Pregnancy and Labour Management
What can be done to assist in preparation for labour and birth using natural remedies?
There are many natural remedies that can help a pregnant woman prepare to give birth. It is important to seek a midwife or qualified natural therapist who has completed further studies related to pregnancy and birthing, for your own safety. However, a discussion and explanation of what an "average" healthy or low risk pregnant woman is most likely to require will follow.
By the third trimester, most women are safe to start consuming raspberry leaf tea. Low risk women may have already started earlier. Whatever the case it is best to check with your qualified health professional on individual safety. A suggested amount could be to consume 2 to 3 cups daily made from looseleaf tea from the 32nd week. Raspberry leaf tea may help the womb to strengthen itself and prepare for labour and birth, helping a more comfortable birth and recovery. Some evidence shows that it can help reduce the length of time of the first stage of labour. It is also quite high in iron, a useful nutrient for pregnancy.
Raspberry leaf has been used safely for pregnant women for centuries, however there are no known effects on safety in early pregnancy. Be aware that tinctures of raspberry leaf may contain alcohol which is potentially unsafe during pregnancy.
As the woman reaches about week 36 of pregnancy, she can start taking low potency homoeopathic Caullophyllum. This remedy helps prepare the womb and cervix for the birth. Depending on potency given, it may be only needed to be taken weekly at this stage.
Some women may find they have a severe low backache. A common remedy to consider for pregnancy backache, along with pregnancy massage, may be Sepia, especially if the women also has a bearing down sensation and is moody and irritable. Sepia is a common remedy for a history of threatened miscarriage around the later half of pregnancy accompanied by bearing down, dragging sensations and irritability. Always seek medical advice with a history of miscarriage or for any signs of threatened miscarriage such as bleeding and cramping. In general, Sepia is a good women's hormonal remedy. It is one of the lead remedies for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy, especially when it worsens from the sight and smell of food.
If around week 37, the baby's lie is poor, whether a breech or transverse, common remedies to assist the baby to turn into a favourable cephalic positon include Pulsatilla, sometimes Nat mur, Lycopodium or Viscum album, starting with a lower potency. Other natural therapies to help turn a breech baby include, reflexology, moxa on the acupuncture points and webster's chiropractic technique. There are 'spinning babies' exercises to encourage favourable fetal positioning, otherwise a doctor can attempt to turn baby by external cephalic version. Unfortunately this can be painful for the mother. If baby does not turn, there probably is a reason. The mother may like to search for obstetricians who feel comfortable caring for a woman with normal vaginal birth and breech presentation.
If by week 38, braxton hicks contractions are not often and strong, an increased frequency of the Caullophyllum, and possibly the addition of Mitchella herbal extract may be warranted. By week 39, some women start taking infrequent doses of Arnica to prepare for trauma of birth, and help with recovery. It is also pertinent to take Arnica after an injury, accident or fall of pregnancy, again of course seeking advice from care provider, particular if at any time baby has less movements or any vaginal bleeding presents. If not already started by the time the women goes into labour, an immediate dose of the Arnica is appropriate, as it is also beneficial to help prevent haemorrhage, as well as calm down general labour pain and afterpains.
If the women is over term, or has a history of this, alternating doses of Caullophyllum and Cimicifuga may help to bring on the labour, to prevent the women from requiring a medical induction with synthetic oxytocin.
Caullophyllum, along with Pulsatilla are useful remedies for cervical dilatation of the first stage of labour. Again this may prevent medical induction because the women is not dilatating at an appropriate pace, or because membranes broke prematurely and the cervix has not dilated appropriately for the 2nd stage of labour. Always seek advice for using homoeopathy before and during labour, as inappropriate use may have the reverse effect, where the uterus contracts strongly but does not effectively dilate.
Some women may require a lower uterine section caesarean section (LUSCS), however, a lot of caesarean sections could potentially be prevented due to preventing artificial induction with syntocinin and other interventions. The World Health Organisation recommends a caesarean section rate of less than 15% whilst in Australia, our statistic is currently over 30%. Wherever possible, it is best to have a 'hands off' process to allow the women to do the work herself, giving support and encouragement without intervention. It is very important to encourage active and upright positions in labour and avoid laying on back where possible. Calm birth, lamaze and hypnobirth techniques are very beneficial. During a hospital birth, the woman is exposed to many factors that disfavour the body's natural oxytocin such as bright lights, lack of privacy, strangers around and so forth. Other factors that could lead to preventable LUSCS include unfavourable positioning of the labouring woman, such as lying supine on a medical table along with the unecessary interventions. Wherever possible, aim to create the comfort and privacy of a home birthing environment if a hospital admission is necessary.
If things do go unfavourably, and medical intervention is medically necessary, there are some homoeopathic remedies that may be of benefit in pain management and that may be of benefit in recovery of the procedures.
If there is an episiotomy, a dose of staphysagria immediately is useful, followed by Arnica, one or two hours after the procedure. Continue as needed for pain and emotions such as anger. Hypericum can be useful after a tear or episiotomy. Staphysagria is also an important remedy for a vaginal examination where the woman has responded with anger and indignation. It is also a useful remedy to use after an unexpected emergency LUSCS. Bellis perennis is a good remedy to use after a LUSCS, as well as any other lower uterine surgery. Arnica at a high potency can help pain in the post operative site. Arnica is also used for the pain and bruising after a natural birth. Staphysagria or hepar sulph are two remedies to consider for purulence of the surgical incision.
Some common remedies that may be necessary during the birth are gelsemium for anxious and exhaustion, kali carb, when the labour is stuck in the back, or occipito posterior, and sepia for lack of progression of 3rd stage of labour.
If there is some retention of the placenta, cantharis or sepia is a good remedy to help expel the excess tissue.
Once beautiful baby is born, rubbing the bush flower essence Boab on the crown of the baby's head is a good way to help remove negative emotional and mental family patterns passed down the generations, as well as other karmic patterns that may hinder the child in life. If baby has any bruising, arnica may be useful.
For further information on consultations, purchase of remedies and professional birth support, please contact Emma Wright. Phone: 0416 287 602.
References/Further reading:
Callinan, Paul
Chimthanawala & Chimthanawala
Homoeopathy for Midwives
Dineen, Jennifer
Bachelor of Midwifery Course content and Clinical experience
Pregnancy, birth and beyond.com
Prenatalcoach.com
