From the Moment You’re Born
From the moment you find out that you are having a baby things change. You might have serious concerns about your own or the baby's health, or be troubled by minor yet uncomfortable complaints, such as heartburn or nausea. Perhaps you have fears about how the baby will affect your relationship or work.
From pre-conception to the post natal period, the process of bringing a new life into the world is a time when extra help is essential. Homeopathy is a gentle yet highly effective form of complementary medicine that can offer support on many levels - physical, emotional and mental.
Homeopathy works by stimulating the body's own healing power so that it can clear itself of many symptoms of illness and reach a balance. The remedies cannot cause side effects because only a minute amount of the active ingredient is used in their preparation. It is therefore an ideal treatment at a time when most conventional drugs are prohibited and has the added benefit of boosting the vitality and the health of your baby.
Pre-Conception
It is now widely recognised that pre-conceptual care has a huge influence on fertility and the health of the unborn child. Homeopathy can be highly successful in treating infertility and regular homeopathic treatment prior to conception helps maintain a good level of health. Homeopathy can treat the less serious symptoms of pregnancy, such as morning sickness or constipation, so there is no need to suffer in silence. It can also help with emotional symptoms that may arise as both parents adjust to approaching parenthood. More serious complaints such as raised blood pressure, symphisis pubis dysfunction and a baby in breech position can also be helped by a professional homeopath.
Birth
By the time most parents have attended antenatal classes and written their birth plans they will be well versed in the stages of labour, the choices for pain relief and the different types of interventions. If it is a first baby they have no way of knowing how they will react to the pain and will inevitably look to their midwife and consultant for guidance. Many people worry about remaining in control of their labour and birth partners have concerns about how useful they can be. Homeopathic remedies are an excellent way of managing birth. They can give mothers the confidence to relax and follow the natural birth process and give partners a definitive role as they help to choose the remedies.
Homeopathy can provide pain relief, give energy to an exhausted mother and ensure the smooth progression of labour. It is also a highly successful way to induce a normal pregnancy after 40 weeks.
A homeopath should be sought before the proverbial eleventh hour as induction to the homeopathic way can take a couple of days. A carefully selected remedy, taken orally, can promote uterine contractions, allowing early labour to take place at home for those having a hospital birth, or indeed, a home birth if permitted. It can also enhance 'flagging' contractions once labour is underway.
It is important when consulting a homeopath to be as honest as possible because the treatment is based on the mother's unique symptoms and personality. For example, a woman might be very anxious about vomiting or opening her bowels by accident which may 'hold up' labour. The beauty of homeopathy is that the homeopath does not make judgements but simply tries to ascertain the person's true feelings in order to match them to an appropriate remedy. The goal is to ease the disharmony and bring about a feeling of comfort and balance.
Post-Natal
The use of homeopathy during and after labour can reduce inevitable bruising for mother and baby. Arnica is a necessity and Hypericum taken routinely after birth will heal nerve damage to the vagina and coccyx. Staphisagria also enhances healing should you have a graze, or tear, stitches or caesarean section.
In the post natal period problems like mastitis respond wonderfully to homeopathy. The symptoms of homeopathy are varied but the correct remedy can bring about relief within a few hours thus avoiding antibiotics so early in the baby's life. If the baby experiences any problems, for example colic, constipation, sticky eyes, etc. they can be swiftly rectified by the appropriate remedy.
Post natal depression is a fear and dread for many women after birth, and for a few, it becomes a reality that robs the new mother of the anticipated feelings of joy. Again homeopathy will help a woman rebalance after one of the biggest changes in her life, enabling a smoother transition into her new role. Similarly men who are finding it hard to cope with such a huge life change can benefit from homeopathic treatment.
If you have already had a consultation prior to birth then small problems can often be dealt with by a phone consultation when the baby is born. This is a great bonus in the early weeks before you are out and about. Even the dreaded colic can be resolved on the phone if the homeopath is familiar with the mum, her pregnancy and birth.
Family Health
Homeopathic treatment need not stop when the memory of birth is fading and the baby is over its colic and teething troubles. It can treat a whole range of family ills, from accidents to eczema, asthma, to the adjustment when a new sibling arrives. Regular homeopathic treatment can reduce the need for antibiotics and provide a healthier alternative to that old cure-all Calpol.
Homeopathy is a gentle yet highly effective form of complementary medicine that can offer support on many levels - physical, emotional and mental.
Diana Tibble RSHom practises homeopathy in St. Albans. She is a Registered Midwife with 15 years experience. As well as practising homeopathy, Diana teaches several courses.
tel: 01727 764826