Sunrise Midwifery

03/25/2026

NORA Tea recipe for pregnancy and postpartum

NORA tea is a nutrient-dense herbal infusion frequently recommended by midwives during pregnancy (typically after 16 weeks) and postpartum. The name is an acronym for its four primary ingredients: Nettle, Oatstraw, Red Raspberry Leaf, and Alfalfa.

The NORA Blend Recipe
The most common way to prepare the dry mix is by using a parts-based ratio, which allows you to make any size batch.
2 parts Red Raspberry Leaf (uterine toner)
2 parts Nettle Leaf (high in iron)
1 part Oatstraw (rich in calcium and magnesium)
1 part Alfalfa Leaf (contains Vitamin K)

Note: For a standard batch, use tablespoons as your "parts" for a single quart, or cups to make a large jar of dry mix.

Brewing Instructions (Overnight Infusion)
To extract the maximum mineral content, this tea is typically prepared as a long-steeped infusion.
Measure: Add 1/4 cup of your prepared dry herb mix into a quart-sized glass mason jar.
Boil: Pour 4 cups (1 quart) of boiling water over the herbs.
Steep: Cover with a lid and let it sit at room temperature for 4 to 8 hours, or ideally overnight.
Strain: In the morning, strain out the plant material using a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth.
Serve: Drink it warm or pour it over ice. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 24–48 hours.

Flavor Enhancements
Because the base herbs have an "earthy" or "grassy" taste, many people add extra ingredients for flavor:
Herbs: Peppermint, spearmint, or lemon balm.
Fruit: Fresh lemon slices, orange peel, or rosehips.
Sweeteners: Raw honey, maple syrup, or blackstrap molasses.

03/25/2026

11/04/2025

08/26/2025

08/21/2025

We are so sorry to hear this news from Michel Odent's family.

"It is with great sorrow that the family of Dr Michel Odent announce his death at the age of 95. Dr Odent was born July 7, 1930, in Bresles, France. He died peacefully in London, England, on August 19, 2025 following a brief illness.

Dr Odent trained as a general surgeon in Paris, and advocated for the demedicalisation of birth whilst in charge of Pithiviers Hospital. In later life, he founded the Primal Health Research Centre in London, and published extensively on topics related to childbirth and early breastfeeding.

He is survived by many loved ones, including his partner Liliana, and children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. His family wishes to express their thanks to the doctors, nurses, and staff of St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to La Leche League. Dr Odent will be cremated in a private family service with a public memorial to follow in several weeks."

07/21/2025

Join us Monday 7/21 for breastfeeding support at the Milk Spot anytime from 10am-12pm. Partners, family, friends and your children are welcome to attend with you. Always free and open to all who would like to give their baby human milk.

07/05/2025

In the feature-length, documentary film Jats’uts Meyah, Bacila Tzek Uc, the last midwife of a remote Maya community, shares ancestral knowledge of plant-based medicine and natural birth at the end of her life. In the Maya world, work is the most important cultural value, but a lack of paid jobs forces men to immigrate for work, while women stay in the pueblo and carefully tend the Maya way of life. Led by the midwife, the women believe that when she dies, they’ll all die right behind her.

In the feature-length, documentary film Jats’uts Meyah, Bacila Tzek Uc, the last midwife of a remote Maya community, shares ancestral knowledge of plant-based…

07/01/2025

Babies are designed to be held.
Not placed. Not propped. Not “trained” to self-soothe.

We’re carry mammals.
We were never meant to raise our babies in swings, bouncers, and plastic containers.

Somewhere along the way, the vision got blurred.
They told us independence matters more than connection.
That a baby’s cry is manipulative.
That we’re spoiling them by holding them too much.

But the truth?
Your baby doesn’t need a bassinet with Bluetooth or a rocking chair that vibrates.
They need you.
Your warmth.
Your smell.
Your heartbeat.
Your arms.

You are not “creating bad habits” by responding to your baby.
You’re meeting a biological, primal need that has existed long before baby aisles at Target.

So hold that baby.
Wear them.
Snuggle them.
Let them nap on your chest.

You are the safest, most natural place they could ever be.
And that is enough.

06/25/2025

What is Nora tea and how can you make it at home?

NORA tea is an herbal infusion popular among midwives, especially in the natural birth and holistic pregnancy communities. The name “NORA” is an acronym for the four key ingredients:
• N – Nettle leaf
• O – Oatstraw
• R – Red raspberry leaf
• A – Alfalfa

It’s typically used as a tonic for pregnancy, fertility, postpartum recovery, and general female reproductive health.

⸻

🌿 Ingredients & Their Benefits:

1. Nettle Leaf (Urtica dioica)
• Rich in iron, calcium, magnesium, and vitamins A, C, D, and K
• Supports kidney function and reduces fluid retention
• May improve energy and reduce fatigue
• Can help reduce seasonal allergies

2. Oatstraw (Avena sativa)
• High in calcium and magnesium
• Supports the nervous system, reducing stress and tension
• Nourishes skin, hair, and nails
• Promotes restful sleep and emotional balance

3. Red Raspberry Leaf (Rubus idaeus)
• A classic uterine tonic—believed to tone the uterus
• Rich in iron and other minerals
• May reduce nausea in early pregnancy
• Thought to promote efficient labor and postpartum recovery

4. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)
• High in vitamin K (important for blood clotting)
• Contains iron, calcium, phosphorus, and chlorophyll
• May help prevent postpartum hemorrhage
• Can support lactation and milk supply

⸻

🤰 Common Uses:
• During Pregnancy: Often consumed in the second and third trimesters to prepare the body for labor, support nutrient levels, and ease common discomforts.
• Postpartum: Helps replenish minerals, supports lactation, and aids in recovery.
• Fertility Support: Used by some women as a general reproductive system tonic.
• Menstrual Health: May be helpful for balancing hormones and reducing cramps.

⸻

☕ How to Use:

Basic NORA Tea Recipe
Combine equal parts of the four herbs. For a quart of tea:
• 1 tablespoon of each herb
• Pour boiling water over the mix
• Steep 4–8 hours or overnight for a strong infusion
• Strain and drink throughout the day, warm or chilled

06/11/2025

If you were delivered by a midwife (and it's ok if some say "caught") just know that you have another soul who loves you almost as much as the one who pushed you out, as you caused great pain, yet brought greater love.
If you were born surrounded by women who palpated and listened and loved on you, you are blessed beyond what you could possibly know.
She isn't just your mother's midwife. She is yours, too, and she is nearly a "godmother" because she would have breathed life into you, if needed, and she has most definitely prayed for you. ❤️ -Laurie Zoyiopoulus

05/28/2025

Hospital systems have spent a century dismissing and marginalizing home birth and midwifery care—yet with marketing that sells their birthing suites as “home-like.”

The real question is: why not support and collaborate with the actual providers delivering safe, effective, relationship-based care in real homes?

Planned home birth with qualified midwives is associated with:

👉🏻 Excellent outcomes for low-risk pregnancies

👉🏽 Fewer inductions and cesareans

👉 High client satisfaction

👉🏾 Lower intervention rates

👉🏿 Respectful, continuous, one-on-one care

Still, most hospitals:

👎🏻 Refuse to integrate community midwives

👎🏼 Fail to develop two-way transfer systems

👎🏿 Replicate hotel aesthetics instead of care quality

We don’t need prettier rooms. We need structural respect for the midwifery model of care.