The Mamawise Naturopath

29/07/2025

Enough said, with love ❤️

27 years I’ve been using herbal medicines during pregnancy, postpartum and breastfeeding 🌿

If you’re pregnant and considering using herbal medicine throughout, or to support your body in preparation for birth, or for your postpartum recovery you may find this blog helpful:

https://www.mamawisestore.com.au/blogs/news/using-herbs-to-prepare-for-birth

Kristin x

07/07/2025

✨Placenta Encapsulation & Postpartum Mood 🧠

Let’s talk about one of the key hormones your placenta makes - PROGESTERONE - and why its sudden drop after birth can affect your mood more than you might expect.

After birth, your body experiences a dramatic hormonal shift. One major player, progesterone, is calming, grounding and protective to your nervous system - and when it crashes? It can leave you feeling anxious, teary, and just not yourself.

✨ That’s where placenta encapsulation may offer support.

Your placenta contains traces of progesterone and other feel-good compounds that may help soften the hormonal dip, helping you feel more emotionally balanced during the early weeks postpartum.

I have collected almost 13 years of anecdotal evidence of mothers reporting:

🧠 Improved mood
💛 Less anxiety or weepiness
😴 Better sleep
🔄 A smoother emotional transition after birth

And thats just the mental/emotional perks of placenta encapsulation ✨

I offer safe, professionally prepared placenta encapsulation in Perth, with years of experience as a doula and naturopath.

Want to learn more or book your spot?

🩷 Tap the link in bio or send me a DM.
✨ Because you deserve to feel supported and steady as you recover, bond, and begin again.

26/06/2025

Please read if trying for a baby or you’re already pregnant ✨

And share with other mamas 💞

Head to www.mamawisestore.com.au to see the invaluable resource you can use over and over ➡️ BLOOD TEST GUIDE - For Postpartum Mothers

(It’s relevant if you’re 3 months or even 5 years postpartum 🌸) and just $25

20/05/2025

AND, globally, over 2 billion people (35.2% of the population) are thought to be iodine deficient!

Iodine is essential during pregnancy - for both mum and baby. 

It’s required for healthy thyroid hormone production, supports your energy, metabolism, and regulates the growth of your baby’s brain and nervous system.

Even mild iodine deficiency in pregnancy is linked to:

* A lower IQ in children
* Impaired cognitive development
* A higher risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, and developmental delays.

So why are iodine levels dropping?

• Low iodine content in Australian soils
• Less iodised salt used in home cooking (I don’t recommend this anyway)
• Decline in iodine-rich foods like seaweed and seafood in diets
• Increased demand during pregnancy & breastfeeding

IODINE TESTING: is simple and non-invasive. I use a urinary iodine test in clinic to assess levels and guide appropriate support.

🔍 If you’re planning to conceive, pregnant, or breastfeeding, make sure iodine is part of the conversation. 

It’s one of those quiet but powerful nutrients that can shape your health - and your baby’s - for years to come.

06/05/2025

10/02/2025

LABOUR LIFT is a unique herbal formula designed to help promote regular and effective contractions.

An effective labour requires a delicate balance between contraction and relaxation.

This natural balance works together to create a well-coordinated labour, allowing the cervix to open and gently helping the baby move downward.

The Labour Lift formula contains both stimulant and antispasmodic herbs for this purpose.

It’s intended for use when labour has slowed, become prolonged and challenging, or when augmentation of labour (IV hormone infusion/drip) is being considered.

It comes with a pump top dispenser for convenient and more accurate dosing (my new favourite thing!)

🎒Pack this in your birth bag, just in case 🙏🏻.

Please note, Labour Lift is not designed to induce (start) labour.

02/12/2024

Just another example of how our gut health affects our overall health!

I’ve had so many results come back recently revealing so many issues that need addressing! 😅

And remember, you can have little to no overt symptoms of “gut issues”, “poo every morning like clockwork” and still have loads of imbalances, overgrowths, infections, digestive insufficiencies, and more!

You may have a thyroid issue, or perhaps a skin issue, allergies, hormone issues, weight loss issues, insulin resistance or prediabetes, food sensitivities or intolerances, brain fog… the list goes on.

You won’t find what you’re not looking for 🕵🏼‍♀️ and you owe it to yourself and your health

13/11/2024

Swipe to see what you can find if you take the time to look!

Sorting your gut out is one foundation you just can’t skip. And especially if you’re doing “everything right” and still feel pretty crappy (pun intended).

The GI Map can provide sooo much insight and a wealth of info to work with and on.

11/10/2024

Here’s a shoutout to the BABY MOON 🌙 🤎

I formulated the Baby Moon Herbal Extract back in 2018. It was originally known as the ‘Postnatal Recovery Tonic’. With the rebrand from BodyWise BirthWise to Mamawise in 2022, the name changed to Baby Moon and the formula was tweaked slightly 🌿

I love how it supports the hormonal transition and physical recovery after birth 🤎

It’s breastfeeding safe and suitable for mamas after vaginal or caesarean births.

These are wise mama’s traditional postpartum herbs, but with a modern twist - in the form of a herbal extract.

🌿 What is it?

Baby Moon is a Naturopath formulated blend of 5 specific herbs, designed to be used in postpartum. One 200ml bottle will last 2 weeks when taken as directed. It’s suitable to begin from the day of birth and/or to continue throughout the first 6 weeks postpartum.

🌙 What’s in it and why?

🍃 Siberian Ginseng: A restorative herb that’s beneficial during times of stress and exhaustion. Helps to maintain healthy immunity and is beneficial during times of convalescence and recuperation. A non-stimulating ginseng.

🍃 Ashwagandha/Withania: An Ayurvedic adaptogenic herb that’s rejuvenating, balancing and strengthening. Helpful for debility, exhaustion and anxiety common in early postpartum.

🍃 Shepherds Purse: A herb with strong vasoconstrictor properties, with a special affinity for the uterus. Helps curb any excessive bleeding throughout the early days postpartum.

🍃Motherwort: Supports the body after birth; helping restore tone to the uterus, reduce blood loss and alleviates mild after pains contractions.

🍃Passionflower: A wonderful herb that nourishes the nervous system. Helpful for anxiety or that ‘tired but wired’ feeling.

Available on its own or part of the Naturopath’s Birth & Postpartum Herbal Pack 🌱

Head to www.mamawisestore.com.au to check out all the magical herbal formulas designed by yours truly 🧙‍♀️

mamawisestore

29/05/2024

This increased risk can be attributed to several interconnected factors:

1. Hormonal Sensitivity

Both postpartum depression (PPD) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) are triggered by significant hormonal changes. Similarly, perimenopause involve dramatic shifts in hormone levels 🎢particularly oestrogen & progesterone. Some women are just more sensitive to these hormonal changes & are more likely to experience mood disturbances, particularly during the transitional peri YEARS.

2. Predisposition

A history of depression, including PPD/PMDD, is one of the strongest predictors of future depressive episodes.

3. Neurotransmitters

Hormonal changes can affect neurotransmitter systems, particularly serotonin, which plays a crucial role in mood regulation. Women with PPD/PMDD often have disruptions in serotonin levels & similar imbalances can occur during peri/menopause.

4. Genetic factors can increase the susceptibility to mood disorders - in response to hormonal changes. This can affect a woman's entire reproductive seasons.

5. Life Transitions:

Peri/menopause tends to coincide with significant life changes (family, work, aging parents, health). Those who’ve had PPD/PMDD may be challenged here.

6. Peri Symptoms:

During the late phase of peri, hot flushes, disturbed sleep, night sweats &other physical symptoms can contribute to mood swings & depression. Those who’ve had PPD/PMDD may find these symptoms exacerbate their mental health challenges.

7. Thyroid Function:

Oestrogen dominance & thyroid dysfunction are common in women with a history of PPD/PMDD.

8. Lack of Support

Women who have experienced PPD/PMDD might not have the necessary support systems. This can make the transition through peri/menopause more difficult, heightening the risk of depression.

WHAT TO DO?

If you feel you may be at increased risk, be sure to support your mental health as best you can. Sometimes things get really messy around the years of this transition & it can be a slow unraveling of good physical & mental health. It can often creep up on women over many weeks or months. Stay tuned into yourself. Seek a a holistic approach if you feel you may need it.
Kristin x