Taking Herbal Products During Pregnancy

There are many herbal products that can be used safely as natural pregnancy remedies for all kinds of pregnancy ailments from stretch marks to morning sickness. However, you need to be incredibly careful using them just like you would any other drug. Just because something is "natural" doesn't mean it isn't be dangerous.

Herbal products are viewed as "dietary supplements" not drugs by the FDA, so they aren't regulated or tested the same way drugs are. Therefore, there's very little data on natural pregnancy remedies like herbs and there can even be huge differences in quality and potency from manufacturer to manufacturer. So proceed with caution!

Some good general guidelines to follow are:

• Don't take products with more than one herb in them.
• It's probably best to avoid taking herbs during your first trimester.
• Make sure you really understand what you're taking. Some products have similar names but aren't the same thing at all (e.g., blue cohosh versus black cohosh).
• Make sure you take the recommended dose.
• Educate yourself about drug interactions. Some herbs are can interact with certain meds and anesthetics.
• Never take anything recommended by someone who doesn't know what they're talking about! Sure, your college roommate might swear by her natural pregnancy remedies, but unless she's got a medical degree, you're gonna need some more info.
• And perhaps most importantly, always consult your health care provider before taking any herbs or natural pregnancy remedies. Some OBs ask their patients to steer clear of herbal remedies altogether when they're preggers. But many doulas and midwives are educated on the topic and can give you the 411 as to what products are safe and which ones aren't. The bottom line is, never, ever take any herbal remedies (or other drugs, for that matter) before checking with your doc first!