Homeopathy to have on hand before your birth, per my MIL the professional

[willoLevin]

Okay, someone asked me to post this after I asked my mother-in-law, the professional homeopath and medical intuitive, what we should all have on hand to help us with our births. Here's her advice.

1) All remedies should ideally be 6C potency.
2) Take no remedy more than 3 times total (for a given complaint.)

* At the beginning of labor, take ARNICA. Repeat after 4-6 hours of labor.
Arnica will prevent bruising in you and your baby, especially good to help that mashed head from the birth canal.
* HYPERICUM is good for nerves, especially your coccyx. Good for back problems and aches in labor. You would likely need this later than the arnica.
* CALENDULA is good for tears and abrasions on your skin. Ideally take this 2-3 days after your baby's birth.
* SEPIA is for PPD and other stress from a hard birth. You'll likely want to take this 4-6 days after the birth. Take it if you have any kind of residual stress from the birth, not just if you think you are "really" depressed.
* PHOSPHORUS should be in everyone's birth kit. It stops bleeding if you are having an emergency during/after the birth. Take it when (God forbid) you need it.

She also adds that we should all have Rescue Remedy and put 4 drops in the water we sip during our labors. Also, Rescue Remedy is the only thing she would give directly to a newborn. Mix it in water and dab the newborn's pulse points (wrists) and put a dab of it on his/her lips. (Other remedies, she gives to the mother and lets them get to the baby through the breastmilk.)

I hope this helps some of you guys who don't have a homeopath on constant available call for you.

--willo

[herbmama3-7]

Thank you Willow, that is very good information, I just wish my printer was working so I could print it out.:

[Jilian]

What about nux vomica? I have some of that but have never used it. I vomited several times during DS's birth and I'd like to avoid that or at least cut back on it this time around.

[willoLevin]

Originally Posted by Jilian

What about nux vomica? I have some of that but have never used it. I vomited several times during DS's birth and I'd like to avoid that or at least cut back on it this time around.

Well, there are many other remedies one MIGHT want during labor and immediately post-partum, but this was the list she gave me that *ALL* of us should have on hand, and almost all women would benefit from...

Obviously, I don't want to "provide medical advice" via the internet with second-hand information too much. :

Personally, I think it is a good investment to buy a large homeopathy kit and keep it in one's home. It is much cheaper per remedy than the individual vials from the healthfood store, and then it is there when you need it. Still, maybe someone here just wants to have the MOST helpful remedies in their birth kit, so my MIL helped me come up with top five.

She gave me two entire books of homeopathy for pregnant/laboring women to look at as well. I left them in the car yesterday (preggo brain) but I'll try to grab them later to look up the vomiting during labor question.

--willo

[Jilian]

Thanks for this thread! Tell your MIL we appreciate her advice!

[Mab]

Awesome, thanks! I'm taking notes. Just a question: in which available form should we buy these remedies, and take in what doses?

[mrsalf97]

Thank you! I'm going to have to write all this down and make sure I put it with my birth supplies.

[willoLevin]

My MIL believes too many people take too strong of doses of homeopathy.

She would have us take 3 pellets of dosage 6C for each dose, and never more than 3 doses of any given remedy for a given complaint.

6C (lower dosages) can be harder to find in local stores.

I'll also repeat here that:
1) Avoid drinking coffee or consuming any mint (including toothpaste) during times when you are having homeopathic treatment. I doubt any of us would be drinking coffee in labor, but mint could be an issue! (That might mean buying a different brand of toothpaste, like Homeodent Lemon or Tom's of Maine Silly Strawberry, than you would usually use.)

2) Never touch your homeopathy with your hands. Use the dispensing cap of the tube to catch the pellets and toss them into your mouth. Alternately, use a new (not just clean/washed) disposable plastic spoon to take each remedy--pour/tap the little pellets into your mouth with the spoon.

--willo

[Mab]

thaanks a lot willo!

[willoLevin]

TOO LATE for Jilian, but I did ask my MIL about nausea with vomiting during labor. There are two possible remedies. You would choose the remedy to have on hand based upon your personality. (This is your general, overall personality--not necessarily how you're feeling during your labor.)

It's a choice between Ipecacuanha (Ip.) and Phosphorous (Phos.) Decide based upon your usual/general temperament/personality.
* A more gloomy or peevish or sedate person would take Ip.
* A more bubbly/outgoing person should take Phos.

Remember that Phosphorous stops hemorrhage as well...

Nux Vomica, which Jilian mentioned, is a good remedy for vomiting in pregnancy generally. It just isn't the first thought for labor-related vomiting, per my MIL.

--willo

[Mere]

Question about the coffee...is it that you're not supposed to drink ANY COFFEE during the treatment period? Or, can you have a little coffee and then wait a few hours? I have been drinking a half cup each morning, that's why I'm curious.

Also, is it coffee specifically, or caffeine?

Thanks for all the good information - I have my supplies on hand and ready to go!

[willoLevin]

Originally Posted by Mere

Question about the coffee...is it that you're not supposed to drink ANY COFFEE during the treatment period? Or, can you have a little coffee and then wait a few hours? I have been drinking a half cup each morning, that's why I'm curious.

Also, is it coffee specifically, or caffeine?

Thanks for all the good information - I have my supplies on hand and ready to go!

It is the coffee itself, unfortunately. : (Hey, I'm a native Oregonian. I love my coffee. ) Basically, coffee will antidote a remedy, so, it won't undo whatever progress the remedy caused your body to make, but it will stop the action of the dose you took previously.

If I am ill enough that I really need to feel I'm "treating" myself with homeopathy, I generally avoid taking any coffee. However, I do use homeopathic cell salts daily more as a "support" than as a "treatment" (like vitamins as opposed to medicine), and I don't really worry about having a coffee undoing that.

--willo