I've been reading a TON of VBAC birth stories, many that mention the suggestion of herbal remedies to help strengthen the amniotic sac and help with anemia.

I have some heinous pregnancy induced anemia, and i've been looking online for suggestions of what to take, and i've heard Floridex across the board.

i also found that floridex has a calcium supplement.

i've been taking regular OTC prenatals, along with calcium chews and iron pills.

nettles tea i've heard lots about too. can i take that with all the other supplements? can i put the liquid floridex supplements IN the tea at the same time?

anyone know anything about the benefits of chlorophyll, alfalfa, or dandelion?

i've read about the benefits, but i guess my issues is how/when to take them because i know many supplements can't be absorbed all at once.

it's so much information, i'm totally overwhelmed!

I would recommend being very skeptical of supplements. Remember herbs are powerful drugs just like pharmaceuticals except they aren't regulated for safety, efficacy, or consistency. Ask your doctor for advice before taking anything during pregnancy and if your doctor isn't knowledgeable about herbs ask for a referral to a doctor that does both OB and alternative medicines.

Update: I searched the medical literature and none of the above herbs are associated with pregnancy studies. So, again, I would caution against using them without knowing what they do in pregnancy and potential interactions with drugs you might receive in labor. Just consider them like class C drugs...unknown effect on pregnancy.

Hello, nutrition is a personal thing because all our bodies will have different needs and absorption issues. But I wanted to share something that I learned and was surprised about. I was having fatigue issues and was found to be anemic. At the time I was on a health-tea kick and was drinking several cups a day. When my GP found this out he told me to cut back on the tea, because certain tannates in tea can decrease iron absorption in the body. A good way to get healthy doses of iron-rich nutrients without turning to pills is: liver, beef, beans, and pumpkin seeds. I am not a big promoter of red meats and would tend to recommend the beans and seeds more

As for herbs, I have heard great things about chickweed. If you live next to a vitamin specialty shop, you might want to look at one of those organic super-food powders and check out the ingredients list.