Recommended from the last week of pregnancy, one can resort to homoeopathy during both the prenatal and postnatal periods. Indeed, results have shown that this therapeutic method is not only a good preparation to childbirth, but also helps to regulate labour much better while making it a lot less painful. Pain being one of the most painful factors to endure in such circumstances, homoeopathy seems to be a good alternative for those who cannot or do not wish to resort to epidural anaesthesia. Also know that in general, the remedies prescribed during childbirth are often the same as those usually indicated for the treatment of anxiety.
In regard to surgical procedures that require very specific care, the remedies used will be different since, in such cases, the objective will be to decrease the sensation of pain resulting from the wound, to favour proper healing and to reduce the risks linked to postoperative recovery. Finally, it is important to note that in case of vaginal delivery, homoeopathic treatment will help remedy the many problems that may arise as a result of overly intense labour or during lactation. While homoeopathy is a priori completely harmless to the health of the mother and her child, it is still strongly recommended to contact your physician prior to starting a treatment.
To prepare for childbirth, it is possible to use a treatment with Actaea racemosa and Blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides). Particularly suitable for gynaecological disorders, both of these remedies help reduce the pelvic pain that occurs towards the end of pregnancy and prepare the body for the uterine contractions that will enable delivery. Consequently, it is advisable to take 5 granules of Actea racemosa 9 CH and Caulophyllum thalictroides 9 CH twice a day, from the last week of pregnancy until the first pains appear or the rupture of the amniotic sac.
To favour a fast and less painful childbirth, it is recommended to resort to treatments mainly composed of Actaea racemosa, Caulophyllum thalictroides, Coffea cruda, Magnesia phosphorica and Dioscorea villosa. Once the cervical dilatation is greater than two centimetres, one can take 5 granules of Actea racemosa 9 CH every 15 minutes in order to speed up the labour. If the pain is less and less noticeable and the cervix suddenly stops dilating, take 5 granules of Caulophyllum thalictroides every fifteen minutes to stimulate the resumption of the uterine contractions. Furthermore, it is now known that a dose of Gelsemium sempervirens CH 15 from the rupture of membranes significantly reduces the duration of labour, thus speeding up childbirth while making it less painful.
Regarding the reduction of pain resulting from the contractions, it is important to remember that pain is a subjective notion that greatly varies from one individual to the next. To that extent, it will be up to the patient to adjust the dosage according to the intensity of the pain that she feels. Thus, one can take 5 granules of Coffea cruda 9 CH or Coffea tosta 9 CH as often as necessary or 5 granules of Magnesia phosphorica 9 CH if the pain is slightly alleviated in curled position. On the other hand, if there is no discernible relief when changing position, take 5 granules of Dioscorea villosa 9 CH each time the pain becomes unbearable.
In the case of an episiotomy requiring minor surgery, the treatment involves taking 5 granules of Staphysagria 9 CH twice a day for a week, in order to progressively reduce the burning sensation resulting from the wound.
In case of Caesarean section, the recommended treatment will be much more substantial because of the importance of the surgical procedure involved. If the operation was performed under epidural anaesthesia, it is advisable to take 5 granules of Bryonia alba 7 CH three times a day until a significant improvement is noticed. In addition, the burning sensation can be reduced by taking 5 pellets of Staphysagria 9 CH three times a day until the pain completely disappears. If it was a Caesarean section conducted under general anaesthesia, it is useful, in addition to Staphysagria 9 CH, to take 5 granules of Opium 9 CH or Raphanus sativus niger 5 CH three times a day in order to help the digestive system resume its activity.
After a long and arduous delivery, one often feels strong and painful sensations known as “after pains”. To reduce the discomfort linked to after pains, one can take 5 granules of Magnesia phosphorica 9 CH each time the pain becomes unbearable. Furthermore, know that remedies containing Cactus grandiflorus, Coffea cruda or Pareira brava can also be prescribed in this case.
To treat vulval oedema, you can take 6 doses of Apris mellifica 9 CH, a dose consisting of 6 granules. In initial treatment, let one hour go by between each medication intake, knowing that the treatment can be continued until the swelling subsides completely. However, it is important to know that in case of prolonged treatment, the intake of medication will be less frequent.
In regard to perineal pain that commonly occurs after childbirth, know that it can be relieved by taking 5 granules of Arnica montana 9 CH twice a day for a duration of seven days. Finally, in case of extreme fatigue, take 5 granules of China rubra 9 CH twice a day for an entire week in order to get back in shape and renew vitality.
If small haemorrhagic skin spots appear on the face after childbirth, take 5 granules of Arnica montana 9 CH six times a day for six days. Also known as petechiae, these small spots resulting from a rupture of the capillaries usually appear when the delivery is preceded by prolonged and sustained efforts.
In case of breast pain, it is advisable to take 5 granules of Apis mellifica 9 CH and 5 granules of Bryonia alba 9 CH four times a day until the feeling of discomfort completely disappears. Regarding urinary incontinence, it can be treated by taking 5 granules of Calcarea fluorica 7 CH daily. However, know that in such cases the homoeopathic treatment only occurs in complement to perineal re-education.
If the delivery was particularly painful, the newborn baby can sometimes suffer from a cephalohematoma or a caput succedaneum. A caput succedaneum occurs between the skull and the skin, while a cephalohematoma is located between the skull and periosteum. Both of these blood effusions can be treated by giving the newborn baby 5 granules of Arnica 9 CH three times a day, taking care to dilute them in pure water prior to administering the preparation to the infant. By respecting this dosage, the haematoma should normally resorb itself after a few days. Being a very soft and non-toxic course of treatment, homoeopathy is safe for use with newborns. Nonetheless, it is always best to consult a doctor before starting any course of treatment.
• Actaea Racemosa
• Apis Mellifica
• Arnica Montana
• Bryonia Alba
• Cactus Grandiflorus
• Calcarea Fluorica
• Caulophyllum Thalictroides
• China Rubra
• Coffea Cruda
• Coffea Tosta
• Dioscorea Villosa
• Gelsemium Sempervirens
• Magnesia Phosphorica
• Opium
• Pareira Brava
• Raphanus Sativus Niger
• Staphysagria
• Breast-feeding
• Pain
• Fatigue
• Pregnancy
• Pre and post-operative care
• Oedema
Good to know: Although most drugs are strictly advised against during pregnancy and childbirth, it is good to know that homoeopathic treatments do not constitute a threat to the pregnant mother or the foetus. In addition, homoeopathy helps to significantly reduce the duration of labour preceding the delivery.
