Birthing With Ancient & Modern Medicines
A deep dive on what that can actually look like.
When most people imagine birth, they often picture two ends of a spectrum: a high-tech hospital birth full of interventions, or a fully hands-off, "natural" birth with no clinical tools in sight. But real midwifery - the kind I practice at Supernatural Midwifery - lives somewhere in between. It’s the space where ancient wisdom and modern medicine meet, where intuition and science work together to protect, honor, and support the birth process without rushing it.
This is how I care for you - and it’s what keeps homebirth both powerful and safe.
① Honoring the Old Ways:
ancient medicines at birth
Long before hospital protocols existed, midwives used plants, intuition, and hands-on presence to guide birthing people safely through labor. I still lean on these tools today - because they work.
When I walk into your birth space, my kit includes:
Shepherd’s Purse Tincture — to gently manage postpartum bleeding when needed.
Yunnan Baiyao Powder — a traditional Chinese formula used to stop bleeding from trauma or internal wounds.
Angelica Root Tincture — to support the release of the placenta after birth.
Motherwort Tincture — to ease postpartum uterine cramping and help the body regulate after birth.
Valerian Root and Skullcap — to calm an overworked nervous system, especially if labor stalls from tension or exhaustion.
Blue and Black Cohosh — oxytocic herbs that, when used carefully, can encourage contractions if labor needs a nudge.
Korean Ginseng — to offer strength and stamina when your energy reserves are running low.
Alongside these plant medicines, I use homeopathic remedies from my well-trusted Helios kit. Remedies like Arnica for bruising, Gelsemium for labor anxiety, Pulsatilla for emotional swings, and Sepia for recovery.
② knowing when to bring in modern medicine
I respect birth enough to know i can’t control it.
That's why I arrive at every birth with clinical emergency tools packed, organized, and ready for immediate use - though I hope you never need to see them pulled out.
My medical kit includes:
Pitocin, Misoprostol, and Methergine — to manage postpartum hemorrhage if natural methods aren’t enough.
Tranexamic Acid (TXA) — to help stabilize clotting in the rare event of a serious bleed.
IV Fluids and Supplies — for hydration or emergency volume replacement.
Oxygen Tank, Ambu Bag, and Suction Equipment — to support babies who need help taking their first breaths.
Lidocaine, Suturing Materials, and Surgical Instruments — to repair perineal tears carefully and compassionately.
Because safety isn’t about fear. It’s about being ready without being reactive. It’s about staying calm because you're prepared.
③ what it looks like in the moment
Imagine this…
You’re laboring at home.
The room is dim, your playlist is humming quietly, and the smell of food from your own kitchen fills the air.
You move freely - from shower to bed to birth pool - following your body’s lead.
I check in periodically, watching your movements, your breath, your baby’s heartbeat. Not rushing. Not hovering. Just staying close enough to notice if something shifts.
If labor slows because tension has crept in, I might offer a few drops of Skullcap tincture to relax your nervous system.
If you're tired, Valerian Root and Korean Ginseng might find their way into your hand with a glass of water.
If your placenta needs a little encouragement after birth, I might offer Angelica Root or a low dose of Pitocin - depending on what your body is asking for.
Nothing is forced.
Nothing is automatic.
Every decision is made with you, in real-time, based on what’s unfolding.
④ Why This Approach Matters
true integrative midwifery isn’t…
…about romanticizing birth or fearing medicine.
It’s about respecting both.
Plant medicine and intuition help birth flow naturally.
Clinical tools and sharp skills are there if a moment demands them.
Together, they create a birth experience that feels safe, supported, and sovereign—one where your body is trusted, your choices are centered, and your experience is honored.
In a city as fast and bright as New York, choosing to birth at home with someone who moves at your rhythm can feel revolutionary.
But really, it’s just a return - to something older, wiser, and very much alive inside you.
If you’re ready to explore what integrative, heart-led, evidence-informed homebirth care can feel like in NYC, I’d be honored to walk that path with you.
