Herbal Support During Pregnancy and Postpartum: What a Perinatal Herbalist Does

By Kayla Brookins | Sacred Openings Doula | Brattleboro, VT

Herbal medicine and birth have been companions for as long as people have been having babies. Plants have long been part of how communities have supported pregnant people, aided laboring bodies, and nourished new parents in the weeks after birth. This tradition is one I hold with deep respect, and it is woven throughout everything I do at Sacred Openings.

As a perinatal herbalist, I bring botanical knowledge alongside my doula work. For families interested in this dimension of care, it adds a layer of support that is grounding, gentle, and profoundly time-honored.

What Is a Perinatal Herbalist?

A perinatal herbalist is someone trained in the use of medicinal plants specifically during the childbearing year: from preconception and pregnancy through birth and into the postpartum period. This is a specialized area of herbal practice, because the physiology of pregnancy and new parenthood brings particular considerations, and not all herbs that are safe in other contexts are appropriate during this time.

My training and study in this area informs not only the products I create through Sacred Openings Apothecary, but the conversations I have with clients about their wellbeing throughout pregnancy and recovery.

Herbs During Pregnancy

Some of the most nourishing herbs are also among the most gentle, and pregnancy is a time when that gentleness is especially welcome. Nourishing herbal infusions, for example, can be a beautiful way to support the body with minerals and nutrients in a form that is easily absorbed and deeply comforting.

Common herbs that are generally considered safe and supportive during pregnancy include red raspberry leaf, nettles, oatstraw, and dandelion, among others. That said, herbal safety during pregnancy is nuanced, and I always encourage families to approach it thoughtfully and in conversation with their care providers. There are herbs that are contraindicated during pregnancy, and individual circumstances vary.

Herbal Support for Labor

The labor process can be supported herbally in various ways, from herbs used to encourage uterine tone and prepare the body in the final weeks, to teas that support hydration and stamina during labor itself. This is an area of practice I approach with both reverence and care, as the body during labor is doing profound and powerful work.

For families interested in this aspect of support, it is something I am glad to discuss in our prenatal visits, where we have time to explore what feels right for each individual situation.

Postpartum Herbal Care

The postpartum period is perhaps where herbal support shines most clearly. The body after birth is in a significant process of recovery and transition, and plants can offer gentle, meaningful assistance at every stage of that process.

Through Sacred Openings Apothecary, I create handcrafted products specifically for this time. Herbal sitz baths to support perineal healing. Nourishing teas to promote milk production and ease the emotional shifts of the early weeks. Body oils and preparations made with care and intention.

These products are made in small batches, with attention to quality and the specific needs of the postpartum body. They are available to my doula clients as part of our work together, and through the apothecary for those who are seeking herbal support independently.

A Note on Spiritual Dimensions

For me, herbal medicine is not purely utilitarian. Plants carry their own intelligence, and working with them is a practice of relationship and reciprocity. I bring that sensibility to my work, though I hold it lightly and follow the lead of each family in terms of how much of that dimension resonates for them.

Some families want the practical: a tea that supports milk production or eases postpartum discomfort. Others want to explore the deeper layers. Both are welcome. There is no right way to receive herbal support.

Learning More

For families in the Brattleboro area and beyond who are curious about herbal support during the childbearing year, I would be glad to talk. This is one of the dimensions of my practice that I find most joyful, and I love sharing it with families who are interested.

More information about Sacred Openings Apothecary can be found at sacredopeningsapothecary.com. Doula services and packages are at sacredopeningsdoula.com. Consultations are always available, and there is never any obligation in a conversation.

Kayla Brookins is a certified birth and postpartum doula and perinatal herbalist based in Brattleboro, Vermont. She serves families throughout Windham County, Windsor County, Bennington County, Rutland County, and beyond — including southwestern New Hampshire, western Massachusetts, and Connecticut. She is a registered MassHealth and Carrot Fertility provider. Learn more at sacredopeningsdoula.com.

Keywords: perinatal herbalist Vermont, herbal support pregnancy, postpartum herbal tea, herbal doula Brattleboro, pregnancy herbs safe, postpartum recovery herbs, Sacred Openings Apothecary, holistic birth support Vermont