Pregnancy

It is important to understand that homeopathy is perfectly safe during pregnancy. Any homeopathic remedy contains only medical information, not chemical substance, and it is recognised by both the World Health Organisation and the Australian Therapeutic Goods Act as non-toxic and safe in all circumstances.

Constitutional treatment during pregnancy not only helps the mother but also helps the developing foetus, by modifying the expression of negative inherited tendencies that we call miasms in homeopathy. Stated simply, this means the baby will be healthier and have less risk of family tendencies like asthma, hay-fever, eczema, psoriasis, etc. I have seen this many times, by comparing siblings born before the mother had homeopathic treatment. Also, the mother will have an easier labour from treatment.

Things that may be treated by homeopathy during pregnancy include:

• Nausea of pregnancy (morning sickness),
• Haemorrhoids and varicose veins,
• Constipation of pregnancy,
• Miscarriage (there are even remedies specific to each month),
• Albuminuria and oedema (fluid retention) of pregnancy,
• Pre-eclampsia and toxaemia,
• Diabetes of pregnancy,
• Pubic and sacral symphysis pain (symphysiolysis).

Childbirth/Labour

During the last month of homeopathic treatment during pregnancy, the focus is on preparing for labour by tonifying the uterus. During labour there are remedies to help with these specific circumstances:

• Overdue labour,
• Premature labour,
• Failure to dilate,
• False labour pains,
• Extreme pains,
• Irregular labour,
• Failure to progress,
• Mental and emotional stress

(Illustrated: Caulophyllum)

After birth, remedies will help with such difficulties as retained placenta, perineal laceration and tears, healing episiotomy and caesarean wounds and minimising scarring, after-pains, post-partum infections, retention of urine, abnormal lochial discharge, post- partum depression.