Homeopathic Medicine for Pregnancy & Childbirth

Homeopathy is a system of medicine which is based on treating the individual with highly diluted substances given in mainly tablet form, which trigger the body’s natural system of healing. Based on your experience of your symptoms, a homeopath will match the most appropriate medicine to you.

Homeopathy is ideal for women in their childbearing years as it is a gentle system of medicine. During pregnancy, some women will choose to live with the discomfort of minor complaints such as morning sickness or heartburn, rather than seek treatment because they are concerned about the possible side effects of orthodox medicines on their unborn child.

Homeopathic medicines are safe for your growing baby because only a minute amount of the active ingredient is used in their preparation (1).

By stimulating your vitality in pregnancy, homeopathic treatment can benefit your baby and by staying as healthy as possible during pregnancy, you are giving your baby the ideal conditions in which to thrive.

Physical and emotional changes during pregnancy may cause health problems such as nausea, mild urinary problems, diarrhoea, heartburn, anaemia, varicose veins, backache, cramps, thrush or emotional distress. All these problems and other potentially complicated symptoms such as raised blood pressure, may be helped by professional homeopathic treatment (2).

“Homeopathic medicines are safe for your growing baby”

What complaints can be helped by homeopathy?

The suggestions in this leaflet are for minor complaints. If your symptoms are severe or chronic (persistent), consult a registered homeopath, your midwife and/or your general practitioner (3). If you are already undergoing a course of homeopathic treatment, contact your homeopath before prescribing for yourself.

Morning Sickness

Symptoms of morning sickness include nausea, occasional vomiting and tiredness. Many women experience these symptoms during the first three months of pregnancy, usually in the morning when the stomach is empty, although it can occur at any time of the day.

The traditional cure of eating a dry biscuit before getting out of bed is worth trying. Avoid rich, fatty foods and try eating little and often if your nausea is worse when you are hungry.

Seek professional help if your vomiting is severe, for example if you are unable to keep food down and are losing weight or if it persists past your third month. 

The following homeopathic remedies are the more commonly indicated; however, your Ontario Homeopathic Association registered Homeopath/Homeopathic Doctor  will determine the correct remedy that will be based on your entire symptom profile:

Ipecac: constant, nausea with empty belching and retching; vomiting is difficult and does not relieve your nausea

Nux vomica: nausea with retching that is relieved by vomiting; sour belching, indigestion and heartburn. You may have a sensation that there is a knot in your stomach. You feel bad-tempered

Pulsatilla: nausea (with little vomiting), worse after eating and drinking, better in the fresh air and for company. You feel weepy, moody and like to be comforted

Sepia: intermittent nausea which is worse in the mornings and worse for the smell or thought of food; there is an empty, sinking feeling in the stomach which is temporarily relieved by eating. You feel apathetic, exhausted and heavy but oddly are better for vigorous exercise. You are indifferent or cross with others.

Constipation in pregnancy

Constipation is common in pregnancy as the hormones, which prepare the muscles of the pelvis for labour, can slow the digestive processes down. Adjusting your diet can often help mild constipation. Increase your intake of fluids (especially water), fruit and vegetables, go easy on wheat products (as the gluten can have a clogging effect) and avoid iron tablets unless prescribed by your GP.

Any lasting change in your usual pattern of bowel movements should be assessed professionally but for a simple case of constipation in pregnancy, try one of the following remedies:

Bryonia: large, hard, dry stools which are difficult to expel; often with a headache which is worse for the slightest movement. You are irritable.

Nux vomica: frequent urging to pass a stool but in spite of straining, passing only small amounts each time; it feels as if some is left behind; piles that may itch and bleed

Sepia: straining to pass a large, hard stool; your stomach feels full and there is a sensation of a lump in the rectum that may remain even after passing a stool. You feel generally sluggish

Sulphur: constipation with piles that itch and burn and are worse for heat. You are generally restless, thirsty and sensitive to the heat

“Avoid rich, fatty foods and try eating little and often if your nausea is worse when you are hungry”

What about diet?

During pregnancy, it is especially important to eat well from a wide range of foods, as this will provide you with the extra trace minerals and vitamins that you need. If you are on a restricted diet or wish to take vitamin and mineral supplements, then it is important that you do take professional nutritional advice Avoid smoking and alcohol

as these have been shown to damage your health and that of your unborn child. Be sure to get plenty of rest and sleep and to exercise regularly. Yoga has been found to be particularly helpful during pregnancy. Increase your intake of iron-rich foods to keep up with an increased demand. Foods rich in iron include green, leafy vegetables, blackstrap molasses, dried peaches and apricots, beans and lentils, whole grains, seeds (sunflower and pumpkin), and eggs.

Vitamin C can help the body to absorb iron so take a fresh citrus drink with a meal to increase your iron intake. Avoid tea, especially with a meal, as it actually prevents iron from being absorbed. Iron tablets often have side effects such as constipation so ask your homeopath about homeopathic alternatives if you need extra iron and are not able to get it from your diet.

Many of the above foods (especially black-eye beans and blackstrap molasses) are also high in folic acid, an important trace mineral that helps with the absorption of iron and is essential for a healthy pregnancy.

How can homeopathy help during the birth?

There are remedies that appear to be effective in dealing with possible problems during childbirth, such as a cervix which is slow to dilate, pain, excessive bleeding, retained placenta and other difficulties (3). Your homeopath will advise you and your partner on the use of remedies in labour. You might want to ask your homeopath if they can attend the birth or if they can recommend a labour kit. The following remedies are often required, both during and after labour, so if you are new to homeopathy or are unable to consult a homeopath, you can start out with these:

Aconite: the labour is too fast (any stage), the pains are very strong (even unbearable) and you have a feeling of panic

Arnica: an indispensable remedy that can be given from time to time during labour to help the muscles function properly, to relieve the over-exertion of labour and reduce the bruised feeling after delivery

Kali phos: for simple exhaustion during labour, mental, emotional and physical

Caullophyllum: for a difficult labour where the cervix is slow to dilate and the pains are strong but ineffective.You feel cold and trembly. (This remedy is not available over the counter - consult a registered homeopath)

Pulsatilla: when contractions are irregular and weak, the cervix is slow to dilate and you feel miserable, clingy and tearful. You may talk about wanting to give up and go home!

Healing after the birth

After the birth, you can use homeopathic remedies to speed up healing for yourself and your baby:

Aconite: for shock following the fear of the intensity of birth, in yourself, your partner or your baby

Arnica: to relieve soreness, bruising and after pains. Also helpful for babies who are bruised (from a long labour or a forceps delivery). If you are still sore after three days, take Bellis perennis to help with bruising to deep muscle tissues

Kali phos: for mental exhaustion after delivery, with headache, tiredness but too excited to sleep, especially in the first day or two after the birth

Pulsatilla: post-natal ‘blues’, especially when the milk comes in. You feel utterly miserable and burst into tears at the slightest thing but you feel much better for being comforted

Can homeopathy help with breastfeeding problems?

Problems that can make it difficult for women to breastfeed successfully include mastitis, painful nipples and a slow milk supply (4).

Homeopaths recognise that breast milk gives babies a good start in life, so do keep in touch with your midwife, breastfeeding counsellor and/or your homeopath if you want to breastfeed but find it painful or difficult or both.

One useful remedy is Phytolacca for sore, cracked nipples, which hurt when the baby nurses. It is also useful for breast infections (mastitis) where there are painful lumps in the breast.

Treating Babies

Babies tend to respond quickly to homeopathic treatment. There are homeopathic remedies to help relieve the pains of colic or teething, nappy rash and more serious problems. We advise you to consult one of our members if you want homeopathic treatment for your baby and see our leaflet “Homeopathy for Babies and Children”.

“After the birth, you can use homeopathic remedies to speed up healing for yourself and baby”

How do I take a homeopathic remedy?

Your Homeopathic Doctor will provide you the patient teaching information on how to take your Homeopathic remedy.  As a general guide, take one dose of your selected remedy three times daily for up to three days. Stop as and when you feel better. Sometimes, for example, during or afterlabour, you may find that you want to take a remedy more often or you may want to take more than one remedy in a single day. This is fine, you can change your remedies according to your needs. When giving birth, you may require different remedies at each stage of the process.

Let tablets dissolve under the tongue. Hard tablets may be chewed if they do not dissolve.

How to find a qualified and registered homeopath

A Homeopath/Homeopathic Doctor with a DHMS or DHMHS and HD designation from the Ontario Homeopathic Association is your guarantee of a fully qualified healthcare professional who is fully insured and has agreed to abide by a strict code of ethics and practice.

Sherwoodtowne Homeopathic Family Doctors are registered with the Ontario Homeopathic Association. 

References:
(1) Dantas F Rampes H. Do homeopathic medicines provoke adverse effects? A systematic review. BR Homeopathic Journal J, 2000; 89 (Supl): 535-8

(2) Goodman S. Quality of life in pregnant women in homeopathic or mainstream medical type care and the course of the pregnancy (review). Positive Health, 1999; 43.

(3) Smith J. Using homeopathy during pregnancy and labour. Midwifery Digest, 1998; 8 (3), 283-6

(4) Castro M. Homeopathy for Mother and Baby, PanMacMillan,1996. ISBN 095157255.