The Nursing Mother's Herbal [Paperback]

Fortunately, books like Thomas Hale's Medications and Mothers Milk (2004 edition now available), and The Nursing Mother's Herbal by Sheila Humphrey can help nursing moms navigate pharmaceutical and natural remedies while breastfeeding. Moms who don't know anything about herbs as well as moms who have used them to treat common ailments will find The Nursing Mother's Herbal helpful.

Unlike the technical Hale book, which deals with prescription drugs (most La Leche League chapters own and can offer information from this book to share with your health care provider), The Nursing Mother's Herbal is an easy-to-read book about breastfeeding, herbs and dietary supplements.

The book's conversational style is backed up by serious, solid research. Humphrey, an IBCLC-certified lactation consultant, has studied botany at the college level. She is also an ob-gyn nurse and La Leche League leader. Her information sources for the book include her husband, a PhD botanist specializing in the study of medicinal plant pharmacology and ethnobotany; a long list of herb experts, including Andrew Weil; and breastfeeding experts, including Dr. Jack Newman and members of La Leche League.

For new moms, The Nursing Mother's Herbal devotes the first three chapters entirely to breastfeeding. It is an excellent explanation of all the factors that play into a positive nursing experience for moms and babies. Humphrey explains why breastmilk is the superior infant food, then she explores where to find breastfeeding information and support. Finally, she offers a peek into the amazing nursing mother-baby dyad.

For moms new to herbs, the following chapter is dedicated to explaining herbs and herbal medicines: What's a tincture? What is the difference between a decoction and a liquid extract? How do I know I am getting a quality herbal product?

Humphrey inserts many warnings throughout the initial chapter on herbs, including why it's important to make sure you have the right plant if gathering herbs from a garden or from the wild (some toxic plants look very similar to herbs), so this chapter is a critical read before moving onto the rest of the book. Many herbs interact with prescription drugs, so it is important to tell your health care provider about any herbs or nutritional supplements you take. Humphrey offers extra safety measures to apply when using herbs while breastfeeding, including: "When breastfeeding, it may be best to avoid those herbs that can cause side effects even in small doses; instead find herbs with a wider margin of safety."

Even so, she writes: "Despite all the concerns I've brought up here, please do not get the impression that herbs are dangerous. As a group, herbs are probably safer than most types of other medications."

The following chapters offer specific herbal remedies to various ailments or situations breastfeeding mothers may encounter, such as herbs related to weaning. Information-packed appendices at the end of the book provide further resources to explore as well as plant safety charts.

As with any book related to health, it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. However, The Nursing Mother's Herbal is a wonderful resource for moms to inform themselves about natural remedies and to gather information to share with their physicians about alternative treatments to common health problems. --Dana Anderson-Villamagna

Sheila Humphrey has included just about everything you would want to know about this subject. She has also included information on specific herbal remedies for various situations.

If you are trying to decide between breastfeeding and feeding your baby "formula" you will want to read the benefits and risks section in chapter one. There is also information on donated milk and other fascinating facts.

This book is divided into 11 main sections:

The Health Benefits of Breastfeeding & Health Risks of Baby Formulas

Successful Breastfeeding - Everything from finding a lactation specialist to organizing your day.

How Milk is Made and Why This Matters

Herbs and Herbal Products

Healthcare Options - A discussion about Western and Conventional Medicine.

Postpartum Recovery - What to eat and what to expect after delivery.

Solutions for Regulating Your Milk Supply - herbal help

Breast Problems

Common Illnesses and Health Problems

Common Signs to look for when Your Child is Ill

Weaning and the Return to Fertility

The Nursing Mother's Herbal is one of the books I'd recommend to every woman who is considering becoming a mother or who is already pregnant. This book gives you a wealth of information and I think it is one of the most interesting books I've ever read on breastfeeding and postpartum issues.

Sheila also encourages you to find the support you need. She gives excellent advice on how to deal with every aspect of breastfeeding and also focuses on the most intricate details of every positive and negative situation that could occur. There are recipes for various "galactogogue teas" to encourage a good milk supply. By reading this book you can also find out interesting things about why you should not use aloe vera gel and why you might want to use tea rinses or poultices made from herbs for their skin healing properties.

Other features include:

An extensive list of organizations and websites
A Plant Safety Table (they also include information on herbs that will help or decrease milk production)
Detailed Information about Herbs like fennel, fenugreek, hops and milk thistle.

"The Nursing Mother's Herbal" is simply fascinating and I can highly recommend it to mothers who are preparing for breastfeeding or who are considering their options.

~TheRebeccaReview.com

A wide variety of herbs that can be used for post partum recovery, special breastfeeding situations, and even maternal and infant illnesses/conditions are all expertly and thoroughly covered. Ms. Humphrey's book is not merely a "cook book" herbal reference, it is also deeply enriched with evidence-based recommendations common to lactation consultant practice. For example, in Chapter 7, "Your Milk Supply," Sheila addresses one of the all too common reasons for untimely weaning from the breast, the fear of insufficient milk supply. Before discussing possible herbals that can help increase a mother's milk, she explains normal infant breastfeeding behaviors and the importance of optimal breast attachment (latching). Another feature of "The Nursing Mother's Herbal" is the sense of warmth and nurturing that is infused throughout and the mother-to-mother supportive tone which are positive factors in reaching new mothers with understanding and empowerment.

I was pleased to see references to other well known lactation experts, such as La Leche League and Dr. Jack Newman, as well as herbalists who specialize in lactation. Their inclusion speaks to Ms. Humphrey's thoroughness of research and broad knowledge base from which mothers and health care practitioners can make an informed decision. Her section on post partum recovery (Chapter 6), reflects her background as an OB/GYN nurse and increased my own knowledge base. Besides herbal remedies a concise but thorough explanation of complimentary specialists and treatments available as health care options will appeal to many mothers and enlighten mainstream, allopathic practitioners.

I found a wealth of information in the Plant Safety section (Appendix C) which deserves careful study, yet provides quick referencing regarding safety and efficacy of herbs during lactation and beyond. I highly recommend "The Nursing Mother's Herbal" to mothers, fathers and families of the breastfeeding baby, and especially to those in the lactation field. Midwives, nurses, obstetricians, pediatricians, pharmacists, naturopaths, homeopaths and herbalists, who may work with nursing mothers, should read this book.