HOMEOPATHY FOR LABOUR

 

A MINI MATERIA MEDICA FOR KEY REMEDIES

 
 
 
 

REMEDY KEYNOTES

 
 

ACONITE

MIND: FEARFUL; ANTICIPATORY FEARS; FEARFUL that she or the baby might die; TERROR; FRIGHT; HYSTERIA; PANIC; extreme ANXIETY, RESTLESSNESS; MOANING; consider where FEAR IS STOPPING LABOUR PROGRESS; FACIAL EXPRESSION - PENSIVE, ANGUISHED, ANXIOUS; easily STARTLED; INTOLERANT to being PHYSICALLY EXAMINED;

CONTRACTIONS: onset SEVERE; onset RAPID; INTENSE; SORENESS IN THE BACK; CONTRACTED sensations on specific parts of the body; HYPERTENSION [HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE]; contractions WITHOUT EFFECT and may ENTIRELY STOP due the position of the BABY;

BIRTH CANAL: DRY; TENDER; HOT; CERVIX UNDILATED; SENSITIVITY of TISSUES;

PHYSICAL: oppressed BREATHING; HEAD may be HOT, HEAVY, restlessness with HEAD PAIN; FAINTNESS; MOUTH DRY; FACE FLUSHED;

THIRST: thirst EXTREME

MODALITIES: WORSE for COLD; NIGHT; TOUCH; PRESSURE; LIGHt, NOISE, MUSIC

AFTER THE BIRTH; FEAR REMAINS;

ARNICA

MIND: DISTRESSED; DULL SHOCK; SUFFERING but DENIES it “I’M FINE”; RESTLESS due to the soreness; AGGRAVATED by being EXAMINED;

CONTRACTIONS; VIOLENT PAINS; IRREGULAR; SPASMODIC - occurs suddenly; PAINFUL yet too WEAK for which LABOUR then FAILS TO PROGRESS; contractions in response to MOVEMENT OF THE BABY; HYPERTENSION [HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE]

BIRTH CANAL; UTERUS FATIGUED

PHYSICAL: body feels COLD; HEAD feels HOT; feels SORE even BRUISED all over; DRY MOUTH;

THIRST: THIRSTLESS even though they have a DRY MOUTH but can also be THIRSTY

POST LABOUR; RETENTION of URINE;

MODALITIES: BETTER from TOUCH, LYING DOWN especially where there is the desire to lie to the LEFT SIDE, COOLNESS

ARsenicum album

MIND: RESTLESSNESS; PACING; VERY ANXIOUS especially about their HEALTH or the health of their BABY; FASTIDIOUS; FRANTIC; SCREAMING; INSOMNIA or DIFFICULT RESTING; OVERSENSITIVE; FEARFUL OF DEATH; FEAR that something BAD WILL HAPPEN;

PHYSICAL: VERY SENSITIVE TO COLD; NAUSEA; VOMITING;

THIRST: VERY THIRSTY especially when in SMALL SIPS;

MODALITIES: WORSE from EVENING especially MIDNIGHT;

BELLADONNA

MIND: ANGRY; WILD; RAGING; NERVOUSNESS; FRIGHT but can also be FEARLESS;

CONTRACTIONS; INTENSE; DISTRESSING; SEVERE; SPASMODIC; PAIN that DRAWS from the BACK to the THIGHS; HYPERTENSION [HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE]

BIRTH CANAL; genital region RIGID, HOT, TRENDER, VERY DRY; cervix FAILS TO SOFTEN; EXTREME CERVIX TENSION

PHYSICAL: FACE or BODY FLUSHED RED; EYES GLISTENING, PUPILS may be DILATED; CRAMPING LEGS, HANDS; FAINTNESS; EXHAUSTION; HEADACHE that may be INTENSE and POUNDING;

MODALITIES: WORSE from TOUCH, DRAFTS in the room; BETTER from WARMTH

BELLIS PERENNIS

MIND: EXCITABLE; FATIGUE

CONTRACTIONS; STASIS; ACHING PAINS;

PHYSICAL: UTERINE PROLAPSE; URINE RETENTION;

MODALITIES: WORSE from TOUCH; HOT BATHING; WARMTH OF THE BED; BECOMING CHILLED WHEN HOT; BETTER from PRESSURE; COLD APPLICATIONS; HEAT; EATING

AFTER LABOUR: BRUISING; PAIN of the DEEPER TISSUES;

BRYONIA

MIND: IRRITABLE; ABRUPT; AVERSE TO TALKING;

PHYSICAL: HEADACHE; DRYNESS; SEVERE PAIN; BACK PAIN; NAUSEA; DIZZINESS

THIRST: VERY THIRSTY but can also be AVERSE TO DRINKING

MODALITIES: WORSE from MOVEMENT; BEING SPOKEN TO; MASSAGE; HEAT

CALENDULA

MIND: IRRITABLE; EXTREME NERVOUSNESS; FRIGHTENED; SLEEPY; ANXIOUS

PHYSICAL: PELVIC AREA FEELS HEAVY; WOUNDS; TEARS; ABRASIONS; LACERATIONS; SORENESS

MODALITIES: BETTER from WALKING; WARMTH; STILLNESS

AFTER LABOUR: VAGINAL TEARS; HEALING THE TISSUES AFTER LABOUR

CARBO VEGETALIS

MIND: INDIFFERENT; ANXIOUS;

CONTRACTIONS; FAILURE TO PROGRESS and may STOP ENTIRELY; PAINS move from the GROINS DOWN THE LEGS; HYPERTENSION [HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE]

BIRTH CANAL; VEINS of VULVA may be DISTENDED, SWOLLEN, TWISTED;

PHYSICAL: VERY WEAK; FAINT; AIR HUNGER;

THIRST:

MODALITIES: WORSE being WARM, STUFFY ROOM; BETTER for OPEN AIR, FRESH AIR on the FACE

CAULOPHYLLUM

MIND: NERVOUSNESS; FRETFUL; IRRITABLE; APPREHENSIVE

CONTRACTIONS; DISTRESSING; INTENSE; IRREGULAR; TOO SHORT; SPASMODIC; SHARP; CRAMPING; TOO WEAK to build up adequate CONTRACTIONS; “FALSE” LABOUR PAINS; LABOUR that has STAGNATED and is FAILING TO PROGRESS;

BIRTH CANAL; UTERINE CRAMPING; LACK OF UTERINE TONE; genitals RIGID, NEEDLE-LIKE PAINS; PROFUSE SECRETION of MUCOUS;

PHYSICAL: EXHAUSTED; FEVERISH; NAUSEA; FAINTNESS; TREMBLING especially INTERNAL TREMBLING; SHIVERING;

THIRST: THIRSTY especially DURING CONTRACTIONS

MODALITIES: WORSE from COLD but BETTER from COLD FRESH AIR, FIRM PRESSURE on the BACK

AFTER LABOUR; RETAINED PLACENTA

PRESCRIBING NOTE: do not give too frequently

CHAMOMILLA

MIND: INTENSE STATE may express “I CANNOT BARE THIS ANYMORE”; RUDE; NERVOUS; ANGRY; MOANING; AGITATED; OVERSENSITIVE to any NOISE, PAIN, EXAMINATION; may flatly REFUSE EXAMINATION; FEAR from the PAIN

CONTRACTIONS; UNBEARABLE PAIN; SEVERE; DISTRESSING; CRAMPING; SPASMODIC; may be felt in the BACK with PAIN MOVING UPWARDS; TEARING sensations; SHOOTING PAINS with keynote of these pains down the INNER LEG; CANNOT GET COMFORTABLE;

BIRTH CANAL; RIGID; BURNING SENSATIONS; INTENSE PAINS; DARK COAGULATED VAGINAL BLOOD

PHYSICAL: FREQUENT NEED to URINATE; NAUSEA; HEADACHE; FAINT; DIZZY; HEADACHE; FLUSHED-RED FACE; LOOSE STOOLS; FLATULENT [GASSY];

THIRST: VERY THIRSTY

MODALITIES: WORSE from the PAIN, NOISE; BETTER from MOVING AROUND;

CHINA OFFICINALIS

MIND: APATHY; DESPONDENT; AVERSE TO TALKING; ANXIETY; IRRITABLE; SENSITIVE

CONTRACTIONS; PAINS may be DIGGING, TEARING; AGGRAVATED by being TOUCHED DURING specifically the HANDS; TOO WEAK TO PROGRESS with LABOUR; may ENTIRELY STOP;

BIRTH CANAL; INERTIA of the organs;

PHYSICAL: EXHAUSTED; FAINT; DIZZY; BLOATED; NAUSEA; WEAK

MODALITIES: WORSE from LOSS OF BODILY FLUIDS - blood, perspiration, salivation; NOISE; BETTER from FRESH AIR ON THE FACE, particularly COOL AIR

CIMICIFUGA [BLACK COHOSH]

MIND: DARK MOOD; DEPRESSION; MELANCHOLIC; FEARFUL of the BIRTH, ERRATIC INTENSE BEHAVIOUR as though GOING INSANE - there is a quality of CRAZINESS; DELUSIONAL; HYSTERIA; PARANOID; NERVOUSNESS; FIDGETY; COMPLAINING; RESTLESSNESS;

CONTRACTIONS; SPASMODIC; IRREGULAR; may STOP ALTOGETHER; CONTRACTIONS may START WITH BEING COLD and then STOP on becoming WARM; CRAMPING PAIN in the HIPS; PAIN ACROSS HIP-TO-HIP; LABOUR PAINS are SLOW

BIRTH CANAL; tissues are ERRATIC - RIGID then DILATED then RESTRICTED; the UTERUS becomes INERT; TENSE CERVIX

PHYSICAL: TREMBLING; TWITCHING; FAINT; CHILLY; HEADACHE; HISTORY of STILLBIRTHS;

THIRST:

MODALITIES: WORSE from NOISE; PAIN; BETTER from WARMTH, EATING, REST

COFFEA CRUDA

MIND: IRRITABLE; RESTLESS; ANGUISHED; INTENSE; HEIGHTENED; FEARFUL; CRAZED; EXCITABLE; MANY IDEAS; DESPAIR; TEARFUL; OVERSENSITIVE; FEARFUL particularly of DEATH; consider alongside of after ACONITE

CONTRACTIONS; IRREGULAR, DISTRESSING; SEVERE; INERT; contractions may STAGNATE or STOP ENTIRELY when TALKING; PAIN in the LOWER BACK;

BIRTH CANAL; TISSUES RIGID; CERVIX DOES NOT DILATE;

PHYSICAL: SWOLLEN/PUFFY FACE; FAINT; HOT HEAD but CHILLY everywhere else

MODALITIES: WORSE from TOUCH; STRONG ODOURS; NIGHT; NOISE; BETTER from COLD DRINKS; ICE IN MOUTH

GELSEMIUM

MIND: APATHY; early labour TALKATIVE; HYSTERIA; CHOKING; FEARFUL; ANTICIPATORY ANXIETY; DREAD; FEARFUL of BEING ALONE; FEARFUL of the FUTURE; FEARFUL of DEATH; FEARFUL HEART WILL STOP; DAZED; MENTAL EXHAUSTION

CONTRACTIONS; ABSENT; SPASMODIC, INEFFECTUAL - TOO WEAK; DULL and SLEEPY after each contraction; DEEPLY FLUSHED FACE with each contraction; DISTRESSING; PAIN comes in WAVES may end in CONSTRICTED CHOKING feeling; may STOP ENTIRELY; FEAR blocks labour;

BIRTH CANAL; INERTIA; RIGIDITY; THICK; SWOLLEN; WEAKNESS of the TISSUES themselves;

PHYSICAL: DULLNESS; DIZZINESS; HEADACHE; TREMBLING; EXHAUSTION; NAUSEA in early labour; ABDOMINAL CRAMPS; PAIN UP the BACK and DOWN the THIGHS; HYPERTENSION [HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE]; sensation as if UTERUS is being SQUEEZED

THIRST:

MODALITIES: WORSE from HEAT; MOVEMENT; BETTER from URINATING; LYING DOWN; BENDING FORWARD; MOVEMENT

AFTER LABOUR: SEVERE AFTER PAINS

HYPERICUM

MIND: MELANCHOLIC; NERVOUSNESS; FRIGHT; SHOCK; CONFUSION WHEN SPEAKING

BIRTH CANAL; TENSION

PHYSICAL: NERVE PAIN - SHARP, SHOOTING, SUDDEN, INTENSE

MODALITIES: WORSE from FORCEPS DELIVERY; TOUCH; PRESSURE; BETTER from LYING QUIETLY; RUBBING THE BACK

AFTER LABOUR: VIOLENT AFTER PAINS; AILMENTS from EPIDURAL

KALI CARB

MIND: ANXIOUS; OVERSENSITIVE; RESTLESS; IRRITABLE; OBSTINATE; INDIFFERENT; DULL; CATASTROPHISING; FEAR OF BEING ALONE;

CONTRACTIONS; CHILLY AFTER contractions; INEFFECTUAL WEAK contractions; may ENTIRELY CEASE especially in response to LIGHT TOUCH

BIRTH CANAL; DISTRESSING; TOO WEAK; SPASMODIC;

PHYSICAL: EXHAUSTION; BLOATED; FLATULENT [GASSY]; VIOLENT HEADACHE; SEVERE BACK, HIPS &/OR JOINT PAIN; PAINS SUDDEN, SHARP, CUTTING, PULSING, LINGERING; PAINS that BEAR DOWNWARDS especially from BACK to PELVIS;

THIRST: THIRSTY

MODALITIES: WORSE from CONSOLATION; LIGHT TOUCH; LYING on the PAINFUL SIDE; BETWEEN 2am to 4am; SUDDEN MOVEMENTS; BETTER from HARD PRESSURE on the BACK; FEET being RUBBED; WARMTH; FRESH AIR

AFTER LABOUR; PAIN

LYCOPODIUM

MIND: ANXIOUS; ANTICIPATORY ANXIETY; RESTLESS; TEARFUL; WORRY; DEMANDING; DESIRE for COMPANY;

CONTRACTIONS; DISTRESSING; SPASMODIC; TOO WEAK may STOP ALTOGETHER;

BIRTH CANAL; RIGID; DRY

PHYSICAL: FLATULENT [GASSY]; BLOATED; URINE RETENTION;

THIRST:

MODALITIES: WORSE being left ALONE; BETTER form alternating pressing and relaxing of either FOOT; MOVEMENT in general;

NATRUM MURIATICUM

MIND: SADNESS; MELANCHOLY; SERIOUS; DESIRE for PRIVACY; AVERSE to going through labour;

CONTRACTIONS; TOO WEAK may CEASE progressing;

BIRTH CANAL; RIGID particularly CERVIX

PHYSICAL: HEADACHE particularly at the beginning of labour; HYPERTENSION [HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE]

THIRST: THIRSTY for COLD WATER

MODALITIES:

NUX VOMICA

MIND: IRRITABLE; EASILY ANNOYED; ANGRY; IMPATIENT; RUDE; CURSING; ABUSIVE; FEARFUL; NERVOUS; OVERSENSITIVE;

CONTRACTIONS; MUST STAND and WALK around; SEVERE; DISTRESSING; IRREGULAR; TOO WEAK may CEASE ENTIRELY; AGGRAVATED by being FEARFUL; CONSTRICTIVE;

BIRTH CANAL; RIGID

PHYSICAL: BACKACHE;TREMBLING; DRY MOUTH; SOUR PERSPIRATION; UTERINE PROLAPSE; SEVERE CRAMPING; HIP PAIN; HAND PAIN; HEADACHE; NAUSEA; VOMITING; FAINTNESS; EXHAUSTION; FAILURE to URINATE or PASS STOOL even though needing to;

THIRST:

MODALITIES: WORSE from NOISE, MUSIC; DRAFTS OF AIR especially FRESH or COLD; LIGHT, TOUCH, INCOMPETENCE; BETTER from WARMTH; LYING on SIDE; STRONG PRESSURE.

AFTER LABOUR; RETAINED PLACENTA

OPIUM

MIND: APATHETIC; FEARFUL; DETACHED; SLEEPY; as though DRUGGED or DRUNK; FEARFUL OF SUFFOCATION; DELUSIONAL;

CONTRACTIONS; FEAR INHIBITS contractions; IRREGULAR; WEAK; may STOP ALTOGETHER;

PHYSICAL: TWITCHING; URINE RETENTION; FACE BLOATED or SWOLLEN; HYPERTENSION [HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE];

MODALITIES: BETTER from MOVEMENT especially WALKING;

AFTER LABOUR; RETENTION of URINE;

PHOSPHORUS

MIND: FEARFUL; MANY WORRIES; OVERSENSITIVE; EUPHORIC and “SPACED OUT”; DROWSY; EXCITABLE; ANXIOUS; RESTLESS; FIDGETY; NERVOUS

PHYSICAL: CHILLY; VOMITING BILE; NAUSEA; NUMBNESS; TINGLING

THIRST: VERY THIRSTY especially for COLD WATER

MODALITIES: WORSE from BEING ALONE; COLD; MORNING; EVENINGS; BETTER from REST; COLD DRINKS; MASSAGE;

PULSATILLA

MIND: EMOTIONAL; TEARFUL; NEEDY; APOLOGETIC; AFFECTIONATE; SYMPATHETIC; DESIRES COMFORT, SUPPORT and SYMPATHY; CHANGEABLE MOODS;

CONTRACTIONS; DISTRESSING; INERTIA - labour fails to progress; may STOP ENTIRELY; TOO SHORT; TOO WEAK; BACK SPASMS

BIRTH CANAL; INERTIA; CERVIX FAILS TO DILATE;

PHYSICAL: HEADACHE; NAUSEA; VOMITING; BACK PAIN; VERY DRY LIPS; BEARING DOWN PAINS; HYPERTENSION [HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE];

THIRST:

MODALITIES: WORSE from REST; a STUFFY ROOM; BETTER from FRESH AIR; COMPANY; GENTLE MOTION; CONSTANT MOVEMENT; MASSAGE;

AFTER LABOUR; VIOLENT PAINS; RETAINED PLACENTA

SECALE

MIND: RESTLESS; ANXIOUS; MANIC; STUPOR; DEPRESSED; FEARFUL of DEATH; SUSPICIOUS; SADNESS; RAGE; DELIRIUM

CONTRACTIONS; TREMBLING or TWITCHING after each contraction; DISTRESSING; TOO SHORT; TOO WEAK; IRREGULAR; may STOP ENTIRELY;

BIRTH CANAL; CONTRACTED; WEAK TISSUES; RIGID

PHYSICAL: FAINTNESS; TINGLING in the BACK; FORMICATION [as though insects crawling over the skin]; NUMBNESS;

THIRST:

MODALITIES: WORSE from HEAT; WARMTH; BEING COVERED; BETTER from ROCKING; STRETCHING; LYING DOUBLED-UP; AFTER VOMITING; COLD APPLICATIONS; COOL FRESH AIR; BEING UNCOVERED; COLD BATHING

AFTER LABOUR; RETAINED PLACENTA

SEPIA

MIND: IRRITABLE; INDFFERENT; ANGRY; EXHAUSTION; A SHORT FUSE; RESENTFUL;

CONTRACTIONS; INTENSE PAIN; SPASMODIC; TOO WEAK may STOP ENTIRELY; SHUDDERS with each contraction;

BIRTH CANAL; HARD; RIGID; SPASMODIC; TENDER; DRY, WEAK;

PHYSICAL: COLD ARMS, HANDS, LEGS &.or FEET; FLUSHES OF HEAT; SHOOTING PAINS particularly UPWARDS; BEARING DOWN PAIN; sensation of RECTAL HEAVINESS; HYPERTENSION [HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE]; UTERINE PROLAPSE;

MODALITIES: BETTER from BEING COVERED;

AFTER LABOUR: RETAINED PLACENTA; UTERINE PROLAPSE; AFTER PAINS;

STAPHYSAGRIA

MIND: ANGER; VERY SENSITIVE; HUMILIATION; SAD but also IRRITABLE; SENSE OF VIOLATION;

PHYSICAL: PROLAPSE; OVARIAN PAINS

MODALITIES: WORSE from LOSS OF FLUIDS; TOUCH; ANGER; STRETCHING; AFTER URINATING; BETTER from WARMTH

AFTER LABOUR: AGGRAVATION from CATHETER

 
 

how to prescribe

  1. CHOOSE: the matching remedy and take this in the 200C or 1M potency if presentation and force of symptoms are intense.

  2. FREQUENCY: repeat up to every 15 minutes if presentation is intense reducing frequency on improvement or change.

  3. If after 6 doses there is NO CHANGE - STOP. Re-assess the symptoms and select a more suitable remedy.

  4. If symptoms improve or there is a change - PAUSE.

  5. If symptoms that had improved return - RESTART.

  6. If new symptoms come through then - stop. Re-assess and prescribe the matching remedy.

  7. After labour alternate ARNICA, HYPERICUM, CALENDULA 200C every 30 minutes if intense or hourly if less so.

  8. If distinct symptoms have arisen through labour mentally, emotionally or physically then prescribe accordingly or get in touch with your Homeopath for guidance.