Homeopatiaa synnytykseen ja sen jälkeen (eng.)

[Kristalli]

18 Remedies for use before, during and after labor

CALENDULA
A wonderful remedy for speeding the healing process of cuts/ lacerations / wounds. Available from many chemists in cream or ointment form, the latter is especially recommended since it is water resistant. Use as healing balm for perineum after birth to treat tears / episiotomy wounds. In tincture form can be added to bath water or diluted to make a compress. Take internally if there is pus present or the pains are causing particular discomfort. Can be alternated with other post-birth remedies, (e.g. Arnica or Bellis Perennis).

CARBO VEGETABALIS
The "Homoeopathic corpse reviver", this remedy has saved many lives. Symptoms at their most extreme are complete state of collapse due to oxygen starvation. Body cold, limp and pale, or blue. Use in conjunction with other efforts to revive respiration. Hold one pill inside the lower lip of patient (including newborns) until symptoms alleviate. In foetal distress due to oxygen starvation, give to mother to reduce risk of asphyxia to baby. Less severe cases: extreme sluggishness; little or no vitality; coldness (even breath) ; intense air hunger (especially cold). Face appears pinched, pale, sallow or blue. Excellent remedy for excruciating trapped wind (e.g. after Caesarian). Worse: Exertion; heat; humidity; lying down; morning and evening. Better: fanning/ fresh air

CAULLOPHYLLUM
Usually used in the first stage of labour to establish strong productive contractions. Do not use routinely. If needed contractions will be centred in lower half of uterus, whilst top (fundus) feels flabby. Although sharp and painful, contractions are short, ineffective, spasmodic and unstable moving around the bladder, groin or thighs. Sometimes they will slow or stop completely, due to exhaustion. Cervix fails to dilate. Symptoms include chilliness, shivering, trembling and irritability. May be thirsty during contractions. If thirstless and Caullophyllum fails think of Gelsemium.

CHAMOMILLA
Key characteristics: extreme over-sensitivity and violent bad temper. May demand help one moment and reject it the next. Abusive and argumentative, especially with loved ones. Find pains unbearable. May scream frequently or say "I want to die". Feels and looks over-heated. Better: being uncovered, stripping off. Worse: evening; fresh air; company; being spoken to or stared at.

CIMICIFUGA
Very similar to Caullophyllum; contractions in lower half of uterus, painful, sharp, spasmodic. Cervix remains rigidly closed/ fails to dilate properly. The differences are: contractions move from side to side or down into the hips or thighs; gestures, speech and actions become horribly disjointed; physical symptoms often alternate with intense mental/ emotional symptoms. Full of dreadful fears / foreboding, perhaps because of a previous experience of birth, miscarriage or abortion. Sense that "I can't carry on" is meant in the most profound sense. Chilly. Worse: cold, damp. Better: lying on left side.

GELSEMIUM
Next best choice if Caullophyllum fails to produce good strong contractions. Very useful if labour is slow andsluggish. Physical heaviness, even eye lids droop, producing a dazed, stupefied appearance which belies the mental alertness that is there. Body paralysed by exhaustion or "stage fright". Muscular weakness leads to trembling. Chilly, possibly shivers up and down the spine. Thirstless (cf. Pulsatilla). Worse: physical exertion; over excitement; receiving bad news (e.g. that cervix has dilated less than expected). Better: sweating; urination; being alone.

HYPERICUM
Excellent first aid remedy for damage to nerve-rich areas. Pains shoot along nerves with terrible intensity. Most useful after labour. Particularly after Caesarians, epidurals, episiotomies, forceps deliveries. Alternate with other necessary trauma remedies (e.g. Arnica, Bellis Perennis, Calendula).
Worse: cold; pressure; touch.

IPECAC
Labour pains or bright red haemmorhaging with constant violent nausea. Face is deathly blue with dark rings under eyes. Hot and cold sweats. Worse: at night; for food or sight or smell of it.

KALI CARB
Useful in backache labours, where nagging pain is felt in back, buttocks, thighs. The mother-to-be is often extremely irritable, yet needs company. Posterior presentations where labour gets stuck. Backache greatly relieved by very firm pressure. Headache during labour. Chilliness after a contraction. Worse: night and early hours of morning; touch; noise. Better: warmth.

KALI PHOS
Often recommended for exhaustion. Very helpful during Labour if no other strong symptoms . Best taken between contractions. Can be used often throughout labour whenever energy is low. Useful for attendants too.

PHYTOLACCA
A post-labor remedy that has a deserved reputation for treating cracked nipples, blocked milk ducts and mastitis (breast inflammation) which may occur during breast-feeding. Pains intense; radiate out from around nipple, sometimes into the shoulder or arm.

PULSATILLA
Can be used from 36th week to encourage breech / transverse baby to turn. Also very important during labour. Easy to spot when needed because of clear emotional symptoms: weepiness; clinginess and pleading for help. Contractions short, weak or stop entirely. Pain may be felt in back. Other physical symptoms include exhaustion; faintness; nausea; thirstlessness; vomiting. Worse: stuffy room; twilight; getting cold or wet. Better: fresh air; moving around; sympathy and company.

SECALE
Like Pulsatilla intolerant of stuffy rooms, but emotionally more stupefied in labour, with much longer contractions. If these stop, trembling may start. Most often used to antidote ill-effects of Syntometrine, often routinely injected to speed up expulsion of placenta. Take immediately after where possible. Can be used to encourage a retained placenta to be pushed out naturally, if contractions are too weak.

SEPIA
Pains severe; dragging down; much relieved by exercise. Emotionally feel irritable or indifferent to loved ones; respond badly to sympathy. Sluggish and weepy. Useful for treating uterine prolapse with strong bearing-down
sensation. Think of Sepia if children are born close together, giving the body insufficient time in between to recover. Worse: fasting; touch; staying in same position. Better: after eating; moving around.

STAPHISAGRIA
Most often used after labour, particularly if mother feels anger, resentment or humiliation because of medical procedures or interventions during labour and does not want to be touched. Consider it if the birth involved any of the following: intrusive or painful internal examinations; insertion of a catheter; an enema; forceps delivery; episiotomy; stitches; use of stirrups. Pains are stitching and smarting.