“I’m a mother of three girls, and I’m also a full-spectrum doula, so my life pretty much always consists of babies,” Stephanie Krueger says with a laugh.
Stephanie, who lives in Boulder County, Colorado, felt called to birth work after her first daughter was born almost six years ago, and she has been a practicing doula and yoga teacher ever since.
“We have a very special group of birth workers here in Boulder,” says Stephanie. “It’s wonderful to be part of the birth awakening that’s happening, focusing on alternative ways you can give birth and supporting your family through that experience. It’s really fulfilling.”
One of the many ways Stephanie supports herself and her doula clients? Spices!
“I grew up on a farm here in Colorado, and my parents have an epic herb garden. They were always using herbs to treat certain things or support us when we needed them,” says Stephanie. “I think around age 10 they started giving me WishGarden’s Kick-Ass Immune Activator whenever I felt like I was getting sick, so it’s always been a part of my life.”
Although she had known about WishGarden’s herbal immunity formulas for years, she didn’t realize the company offered specific products for pregnant women and new mothers until her first pregnancy.
“I make milk like a Holstein,” Stephanie jokes. “So if my breasts don’t empty completely, that can be a big problem, and you may only experience a blocked duct once, if ever. ever want it again.”
After talking to her midwife about her breastfeeding issues, Stephanie recommended WishGarden’s Happy Ducts Free the Flow, a short-term herbal supplement for breastfeeding mothers to stimulate lymphatic function in the breasts. Happy Ducts can be taken for two weeks because it is formulated with Echinacea purpureaan herb for short-term use to support healthy fluid movement and the innate immune system.
“I tried it the next time I felt a blockage coming on and thought, ‘this is literally gold,’” says Stephanie. “Three children later and I’ve never had clogged ducts again.”
Now Stephanie teaches Happy Ducts to all her doula clients. “All my postpartum moms ask me, ‘Where did you get this magical elixir?’” says Stephanie. “It really works!”
She is also a fan of WishGarden’s AfterEase For After Birth Contractions, which she recommends to clients to soothe and relax the body postpartum, and Postpartum Emotional Baby Blues, which provides emotional and hormonal support for new mothers. Her family also turns to Digestive Rescue GI Normalizer to ease digestive discomfort.
In addition to purchasing herbal products from companies like WishGarden, Stephanie also has her own herb garden where she grows and harvests herbs to use in homemade remedies such as teas and bath blends. One of her favorite blends is a newborn baby bath tea made with chamomile, lavender, roses and gluten-free oats, which she often makes for her clients.
“Herbs really work hand-in-hand with your body, rather than against it, especially when you work with friendly plant companions,” says Stephanie.
Learn more about Stephanie and her doula services in Colorado at RockyMountainMother.com and follow her on Instagram @rockymtnmother.
All photos: Stephanie Krueger
Valerie Gleaton is a professional writer and editor. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Colorado Boulder, where she also earned a certificate in science and environmental reporting.
For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, or to sell any product.
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