About 6 or 8 weeks before my delivery date, I decided to get really serious about seeing what I could do to avoid a post partum hemorrhage. This was pregnancy #10 and I have had serious hemorrhages several times before. I was already trying to follow the Brewer pregnancy diet and drink lots of water as a part of a healthy pregnancy diet. But the biggest change was that I drastically reduced my coffee and all caffeine intake*, and I refined the goodness in my green smoothie.
This smoothie became my morning staple. Alfalfa, kale, and chlorophyll all work to build red blood cells along with the Floradix iron supplement. Red raspberries are similar to red raspberry leaf and so are good for uterine atony. Vit K is good for clotting. I added cream or yogurt because Vit K is a fat soluble vitamin and there was no other fat in my morning food and because it tastes good. The banana and pineapple juice were simply to make it sweeter and bind the ingredients together.
Anti Post-partum Hemorrhage Smoothie
Drop 4 alfalfa pills in bottom of blender
Shove blender full of kale--ribs removed
Fill bender halfway with pineapple juice
Blend until smooth
Add 1 banana and a bag of frozen raspberries and blend until smooth. Add water to thin.
Pour into a 12 oz glass.
Add to the glass:
1 tablespoon liquid chrolophyll
1 tablespoon Liquid Vitamin K
2 tablespoons Floradix iron supplement
1-2 tablespoon cream of full fat yogurt
Sugar to taste if it wasn't sweet enough
I must also add that I know my spiritual preparation gave me peace and clarity as I was working to improve my diet. My brother gave me Anointing of the Sick and I asked lots of people to pray for my uterus to heal. One friend made a real sacrifice and offered it for a safe delivery. I love my friends and God has been very gracious to me. I feel His hand and the guidance of the Blessed Mother in this pregnancy and delivery.
*I usually drink at least 2 very dark cups of coffee everyday and am not super worried about how much chocolate or other stray caffeine might sneak in during the day. To be clear, sweet tea and sodas are very unusual, which is why I don't stress if they slip in occasionally. However, I read that caffeine might play a role in PPH, so I became vigilant. I reduced my coffee to less than half a cup a day and all other caffeine went from being unusual to rare. Since caffeine inhibits absorption of other vitamins, I think this was as critical as the smoothie.
The rest of the story:
When I delivered the baby, I did a home waterbirth. The CNM midwife and her RN assistant started preparing for the birth by laying out the meds like Cytotec and Pitocin and there was an IV bag hanging near the sofa bed. We agreed that after I gave birth, I would take an oral Cytotec and get out of the tub to deliver the placenta in the bed which would make it easier for bimanual compressions and the other things if they were needed. She does not manage the delivery of the placenta as that contributes to PPH.
There was quite a bit of blood in the water after the baby came, so after a minute or so I told her I was ready to get out. I walked over to the bed and lay down holding the baby. I delivered the placenta, and we waited. And that was it. She threw away the IV and meds before she left.
My bleeding has been the lightest ever, my milk has come in amazingly fast and full, I feel great...and I'm still drinking the smoothies!
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