Pregnancy

Many herbs are safe and effective during pregnancy, to support new mothers – and even for newborns (for topical application or through the mother’s breast milk if she is breastfeeding). All of the products in our Pregnancy and “New Mother” line are made only with natural ingredients that are entirely safe during pregnancy and for new mothers. This includes our Pregnancy Tea, Pregnancy Bath Salts, Pregnancy Bath and Body Oils, Nursing Tea, New Mother’s Bath Herbs, New Mother’s Bath Salts and New Mother’s Tea (as well as our Baby Massage Oil and our Stretch Mark and Scar Oil).

Concerns around the safety of herbs during pregnancy are linked to the fact that for understandable ethical reasons, there is relatively limited research available on the potential effects of certain herbs (and conventional medication) on pregnant women – since clinical studies often exclude pregnant women from their scope out of precaution. It's therefore very important to be advised by a qualified professional as you navigate the field, so you're in the right place at Zen Maitri!

There are plenty of tried and tested herbs that are safe and very helpful during pregnancy. Some of our herbalists' favourites include Chamomile, St. John's wort, Calendula, Oat Straw, Rose, Lavender, Yarrow, Lady’s Mantle, Nettle, and Marshmallow leaf. You can read more about them in our blog about The Best Natural Pregnancy Products for New and Expecting Mums.

You can absolutely drink herbal tea during pregnancy, and it can be very helpful for a range of common concerns during this time (for instance to ease any nausea, to promote calm and relaxation, to bring much-needed vitamins and minerals, and to gently strengthen uterine and pelvic muscles to prepare for labour). However, it is very important to choose a tea that does not contain any herbs for which substantiated concerns exist that it might be unsafe for mum and/or baby.

You can for example safely drink our delicious, relaxing and nutritious Pregnancy Tea, starting from the second trimester. This blend was concocted to bring comfort and nourishment throughout the latter two trimesters of pregnancy. Chosen for their nutritional value, taste and ability to ease the rigours of child-bearing, these soothing, healing, nourishing, uterus-toning and mood-enhancing herbs will support a smooth and happy pregnancy.

One of the key ingredients of this blend is a commonly recommended herb for pregnancy and postpartum: raspberry leaf. It is a great ally for pregnant women in their last two trimesters, but also to help new mums bounce back after childbirth. Rich in a wide range of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, it is an all-round tonic for the new mum. It is a powerful astringent with specific affinity for the female reproductive system: it gently tones and strengthens the uterine and pelvic muscles, helping to prepare the body for labour — but also helping to restore the elasticity of the womb and uterine ligaments and supporting recovery after childbirth. Raspberry leaf has a powerful vulnerary action, meaning it can help the body in healing wounds internally and externally. It is also effective at promoting milk production — and its nutritive qualities help ensure that the milk will be optimally nourishing for the baby, for mums who are breastfeeding.

Ginger and spearmint are two herbs that are well-known to help ease various kinds of nausea, including morning sickness. A range of studies show statistically significant evidence that ginger can improve nausea and vomiting in the first trimester. You can use fresh or dried ginger root in a herbal tea, take ground ginger in a capsule or eat crystallised ginger or ginger in a sugar syrup base. The aroma of mint was also shown to reduce nausea and vomiting for pregnant women (as self-assessed by them using the Rhodes index of nausea, vomiting and retching), as well as the severity of nausea and vomiting. Spearmint is preferred to peppermint for pregnant women, as it is gentler and less likely to contribute to reflux. Both these herbs are included in our Pregnancy Tea, for this reason and for other benefits they bring!

You can absolutely drink herbal tea during pregnancy, and it can be very helpful for a range of common concerns during this time – for instance to support recovery from childbirth, to help balance hormone levels, to ease any tension and to promote relaxation and to bring much-needed vitamins and minerals. However, it is very important to choose a tea that does not contain any herbs for which substantiated concerns exist that it might be unsafe for mum and/or baby.

A great herbal tea to drink after childbirth is our New Mother’s Tea , which was especially formulated to support mums after birth, with safety as our primary concern. As wonderful as welcoming a new child into the world can be, postpartum can be a very intense time for a new mum’s body and mind. This tea contains herbs that provide deep nourishment, that gently help tone and strengthen the uterine muscles to support recovery, ease digestion and nutrient absorption, help balance hormone levels and promote calm and relaxation. It is a herbal hug for the new mum!

A commonly recommended herb recommended for postpartum is raspberry leaf – it is a great ally to help new mums bounce back after childbirth. Rich in a wide range of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, it is an all-round tonic for the new mum. It is a powerful astringent with specific affinity for the female reproductive system: it gently tones and strengthens the uterine and pelvic muscles, helping restore the elasticity of the womb and uterine ligaments and supporting recovery from childbirth. Raspberry leaf has a powerful vulnerary action, meaning it can help the body in healing wounds internally and externally. It is also effective at promoting milk production — and its nutritive qualities help ensure that the milk will be optimally nourishing for the baby, for mums who are breastfeeding.

A great herbal tea blend to drink after childbirth – containing raspberry leaf and much more! – is our New Mother’s Tea, which was especially formulated to support mums after birth, with safety as our primary concern. As wonderful as welcoming a new child into the world can be, postpartum can be a very intense time for a new mum’s body and mind. This tea contains herbs that provide deep nourishment, that gently help tone and strengthen the uterine muscles to support recovery, ease digestion and nutrient absorption, help balance hormone levels and promote calm and relaxation. It is a herbal hug for the new mum!

Breastfeeding mums can absolutely drink herbal tea, and with the right herbs, this can be a great way to take in a range of vitamins and minerals and to support breast milk production and healthy lactation. It is however very important to choose a tea that does not contain any herbs for which substantiated concerns exist that it might be unsafe for mum and/or baby.

If you are breastfeeding or know someone who is, we recommend trying our Nursing Tea: a nutritious blend that promotes breast milk production, contains lots of micronutrients to support health and vitality for mum and baby, promotes relaxation, and gently helps to strengthen the uterine and pelvic muscles - through the addition of raspberry leaf - to aid recovery after childbirth.

There are a few herbs that are particularly indicated for breastfeeding: for example, fennel, fenugreek, nettle and marshmallow root are all known for stimulating lactation and providing vitamins and minerals to naturally enrich breast milk. They also have a host of other benefits, such as supporting digestion, soothing the digestive tract and lifting fatigue. All of these and more are included in our Nursing Tea – a herbal tea blend especially designed for breastfeeding mums.

It is common for new mums to notice some hair loss a few months after having a baby, due to changes in hormone levels as the body supports the growing baby. In order to help deal with postpartum hair loss, we recommend eating a healthy, balanced diet with lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, to avoid any chemically-based hair treatments and to use a natural herbal hair oil (such as Zen Maitri’s Hair Oil) with herbs that stimulate microvascular circulation in the scalp and hair follicles, bringing oxygen and nutrition to the tissues and supporting hair growth. It is enriched with a variety of botanicals including amla, coconut oil, and rosemary essential oil, which help to boost growth and volume and strengthen the hair. You can gently massage it onto your scalp using your fingertips in a circular motion, and then cover with a towel or shower cap and leave on for a few hours or overnight, before shampooing your hair. You can apply the oil before each time you wash your hair, or before every other wash.

If you are looking for an oil to prevent and ease stretch marks and scars during pregnancy, it is important to choose an effective natural formula that doesn’t contain any artificial ingredients or ingredients that can be unsafe for the baby or for the expecting mum. Natural ingredients like rosehip, calendula, borage oil and gotu kola have thoroughly studied properties that promote collagen production and support the skin’s natural healing process, effectively helping to reduce the appearance of scars and stretch marks.

An excellent oil for stretch marks during pregnancy is our Stretch Mark and Scar Oil. It contains all of the above ingredients and more, chosen for their ability to promote skin elasticity, reduce the formation of stretch marks, and improve the appearance of existing marks and scars. This deeply nourishing blend supports the skin's natural healing process. The addition of essential oils of Roman chamomile, rosemary and sweet orange gives it a calming and refreshing aroma. We blend this special oil in our apothecary in Chiswick, London.

A natural, herbal stretch mark oil can be safe during pregnancy. It is however important to choose your blend carefully, to make sure that none of the ingredients can bring any harm to the baby or mum. An excellent and safe oil for stretch marks during pregnancy is our Stretch Mark and Scar Oil, which can be used after the first trimester of pregnancy. It contains all of the above ingredients and more, chosen for their ability to promote skin elasticity, reduce the formation of stretch marks, and improve the appearance of existing marks and scars. This deeply nourishing blend supports the skin's natural healing process. The addition of essential oils, including Roman chamomile, rosemary and sweet orange, give it a calming and refreshing aroma. We blend this special oil in our apothecary in Chiswick, London.

During pregnancy, it is important to choose a body oil with natural, entirely safe and gentle ingredients. Our Pregnancy Bath and Body Oil has been carefully developed to nourish and protect the skin of mum-to-be. This soothing blend of jojoba, calendula and rosehip oils with rose geranium, Roman chamomile and lavender essential oils is deeply relaxing and moisturising, and naturally supports the skin's elasticity. It has a gentle floral fragrance and is perfect for a little loving self-care during or after a shower or bath.

You can use body oil while pregnant, but it is important to choose a formula with natural, entirely safe and gentle ingredients. Our Pregnancy Bath and Body Oil has been carefully developed to nourish and protect the skin of mum-to-be. This soothing blend of jojoba, calendula and rosehip oils with rose geranium, Roman chamomile and lavender essential oils is deeply relaxing and moisturising, and naturally supports the skin's elasticity. It has a gentle floral fragrance and is perfect for a little loving self-care during or after a shower or bath.

There are many ways in which herbs can naturally support the postpartum period. There are herbs that can have a direct effect on the uterine and pelvic muscles, supporting the healing process of the area; herbs that can promote relaxation and better sleep through this wonderful but demanding time; herbs that can promote breast milk production; herbs that can support the skin’s natural healing process and elasticity to avoid stretch marks and scars… Among a wide range of other properties. If you are looking for expertly-crafted herbal products to support the postpartum period, we recommend looking into our New Mother’s Tea, our New Mother’s Bath Herbs, our New Mother’s Bath Salts, our Nursing Tea, or our Stretch Mark and Scar Oil, for example. And remember you can always contact us if you have any questions.

Also known as yoni steaming, vaginal steaming (done with care, particularly to avoid any burns!) is a popular traditional and practice to bring relaxation, ease inflammation and promote healing of your vagina after childbirth — although it can also be used at any other time of the life of a woman. It consists in filling a large, shallow bowl with a strong herbal infusion, and sitting about a meter above it, or squatting over it, for as long as it is comfortable.

Herbal sitz baths are a similarly relaxing and helpful practice which can help soothe pain and irritation and to support the healing process. In this practice, you use a strained and warm but cooled down infusion in the large bowl and directly soak in it for as long as you’d like.

We have prepared a dedicated blend of herbs to support new mums through these practices. Our New Mother’s Bath Herbs is a blend of soothing and powerful herbs that can promote healing of the perineum, help re-tone the womb and relieve any pain and inflammation. These herbs are also soothing and strengthening to the nervous system, so they will contribute to easing any fatigue, tension and stress.

Soaking in a fragrant warm bath with bath salts can be a lovely and relaxing practice for expecting and new mums. It is however very important during these special times to be careful about the types of salts, herbs and essential oils that you use, as your sensitivity and the foetus’/baby’s is particularly heightened. Zen Maitri has concocted a series of especially designed bath herbs, bath salts and bath & body oil for expecting mums and new mums, only using herbal ingredients that are known to be safe to mum and baby and to help ease a range of common concerns through this wonderful, transformational time. They contain nourishing, soothing, calming and restorative ingredients for the skin, promote relaxation and relieve any aches and pains, and help ease any stress, irritation and sleep difficulties.

The New Mother’s Bath Salts, for example, combines healing herbs such as calendula and yarrow, but also lady’s mantle and uva ursi, which support recovery in the pelvic area and the female reproductive system. These bath salts support the healing process, alleviate pain, help prevent infections, ease inflammation and irritation, and relieve spasms and cramps. They also support healthy circulation and gently tone and strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor and uterus.

For pregnant women, before childbirth, we have also concocted a blend of Pregnancy Bath Salts containing calming herbs and essential oils of rose geranium, lavender, and Roman chamomile with Himalayan salts. This luxurious and soothing blend alleviates stress and tension, eases any aches and pains, promotes deep relaxation, and nourishes the skin.