Cayenne for baby?

[1babysmom]

Has anyone here actually used cayenne tincture for a baby that is slow to respond at birth? (or what else is it for, baby-wise?) How did you administer it and did it help?

[MsBlack]

I don't know for sure from my studies--but what I do know about cayenne makes me think it would NOT be indicated for a neonate.

Curious--where did you get that idea? I would be interested to see any theory behind it.

[1babysmom]

Originally Posted by MsBlack

I don't know for sure from my studies--but what I do know about cayenne makes me think it would NOT be indicated for a neonate.

Curious--where did you get that idea? I would be interested to see any theory behind it.

I've seen it mentioned HERE numerous times. I think one of the last places I saw it was a PPH herbs thread and some people said they have cayenne on hand for PPH and/or for baby.

[gwen's mom]

My midwife recommended a drop of Rescue Remedy for my sleepy, jaundiced baby boy. Worked great...he was awake for four straight hours.

[1babysmom]

Originally Posted by gwen's mom

My midwife recommended a drop of Rescue Remedy for my sleepy, jaundiced baby boy. Worked great...he was awake for four straight hours.

Good to know? How long was this after he was born?

[gwen's mom]

We gave him a dose a couple of times in the first two weeks (no more than once a day) of his life as he was fighting jaundice.

[MsBlack]

Guess I just haven't noticed other mentions of cayenne for baby...not a fan of cayenne for pph either, really. Since it is a circulatory stimulant, you can stop bleeding in the short run, only to have it return with a vengeance in a little while. I prefer Blue Cohosh, angelica, witch hazel to stimulate contrax to help w/pph.

Anyhoo--back to the OT (oops), I would also recommend Rescue Remedy over anything else to start with for a neonate. You dont' have to give it orally even--put some on your hand, rub hands together to spread it, then rub baby's chest/body with your hands.

[Astraia]

I'm trying to remember what I've read about it- but from what I'm recallng it's for slow-to-start babies (ie, not breathing well/at all) and I think you just rub a drop on their lips or under their noses or something like that to stimulate them to breathe.

You definitely don't dose them with it though- I don't think any of it is supposed to be swallowed by the baby.

Could be wrong, I can't find it now that I'm looking (albeit half-heartedly) for the info.

[1babysmom]

Originally Posted by Astraia

I'm trying to remember what I've read about it- but from what I'm recallng it's for slow-to-start babies (ie, not breathing well/at all) and I think you just rub a drop on their lips or under their noses or something like that to stimulate them to breathe.

You definitely don't dose them with it though- I don't think any of it is supposed to be swallowed by the baby.

Could be wrong, I can't find it now that I'm looking (albeit half-heartedly) for the info.

YES! That is what I've seen it mentioned for! thanks for the info, I wasn't sure how people were referring to it being used.

[mwherbs]

considering that it is the active ingredient in pepper spray- I would be very cautious about using it on a baby's face -
actual physical stimulation like drying with a blanket or towel, after that, if the heart rate is below 100 then suction and breaths, if it is below 60 then chest compression with breaths

http://www.aap.org/nrp/nrpmain.html

[Astraia]

Originally Posted by mwherbs

considering that it is the active ingredient in pepper spray- I would be very cautious about using it on a baby's face -
actual physical stimulation like drying with a blanket or towel, after that, if the heart rate is below 100 then suction and breaths, if it is below 60 then chest compression

http://www.aap.org/nrp/nrpmain.html

This is why I never added it to my list of possible birth supplies to have on hand. It seemed like there were better ways to stimulate a baby to breathe. And I know I want to cry if I inhale a noseful of pepper... it just seemed kinda mean.

[1babysmom]

Yeah I don't think I care to have it on hand...I was just curious about people who have used it since I've seen it mentioned here numerous times over the years but never really sure how it was used...trying to decide if I SHOULD have it on hand, I guess. Doesn't sound like it.

[quiverfull]

My midwife's asst (another midewife) used a cayenne salve on my last dd when she was slow to get to breathing after her birth. She just rubbed a tiny bit on dd's back, and boy, did it perk her up. I'm not sure how long it was after her birth, but it wasn't too long. They were trying to stimulate her by rubbing with a towel, I was talking to her, etc. She was moving, albeit not vigorously, but she wasn't responding as well as they would've liked. As soon as they used the cayenne salve, she cried and pinked up well.

The two midwives talked about it, and it ends up that the asst m/w makes up the concoction herself-- something she learned when she was attending births in Sennegal. My midwife was impressed at how quickly it worked. I'm not sure what exactly it did to my dd to get her attention, but I don't think it burned her or anything (nor was it near her mouth or nose). I'm not sure what all was blended into the salve. I just know it worked great, and didn't leave any lasting negative effects.

Holly

[Boomslang]

I've heard that cayenne pepper is excellent for PPH but you have to take it a certain way. You have to mix about a tsp. of it in purified water, then use a syringe to expell it into your vagina and prop your hips up so it can makes it's way to your uterus. Be careful of doing that if you have tears because it might sting a bit but I think it would be worth it. Much better than having to go to the hospital.

[PreggieUBA2C]

Originally Posted by Astraia

It seemed like there were better ways to stimulate a baby to breathe.

I agree.

Originally Posted by quiverfull

My midwife's asst (another midewife) used a cayenne salve on my last dd when she was slow to get to breathing after her birth. She just rubbed a tiny bit on dd's back, and boy, did it perk her up. I'm not sure how long it was after her birth, but it wasn't too long. They were trying to stimulate her by rubbing with a towel, I was talking to her, etc. She was moving, albeit not vigorously, but she wasn't responding as well as they would've liked. As soon as they used the cayenne salve, she cried and pinked up well.

The two midwives talked about it, and it ends up that the asst m/w makes up the concoction herself-- something she learned when she was attending births in Sennegal. My midwife was impressed at how quickly it worked. I'm not sure what exactly it did to my dd to get her attention, but I don't think it burned her or anything (nor was it near her mouth or nose). I'm not sure what all was blended into the salve. I just know it worked great, and didn't leave any lasting negative effects.

Holly

That is very interesting! It's also interesting that it left no marks. It must have had something mixed in with the cayenne because it can leave marks on MY skin on its own. Do you have any way of finding out what the salve ingredients are?

Originally Posted by Boomslang

I've heard that cayenne pepper is excellent for PPH but you have to take it a certain way. You have to mix about a tsp. of it in purified water, then use a syringe to expell it into your vagina and prop your hips up so it can makes it's way to your uterus. Be careful of doing that if you have tears because it might sting a bit but I think it would be worth it. Much better than having to go to the hospital.

I took it orally and it stopped my bleeding within a minute which then returned a day later and it was light until it stopped permanently. BUT I don't tend to bleed a lot for anything and that I started to bleed profusely was surprising to begin with, but it may have been just a singularity in my uterus that was immediately dealt with by the cayenne.

My uterus also contracts extremely fast in general- under my pubis by about 24 hrs, which was shocking to my midwife who attended my first two c/s and she checked me after ds3 (UC) and it was the same and then after ds4 (UC), it was the same the next day too- checked by community nurse (for documentation of live birth, we let her do this). I don't know conclusively of course, but I do know that like with a newborn, I would try everything and anything else- other than transfer- before considering doing this! OUCH!!!

[DocsNemesis]

My old midwife would try rubbing and gently stimulating at first but she said that if she had a really hard to start baby, she'd turn on the faucet and stick their heel into the cold water. She said if they didn't start then, something was wrong Its a little mean but it doesn't hurt them and I'd rather do that then have them taken to the hospital for who knows what if I could avoid it.

Thanks for mentioning this though. I've got a little paper for my fiance to look at during/after the birth if he needs to reference anything so I'll add that on there