12/08/2025
💚🌱 Some personal words, about herbs and pregnancy 🌱💚
I fell into supporting fertility and pregnancy with herbs completely by accident, but it’s such a wonderful thing to be able to help people with. Interestingly, many ‘Herbie babies’ seem to have an innate love for herbs and plants, too, which always makes me smile.
This picture is of me, a few minutes old. I was born at home, in the front bedroom, somewhat unusually in ‘en caul’. There are all sorts of superstitions and beliefs about being born en caul. I remember my Mum telling me that her own Mum was really cross for not keeping my caul, as sailors would have paid a high price for such a thing (an old belief that if you were in possession of a caul, you wouldn’t drown). The next picture is me, 39 and a bit years later, with one of the midwives that delivered me. A really lovely lady called Ann. We swapped Christmas cards each year, and I used to send her a ‘happy birthday’ text on her birthday. Sadly, I found out today, that she passed away last Autumn, but what a privilege to have known her. I’ve heard plenty of stories about my birth, from my late Mum and Dad, and my sisters, but it was so interesting hearing about it from her side, too – my Mum’s stubbornness wasn’t something that was easily forgotten!
Back then, in 1977, not only were home births becoming rarer, but ‘geriatric home births’ were rather frowned upon. I was the fourth Sylvester, with two home births before me, but my mum was nearing 40 when I was due. Many scare stories were apparently told to my Mum, but, in her true stubborn style, she was having none of it, and on clearing through her old belongings (because she kept everything, quite literally), I came across a disclaimer that she had to sign to say that she understood the risks she was taking having a baby at such a late age, and at home.
Choice in pregnancy has changed a lot, since then, thankfully. I’m fully in favour of supporting each individual’s choice, safely. Perhaps in part thanks to the story of my own birth.
Whilst not every patient I support with fertility successfully conceives, there have certainly been more successes than not. Herbs work so gently and supportively with the reproductive system, and the wider body systems that have a role to play in conception, that month by month (and very quickly, for some), real tangible changes are possible. Then, when you get a text, or email with positive news, well, that’s just smile growing stuff! For those who for whatever reason aren’t able to conceive, there’s plenty herbs can do to provide valuable emotional support, too. Whichever way things turn out, it’s a real honour to work in this field.
Many herbs aren’t suitable during pregnancy and breastfeeding of course, but as a qualified Herbalist, I know what’s safe and not safe to use, and I help through pregnancy and post-partum, making beautiful herbal blends (and individual herbs too) to support the body and baby (or babies!).
It’s always lovely to meet the ‘Herbie Babies’ too, whether online, or in person, and support them with their own health as they’re growing up. And if the herbs are able to help with a new brother or sister for them, well, happy to help there too!
Here’s to you though, Ann. For delivering me (and many others) safely, and for being a thoroughly lovely human being. What a privilege to have known you!
