
- Breast-crawl - baby-led initiation of breastfeeding, while understanding that some babies won't do this right away, they just want to BE there and that is just fine. They'll start rooting when they're good and ready.
- In this article, An actively managed placental birth might be the best option for most women, Dr. Rachel Reed also mentions the following vital factors of a safe physiological third stage:
* No fiddling: No feeling the fundus (uterus). No clamping, cutting or pulling on the umbilical cord. No clinical observations or ‘busying’ around the room.
* No stress and fear: Those in the room must be relaxed. The midwife needs to be comfortable with waiting and have patience. The mother must not be stressed as adrenaline inhibits oxytocin release.
* No prescribed time-frames: Many hospital policies require intervention within half an hour if the placenta has not birthed. This is not helpful and generates anxiety which is counter-productive.
2. Ideally, you need care providers who are comfortable with normal spontaneous physiological labour, birth and third stage. If the basic essentials for promoting natural birth are beyond their usual practice and policies, you may face issues introducing herbal tinctures into the mix. If the pregnancy, labour and birth was already highly medicalised and actively managed, it is not appropriate to use herbs during third stage - the cascade of intervention has already begun. This is well explained in Dr Reed's article above.
3. It is necessary that you take personal responsibility for using herbal tinctures at birth. If you are in a model of care that strongly encourages birthing women to take personal responsibility and exercise bodily autonomy, because this is seen as optimal for clinical safety, you are likely to find that any herbs, homeopathics or essential oils you wish to use will be respected and encouraged. It is usually not the same in models of care when compliance and the handing over of responsibility to "experts" is the way they like things done. So before you invest financially in the tinctures, consider the model of care you have chosen for your birth. I would not like to see you facing frustration because your chosen care providers are leery of alternatives outside of the norms of allopathic medicine and obstetric convention.
Disclaimer: This information is based on empirical and traditional herbal medicine. It is of a general informational nature, does not constitute medical advice and makes no therapeutic claims. It is not intended to diagnose or treat any health condition. Any health condition should be referred to your chosen health care practitioner. Check with your health care practitioner before commencing to use any herbal product, and be aware of any personal and family allergies. This tincture is NOT meant to be a replacement for safe, appropriate third stage care. It is assumed that medical support will be at hand and all contingencies will be in place.
REFERENCES:
Angelica, Garden Angelica
Aromatherapy and Herbal Remedies for Pregnancy, Birth, and Breastfeeding By Demetria Clark
Henriette's Herbal
Herbalistmama’s Homeopathic/Herbal Birth Remedies
Use of herbal preparations among parturient women: Is there enough evidence - A review of literature