I was fortunate during my pregnancies to already know the benefits of Homeopathy. Thankfully, for my babies, and me, most of the risks involved with any medical choices I had to make, were avoided with the use of Homeopathy. Homeopathy is a gentle form of medicine, safe for both mom and baby.  In using Homeopathy, you are working with your body, allowing your immune system to work, to heal itself. Therefore, Homeopathy will strengthen your immune system, and bring about balance to your health, both physically and psychologically.

A little back ground. Homeopathy was founded in 1796 by Doctor Samuel Hahnemann. It has since been used to treat all manners of illness. Today Homeopathy has gained popularity all over the world and is used extensively as the norm throughout Europe and India. Over the years Homeopaths have noticed that patients who have been treated before the birth (and even better, before pregnancy) have had much healthier outcomes, and their children have been witnessed as being overall healthier.

For six and a half years I have treated women through pregnancy and birth, and whether it is morning sickness, varicose veins, miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, premature labor, non-progressing labor, hemorrhage, postpartum recovery or any of the other mild to severe possible complications, taking the right remedy makes a world of difference!

While treatment by a trained Homeopath is best, you can try some things at home. Following are just some of the possible remedies and their indications.

Morning sickness:
    This can really mean sickness any time of the day.  Mild nausea in the morning during the 1st trimester can be common and normal, but nausea that persists through the day and is out of proportion can be addressed with a remedy and proper diet.

Possible remedies and their indications:
    Ipecac: Persistent, constant nausea, that is anytime of the day and night You may have profuse salivation, and are turned off by all food and drink. There could be vomiting of drink and undigested food and nothing makes you feel better!

    Colchium: Nausea can last all day but you cannot touch or think about food, extremely sensitive to odors. You are worse from smell of food, especially cooking food, fish and eggs. Also worse in the evenings and from motion.  Better: legs drawn up

    Sepia: You get nauseous at the smell, sight or thought of food, you are unrelieved by vomiting, have a bitter taste in your mouth. You are hungry and crave sour or     acidic things. While vomiting there is a bearing down sensation. You are worse in the morning, especially after rising and in the evening after 6pm. Eating may bring you some temporary relief but you have to force feed yourself. This remedy is also indicated when you feel some regret about the pregnancy, or are indifferent or depressed and weepy.

    Nux-Vomica: Is indicated with acidic and bitter burping, hiccough, & heartburn. There is a sensation of weight in the pit of the stomach, cramps with retching.
Craving for chalk or earth. There may also be constipation, with urging to move the bowels. Vomiting with vertigo, restlessness, and irritability but vomiting brings relief. Your stomach may be sensitive to pressure. Your temper is touchy and you are irritable. This is all worse: morning, and after eating.
       
Common remedies for getting labor going when there is a slow start:

Pulsatilla: Labor is slowly progressing, there is an absence of marked contractions; feeble, things seem "stuck" or changing; weak one minute, strong the next.  Pains wander or move about. Emotionally you are weepy, indecisive, concerned about the baby, needing love and attention. You are sensitive to the pain but like fresh air and walking about.

Gelsemium: This remedy is important when there is nervous, performance anxiety. An excellent choice when labor stops on arrival to the hospital. You may be exhausted, sleepy even though labor has just begun. Also indicated when labor has been many hours with no real results.  Chills are common, up the back (nervousness). Red, flushed, heavy expression, with weakness, apathetic, dull, drowsy behavior. It may seem as though the baby ascends instead of descends. Pains shoot up the back or from back to hips. An underlying fear of losing control is often present.

Caulophyllum: Labor seems to be ineffectual, your contractions weak and feeble, they seem to fly about. Or you may have spasmodic hard contractions but there is no dilation. You may feel prickling pains, are often thirsty, shivering, maybe even feverish. You may notice a lot of secretion of blood and mucus.

Cimicifuga: No progression, misplaced pains felt in hips, buttocks, back (large muscles). Spasmodic contractions. You are constantly chatting, but kind, not sharp tongued. You may sigh often, have nervous chills and shivering. You are sensitive to noise.

How to take these remedies: choose the one that is the closest match for you, a 30c potency is a good place to start. Put 2 pellets under your tongue then wait and see. If you are not noticing any change you can repeat the dose every 10 minutes. If after 5 doses there is no change then discontinue; it is likely not the right remedy for you.

Postpartum
Your recovery can be greatly enhanced with these remedies;
    Arnica  - One dose every hour for the first 3 hours then every four hours for the rest of the day (24 hours).
    -Day 2 if still feeling sore take arnica 3X/day. Continue as needed for bruising, sore muscles and aching pains

    Bellis Perennis - Day one - one dose every 4 hours
      -Day two - one dose every 6 hours
  -Day three and on- Use as needed every 6 hours for internal bruising, pain, tenderness, especially in the abdominal region

    Hypericum - Day one - one dose every 4 hours
           -Day two - one dose every 6 hours
           -Day 3 and on - use as needed for discomfort in your back, headaches from epidural, tearing or if it was necessary for an episiotomy.

    Calendula - Tincture - Dropper full in your peri-bottle every time you use it. Also can be used to wash cesarean incisions and speed healing. 
    -Cream- use as needed on episiotomy or c-section incisions. Also is the best thing (besides plenty of airing out) for diaper rash.

Birth is a normal natural process. Homeopathy encourages your body to do what it already knows how to do. Having homeopathy in your life means having safe and healthy choices.

Toby Neal, D.S.H.M, regularly teaches classes on how to use homeopathy at home. She can be reached at 416-659-1516 or classicalhomeopath@gmail.com