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Self-care with homeopathy during
pregnancy can
be rewarding. A correctly-chosen remedy can work gently and efficiently to
relieve discomfort and help the body heal itself without toxicity or
side-effects. Of course care and guidance from a
competent, sympathetic physician is very important during pregnancy for both general support and to
monitor for complications.
Pregnancy is an interesting and absorbing time for most women, and
can also involve a great deal of stress. Many emotional, hormonal, and physical changes take
place as the baby grows. There are homeopathic
remedies that can help a woman’s body deal with various stresses, and help to
maintain its balance as the pregnancy proceeds.
Nausea during pregnancy can be miserable. Some
women only feel ill or queasy in the morning, but for some it lasts all day and
is even troublesome at night. Discomfort usually eases off by the third or
fourth month, but not always. Homeopathic remedies can be very helpful to a
woman with morning sickness and are safe to take during pregnancy.
Arnica is a remedy that is often used for relief of soreness that comes from
physical exertion and muscle strain. It is also useful for soreness after labor
and delivery, and for hemorrhoids that may follow childbirth.
Asarum is indicated when a woman feels very ill, with constant
nausea and retching. She is extremely sensitive to everything—especially
noise, which can aggravate the nauseous feelings, and she feels best when lying down
and resting. Cool drinks or food may help, but it is hard for her to even think
of eating.
Calcarea phosphorica is a remedy that can help to strengthen a woman who tends
toward easy tiredness, poor digestion, cold hands and feet, and poor absorption
of nutrients. Many women who need this remedy find only “junk food”
appealing during pregnancy, or have cravings for smoked and salty food. A
history of easy tooth decay and aching bones and joints may also suggest a need
for this remedy.
Carbo vegetabilis is a remedy that can be helpful to a woman who feels weak and
faint during pregnancy, with poor circulation, a general feeling of coldness,
and a craving for fresh or moving air. She may also experience frequent digestive
upsets with burning pain and a tendency to belch. A woman who is tired
from overwork, many pregnancies close together, or a previous illness may regain
some strength with carbo vegetabilis.
Caulophyllum may be helpful to women with weak muscle tone in
the uterus. A history of irregular periods, slow and difficult labor with
previous deliveries, or weakness of the cervix may be relieved by this remedy.
The woman may feel erratic pains like sticking needles, or episodes of
contracting pain, and she can feel nervous, shaky, trembling and sometimes
irritable as well.
Cimicifuga, also known as Actaea racemosa,
can be helpful for women
who are nervous and talkative, with a tendency to feel fearful and gloomy during
pregnancy. They may become over agitated and fear a miscarriage — sometimes
having pains that feel like labor pains too early, or pains that shoot from hip
to hip and down the thighs.
Colchicum is often helpful for relief of
horrible nausea that is worse from the sight and smell of food
(especially eggs or fish). The woman retches and
vomits, and has a sore and bloated feeling in the abdomen. She has trouble
eating anything — although she often craves things, when she tries to eat them
they make her sick. She is likely to feel ill from many smells that others don’t
even notice.
Ferrum metallicum is often helpful in correcting anemic tendencies. A woman who has a sturdy build, but looks very pale and
weary and flushes red from exertion or emotion may respond to this remedy.
Ferrum phosphoricum can be helpful for nervous, sensitive women
who often feel weak or tired, with easy flushing of the face and a tendency
toward anemia. Women who need this remedy often have a slender build and may
develop frequent neck and shoulder stiffness.
Ipecacuanha is a remedy for relief of intense and constant nausea that is
felt all day (not only in the morning) with retching, belching, and excessive
salivation. The woman may feel worse from lying down, but also worse from
motion. Even after the woman vomits, she remains nauseous.
Kreosotum is the remedy indicated when the woman
salivates so much that
she constantly swallows it, becoming nauseous. She may also vomit up food that
looks undigested, several hours after eating.
Lacticum acidum is good for relief of “classic morning sickness”
- nausea worse immediately upon waking in the morning and opening the eyes. The
woman may salivate a lot and have burning stomach pain. She usually will have a decent
appetite and feel better after eating.
Nux vomica may be useful for indigestion, heartburn, stomach
pain, and constipation during pregnancy. A woman who needs this remedy is usually
impatient, irritable, and chilly. Nausea, especially in the morning and after eating, may respond
to this remedy.
Pulsatilla is often helpful at times of strong hormonal changes,
especially for women who are moody and emotional, and crave a lot of affection and
attention. They often want desserts or butter and may tend to overeat, which can lead
to indigestion and nausea, or excessive weight-gain. Pregnant women who need
this remedy often feel uncomfortable in hot weather and in stuffy rooms. This remedy can be helpful if nausea is worse in the afternoon
and evening (often in the morning, as well). The woman is generally not very thirsty,
although she may feel better from drinking something cool. She can crave many
different foods, but feels sick from many things (including foods she craves).
Creamy foods or desserts may be appealing, but can cause discomfort and burping
or bring on vomiting.
Sepia may bring relief for women who are
tired and irritable during pregnancy. They may feel overburdened by demands of family
members or have little enthusiasm
for the pregnancy. Poor circulation, nausea,
constipation, a tendency toward accidental urine loss, and a feeling of sagging
or weakness in the pelvic floor, and an energy-boost from exercise are other
indications for Sepia. Gnawing, intermittent nausea with an empty feeling in the stomach
suggests a need for this remedy. Nausea can be worse when she is lying on her side. Odors of any kind
may aggravate the symptoms. Food often tastes too salty. She may lose her taste
for many foods, but may still crave vinegar and sour things.
Tabacum can be helpful to a woman who feels a ghastly nausea
with a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. She looks extremely pale,
feels very cold and faint, and needs to lie very still and keep her eyes closed.
If she moves at all, she may vomit violently—or break out in cold sweat and
feel terrible.
Select the remedy that most closely matches the symptoms.
Many homeopathic physicians suggest that you take one dose of the remedy and wait for a response. If improvement is seen, continue to wait and
let the remedy work. If improvement lags significantly or has clearly stopped,
another dose may be taken. The frequency of dosage varies with the condition and
the individual. Sometimes a dose may be required several times an hour; other
times a dose may be indicated several times a day; and in some situations, one
dose per day (or less) can be sufficient.
If no response is seen within a reasonable amount of time, select a different
remedy.
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