Homeopathy During Labour

FEAR, LABOUR OF

• Aconite 200: Allays anxiety and fear, and also checks complaints arising
from it.

DELAYED AND PROLONGED LABOUR:

• Caulophyllum 30: It is used during labour when there is spasmodic and

severe pains which radiate in all directions. Timely administration of this
medicine furthers progress of labour. This remedy acts as tonic to the
uterine muscles. It improves the power of contractility thereby shortening
the labour and ensures a smooth and uneventful delivery.
• Gelsemium 30: When labour pains are wanting, prolonged labour with
exhaustion. Gelsemium restores labour pains and ensures smooth and
successful delivery.
• Pulsatilla known to correct malpositions and convert difficult labour into
easy deliveries, corrected want of expulsive power. irregular pains.
Pains with chilliness - more severe the pain, more severe the chill. Pain
appears suddenly and leaves gradually.
• Kail carb -backache in pregnancy and labour.
• Gelsemium-in rigid os with chilliness in the back;
• Cimicifuga-Useful for ladies of nervous excitable temperament with rigidity
of os during labor. Intolerable, irregular, spasmodic pains that radiate to
hips, thighs or back. Electric shock like pains causing faintness. Intense
nervous excitement causes shivering, without coldness, false labour pains,
rigid os;
• Cinnamonum-ineffectual or false labour pains, severe pains
• Cocculus indicus: Terrible pain in the small of the back; lower limbs feel
paralyzed; frequent vomiting.
• Secale cor: A sensation of a constant tonic pressure in the uterine region;
this causes great distress; wishes fresh air; don't like to be covered much.
• Platina: Very great sensitiveness of the organs; severe cramping pains in
the region of the uterus; constant oozing of dark, grumous blood from the
vagina. Horrified by her thoughts.
• Sepia: Numerous darting pains, shooting upward from the neck of the
uterus; flushes of heat; cold feet.
• Conium: If there are scirrhosities in either the breasts or uterus and labour
does not progress normally --- pains spasmodic' vertigo, particularly on
turning in bed; rigidity of os uteri.
• Belladonna: Pain appears suddenly & goes suddenly.
• Nux vomicaPain with ineffectual urge for stool or urine.

Pain ceasing: Bell, Kali-c, Op, Puls, Sec-cor

Spasmodic: Cham, Gelsem, Hyos, Puls.

Hour glass contraction: Belladona, Chamomilla, Gelsemium, Cuprum

The Murphy Repertory gives the following medicines for easy delivery:

Condition of Cervix during labor

-Contracted, spasmodically - CAUL., CIMIC., GELS.
-Dilated - Gels.
-Half open - Sepia

-Hard: Sep
-Rigidity of - CAUL., CHAM., GELS.

-Soft: Ust

-Cervix dilated, os open, no pains, bag of water bulging, patient drowsy,

face flushed: Gels

-Deficient pain: Bell, Caulo, Puls, Ust

-Ineffectual pain: Caul, Kali-c, Puls

-Child's head is in the opening of pelvis and the action of womb is

insufficient for expulsion: PULS

-Agony and sweats, with desire to be rubbed - Nat. carb.

-Atony, uterus during - Caul., Puls.
-Premature - Caul., Cimi., Puls.

POST PARTUM HAEMORRHAGE or PPH: Haemorrhage in excess of 500 ml from the

genital tract after delivery up to the end of puerperium which adversely affects the
general condition of the patient. It may be immediate, occurring within first 24
hours after delivery or delayed, after 24 hours. It may be due to atonic uterus of
multiparae, anaemia, prolonged labour or even due to blood coagulation disorders.
If neglected it can lead to shock and even death of the patient.

Management: The principles in management are:

• Diagnose the cause of the bleeding.

• To empty the uterus of its contents and to make it contract.
• To replace the blood loss.
• To ensure effective haemostasis.
• Considering the health and safety of patient to be our prior aim (the
medico-legal consequences being the next), the case should be carefully
and meticulously managed, regarding the need of surgical intervention.
• Remove the cause.
• Massage the uterus to make it hard and express the blood clot.
• Tight intrauterine packing with hot intrauterine douches can be done to
stimulate the uterus to attain its tone.

Homeopathic Medicines: Dr. Hughes recommends, "Pulsatilla would be called for

by inertia, Arnica by fatigue of the organ. After a very rapid Labour, or after the
extraction of the body immediately after the birth of the head, the uterus may
suddenly fail, here Ignatia would be suitable." Other medicines frequently
indicated are:

• China: Dark clots with abdominal distension. Painful heaviness in the pelvis.

• Ustilago- Oozing of dark blood, clotted, forming long black strings. Flaccid
 uterus, dilated and relaxed os. Discharge of blood from slightest
provocation.
• Nux vomica: Blood black with pain in the sacrum and constant urging to
stool.
• Trillium pendulum: Gushing of bright red blood with sensation as though
the hips and back were falling to pieces, > tight bandages.

RETAINED PLACENTA OR MEMBRANES: The placenta is said to be retained when it

is not expelled out even 30 minutes after the death of the baby. It may be due to
hour glass contraction of the uterus or incompletely separated placenta. The case
can complicate to haemorrhage and Shock (if retained beyond 1 hour).

Homeopathic Medicines: Dr. Hughes says, "A dose of Arnica in all cases be given
as soon as the child is separated. If this is insufficient, Pulsatilla or Secale may be
given as for deficiency of uterine contractions during the previous stage. It is seen
that the tendency to adherent placenta may be combated by Hydrastis."

• Gelsemium: When, with the retained placenta, there are cutting pains in
the lower part of the abdomen, usually running upward, or sometimes
upward and backward.
• Secale cor: Constant sensation as of bearing down; it seems to her too
constant strong to be effectual; passive haemorrhage; the parts feel to her
as if relaxed, and there is an absence of uterine action; especially suited for
thin, scrawny women.
• Sabina: Pain, or an uneasy, bad feeling, extending from the sacrum to the
pubes; a slight sensation as of motion in the abdomen; intense after pains,
notwithstanding the retention, with discharge of fluid blood and clots, in
about equal proportions, with every pain.
• Gossypium: A powerful emmenagogue used in physiological doses. Useful
in cases with retained placenta.

To promote expulsion :

• Pulsatilla; Secale cor; Silicea; Sabina;

• Cantharis to expel moles, dead foetuses, membranes.
• Kreosote: discharge of clots with a foul smell.