Role Of Homepathy in Pregnanacy

Role Of Homepathy in Pregnancy, Labour and after Child Birth HOMOEOPATHY is indeed helpful for women during pregnancy, labour and after child birth.

During pregnancy – First trimester to control morning sickness Homoeopathy is of great help because Homoeopathy does not posses any side effects. Pregnancy is associated with a number of conditions, though transient, affect pregnant women. In Allopathy a drug Thalidomide is used which produces developmental anomaly in infant of pregnant women who consumes allopathy drugs for morning sickness. To avoid such drastic developmental disorder like severe deformed limbs in infant one should prefer Homoeopathy during pregnancy and lactation.

DURING PREGNENCY certain conditions causing serious concern about pregnant woman & unborn child include threatened abortions, incomplete abortions, tendency to recurrent abortions, high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia ( raised blood pressure with protein loss in urine), eclampsia. Such conditions need co-ordination between skilled gynaecologist and Homoeopathic physician, here Homoeopathy will be helpful as an adjuvant therapy for successful handling of the situation in such conditions. Backache, anaemia, constipation, haemorrhoids, pruritis, leg cramps, viral infections and fevers during pregnancy, when women is on Homoeopathy during pregnancy then beyond 34 weeks lie and presentation of the foetus happened to be corrected and caesarean section have been prevented.

DURING AND AFTER LABOUR such as weak labour pains, prolonged labour, fear and anxiety during labour, retained placenta and post partum haemorrhage, retention of urine after labour, behavioural changes, inadequate milk secretion, mastitis, cracked nipples, breast heaviness etc.

DURING INFANCY AND CHILDHOOD – Homoeopathy is wonderful medicine in conditions of skin rashes, upper respiratory infections, gastrointestinal disorders, lactose intolerance, teething trouble, ear trouble like otitis, constipation, allergic disorders like urticaria, allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, delayed growth developmental milestones, persistent cry and temper tantrums, cold and cough fever, vomiting, flatulent colic, tonsillitis, fears and phobias, childhood asthma, nocturnal enuresis, urinary tract infections etc.

      MERITS OF HOMOEOPATHY

    • Adopts an individualistic and holistic approach towards the sick.
    • Homoeopathic medicines are administered in potentized form and minute doses, hence harmless and do not produce any side effects.
    • The sweet pills are palatable and hence child friendly.
    • Medicines are cost effective.
    • Medicines can be prescribed on the basis of symptoms where diagnosis is uncertain.
    • Simple method of medicinal application.
    • Highly beneficial for many disorders related to women.
    • Safe to administer for various ailments throughout pregnancy without any side effects.
    • Safe and effective during delayed 2nd and 3ed stage of labour, to control PPH and bringing size of uterus to normal position in short time, hence to avoid infection after labour.
    • Effective post partum and lactation complaints.
    • Very cost effective
    • Health promotion for women after delivery.

      VOMITING OF PREGNANCY

    • Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy occur especially during first trimester of pregnancy.
    • It is more common in early morning.
    • Begins at 4th to 8th week of pregnancy and continues till 16th to 20th week.
    • Severe nausea and vomiting (Hyperemesis Gravidarum) may occur that requires urgent medical attention or it may lead to dehydration and malnutrition

      PROBABLE CAUSES

    • Hormonal changes
    • Lower blood sugar during early pregnancy
    • Emotional stress, travelling or some foods can worsen the problem.

      SIMPLE MEASURES TO RELIEVE NAUSEA AND VOMITING

    • Eat dry toast or a plain biscuit before you get up from the bed in morning.
    • Give yourself time to get up slowly.
    • Eat small amounts often rather than several large meals.
    • Avoid the foods and smells that make you feel worse.
    • Drink plenty of fluids.
    • Get plenty of rest and sleep whenever you can. Ginger and vitamin B12 rich diet such as whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes may help.

      MUST CONSULT A PHYSICIAN,IF

    • The above measures fail to improve the symptoms
    • Vomiting occur more than 3-4 times a day.
    • You can not retain food or liquid in stomach.

      HOW CAN HOMOEOPATHY HELP?

      ( IT IS ADVISED THAT A QUALIFIED HOMOEOPATHIC PHYSICIAN SHOULD BE CONSULTED)

    • Symphoricarpus Recemosa – Persistent vomiting, Nausea worse from motion, better while lying on back, aversion to all kind of foods, Rising of acidic fluid in mouth with bitter taste.
    • Ipecac – Constant nausea and vomiting, increased salivation with clean tongue. No thirst.
    • Lobelia Inflata- Extreme nausea and vomiting, Feeling of faintness and weakness in upper abdomen. Profuse salivation with good appetite.
    • Nux Vomica- Nausea and vomiting with much retching. Wants to vomit but can not, ineffectual
    • Sepia – Nausea at the smell or sight of food < lying on back, in the morning before eating. Vomiting after eating.

      ANXIETY AND FEARS IN PREGNANCY

    • Mild anxiety is a normal routine of the pregnant Mother during first pregnancy. But undue fear and anxiety may disrupt the normal routine of the pregnant Mother. Cause loss of sleep and poor appetite in Mother. May affect the health of the foetus in pregnant woman. Fears and anxieties associated with pregnany
    • Miscarriage or loss of pregnany.
    • Excessive nausea and vomiting.
    • Physical changes that occur in the woman’s body during pregnancy and after delivery.
    • Health and well being of the baby.
    • How to look after the baby, especially in the primy working woman. Anxious woman may be quite unlike her usual self laugh or cry over nothing, be forgetful, not concentrate on anything for very long, may have severe depression or anxiety.

      TIPS TO COPE WITH SUCH ANXIETIES AND FEARS

    • Females are made to accommodate labour (delivery) so there is nothing to worry about.
    • Discuss your anxiety and fears with your spouse, friends, relations and elderly female members of the family.
    • Attend ante-natal classes and group discussions to remove the misconceptions and apprehensions related to pregnancy and delivery.

      CONSULT A PHYSICIAN WHEN

    • The anxiety is severe and lasts longer than few hours.
    • Disrupts the normal routine of the pregnant woman.
    • Affects sleep and appetite of the pregnant woman.

      HOW CAN HOMOEOPATHY HELP?

      ( IT IS ADVISED THAT A QUALIFIED HOMOEOPATHIC PHYSICIAN SHOULD BE CONSULTED)

    • Aconitum Napellus - Great worry, fear and anxiety over trivial ailments, Fear of death or of the future, Restless, does every thing in great haste, Music is unbearable, makes her sad.
    • Cimicifuga- Depression with dreams of impending evil.
    • Pulsatilla- Very emotional, weeps easily, easily discouraged, likes sympathy, fearful in evening, of being alone, of ghosts.

      BACKACHE DURING PREGNANCY

    • Back pain is one of the most common discomforts during pregnancy.

      CAUSES

    • Ligaments stretch and become softer due to hormonal changes.
    • Hollow in the back increases as the baby grows.
    • Shift of the centre of gravity of the body due to increasing weight in the front part of the body.
    • Muscles of the back have to work more due to increased weight.

      DO’S

    • Practice good posture.
    • Sit and stand with care.
    • Wear low heeled shoes (not flat) with good arch support.
    • Sit with good back support.
    • Apply hot pads to the painful area.
    • Do special exercises for the back to strengthen the back muscles under the supervision of an expert.

      DON’TS

    • Don’t sleep on the soft bed.
    • Don’t sleep on your back. Try to sleep on your side.
    • Don’t bend over from the waist to pick things up-squat down, keep your back straight and pick up things.
    • Don’t lift heavy objects. Avoid excessive weight gain.

      SOME COMMON EXERCISES DURING PREGNANCY

    • Forward bend after sitting straight in chair
    • Standing straight then bend upper body forward.
    • Sitting crossed bend legs then twist the trunk on either side

      HOW HOMOEOPATHY HELP?

      ( IT IS ADVISED THAT A QUALIFIED HOMOEOPATHIC PHYSICIAN SHOULD BE CONSULTED)

    • Aesculus Hip – Severe, continuous, dull ache in lower back and hips. Back feels weak and tired when walking. Backache worse while stooping
    • Rhus Toxicodendron- Pain and stiffness in the lower back. Back pain better when moving, lying on something hard and on hot fomentation. Backache worse while sitting.
    • Arnica Montana- Backache due to strain on back muscles or blunt injury. Sore lame, bruised feeling as if beaten. Patient feels as if bed feels too hard though it is soft. Can not walk straight.

      CONSTIPATION AND PILES DURING PREGNANCY

    • Constipation occurs when passing of stool becomes difficult. A pregnant woman may not pass stool daily but the stool should be hard which require straining.

      CAUSES

    • Compression of intestines by the enlarged uterus in later part of pregnancy.
    • Slowing down of the intestinal movements due to excess female hormones.

      PILES (HEMORRHOIDS)

    • Piles are swollen veins at the end of the rectum. Piles can be either ‘external’ ( protruding from the anus) or ‘ internal’ (situated inside the rectum).They may get worse during pregnancy or may appear first time during pregnancy.

      CAUSES

    • Laxity of the rectal veins due to effect of female hormones
    • ressure by the enlarged uterus on the large vein ( inferior vena cava) that drains the veins of the large intestine.
    • Prolonged constipation

      SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

    • Itching around the anus.
    • Soreness and pain while passing stool.
    • Painful lump or swelling around the anus
    • Bleeding through the anus may occur during or after the stools
    • as if rectum has not been emptied completly.

      HOW TO TREAT CONSTIPATION AND PREVENT PILES?

    • Drink plenty of fluids, water.
    • Eat a high fibre diet including lots of fruits, vegetables, bran and whole grains.
    • Don’t strain ( push hard) while passing stool.
    • Increase physical activity.
    • Avoid sitting for long periods, especially on hard chair.
    • Take warm soaks or a ‘ Sitz bath’ Take comfortably warm water in a tub, just enough to soak hips and buttocks. Sit into it for about 20-30 minutes. It may shrink piles.

      HOW HOMOEOPATHY CAN HELP?

      (IT IS ADVISED THAT A QUALIFIED HOMOEOPATHIC PHYSICIAN SHOULD BE CONSULTED)

      CONSTIPATION

    • SEPIA- Sensation as if a ball in rectum. Can not strain at stool. Stool hard and large. Pain in rectum shooting upward during and long after stool.
    • NUX VOMICA- Indicated after over dosing of laxatives, purgatives. Frequent ineffectual urge for stool, passes small quantity of stool at a time, after passing stool, sensation as if some stool is left behind.
    • ALUMINA- No urge for stool, even soft stool requires great straining, painful urging long before stools.
    • PLATINA- Frequent, unsuccessful urging for stool, stool sticky, adheres to anus like soft clay.

      PILES

    • ALOE SOCOTRINA- Piles protrude like bunch of grapes. Piles bleed profusely. Burning and soreness in rectum relieved by application of cold water.
    • COLLINSONIA- Obstinate constipation with protruding piles. Hard and dry stool with pain and great flatulence. Painful bleeding piles. Sensation of sharp sticks in the rectum.

      COMMON BREAST PROBLEMS AFTER DELIVERY

      Common breast problems after delivery are cracked nipples, painful and engorged breast. Infection of the breast, deficient milk production etc. These problems may be due to incorrect breast feeding. It is therefore important to know the correct way of breast feeding.

      HOW TO CORRECTLY ATTACH THE BABY ON BREAST?

    • Tickle baby’s lower lip with your nipple until it opens mouth.
    • Once baby’s mouth is wide open quickly pull baby onto your breast.
    • Baby should have as much areola (the dark area around nipple)in its mouth as possible, not just the nipple.

      CORRECT METHOD

    • Position the baby well and attach correctly to the breast.
    • Hold the baby close to you, facing the breast; baby’s neck and body be straight and supported.
    • Feed the baby frequently day and night, as often and for as long as the baby wants, at least 8 times in 24 hours.
    • Let your baby finish one breast before offering the other breast.

      SORE AND CRACKED NIPPLES

      Some nipple tenderness is normal at the start of feeds in the first 1-2 weeks but if baby is not put to breast correctly, nipples may get sore and cracked.

      CAUSES

    • Incorrect breast feeding – the baby sucks only on the nipple.
    • Mother does not have enough milk, forcing the baby to suck the breast harder to get more milk.
    • Candida infection (thrush) of the baby. Mother may get infection from the yeast infection in the baby’s mouth.
    • Bacterial infection of the cracked nipples.

      TIPS

    • Make sure that the baby opens its mouth wide before you put the baby to breast.
    • If breast feeding is very painful, avoid feeding on the sore breast for 12-24 hours. Express milk by hand and feed baby in a bottle or cup.
    • Feed the baby with the less sore breast only.
    • Dry the nipples in open air after each feed.
    • Clean the nipple before and after each feed.
    • If you have cracked nipples, rub a few drops of breast milk on your nipples and let it dry.
    • Check for sores in your baby’s mouth every day and get them treated as soon as possible.

      PAINFUL BREAST DUE TO ENGORGEMENT

    • If the breast feeding is not done early and frequently, the ducts of the breast may get blocked obstructing free flow of milk. The baby may not like to nurse on that side due to slow milk flow.

      SYMPTOMS

    • Pain in breast.
    • Swollen and firm lump in the breast.
    • Mild redness of the skin overlying the blocked duct.

      WHAT TO DO?

    • Continue breast feeding on the affected side.
    • Massage the area or use warm pad on the area ( be careful not to burn your skin)
    • While the baby is feeding, put your hand around the blocked duct and put steady pressure. Express milk manually from the breast.

      MASTITIS

    • Mastitis is a bacterial infection of the breast more common in breast feeding mothers.
    • Is more common in Mothers who do not breast feed the baby frequently.
    • Do not empty the breast completly.

      PRECIPITATING FACTORS

    • Cracked and sore nipples.
    • Lack of cleanliness/ unclean habits.
    • Incorrect position while breast feeding.
    • Infection from baby’s mouth or from Mother herself.

      SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

    • Much pain in breast.
    • Redness and swelling of the breast
    • Fever with chills.

      DO’S AND DON’TS

    • Do not fee your baby from the affected breast.
    • Express the milk and throw.
    • Rest as much as possible

      PREVENTION OF ‘PAINFUL AND ENGORGED BREAST’ AND ‘MASTITIS’

    • Start breast feeding the baby as early as possible.
    • Feed the baby frequently
    • Position the baby correctly while feeding.
    • Make sure the baby feeds freely from the breast, taking all of the milk at each feeding.
    • Empty the breast manually, if you feel the breast to be heavy even after feeding the baby.
    • Practice clean habits.

      DEFICIENT LACTATION

    • Poor supply of milk in breasts occurs due to deficiency of two major hormones – Prolactin and Oxytocin, released by the body after delivery for production of milk. Dietary deficiencies of essential micro nutrients may also lead to low milk supply.

      DO’S

    • Take sufficient vegetables, fruits, grains and proteins which will provide proper nutrients to produce milk.
    • Calcium can be obtained from milk as well as a variety of non-dairy foods such as dark green vegetables, seeds, nuts and bony fish.
    • Maintain proper breast feeding posture to develop reflex required for production of milk.

      HOW CAN HOMOEOPATHY HELP?

      (IT IS ADVISED THAT A QUALIFIED HOMOEOPATHIC PHYSICIAN SHOULD BE CONSULTED)

    • For sore and cracked nipples – Graphitis, Sepia, Rathania.
    • Painful breast due to engorgement - Calcarea Carbonica, Lac Caninum, Phytolacca decandra
    • Mastitis - Bryonia alba, Lac Caninum, Phytolacca decandra.
    • Deficient lactation - Agnus Castus, Asafoetida, Lac Caninum.

      FOLLOW

    • 6-11 servings of Bread, Rice, Cereals, Chapati.
    • 3-5 servings of vegetables.
    • 3-4 servings of fruits.
    • 3-4 servings of proteins
    • 4 servings of Milk and milk products.
    • Occasionally oils, fats, sugar.

      HEARTBURN AND INDIGESTION DURING PREGNANCY

    • HEARTBURN is a burning sensation in the centre of the chest. It has nothing to do with the heart. It may get severe during the second and third trimester ( 4th to 9thmonth)

      CAUSE

    • Increased secretion of female hormones during pregnancy relaxes the sphincter between the stomach and the food pipe (oesophagus) that normally prevents the stomach acids from passing back into the oesophagus. This causes the stomach acid to pass into lower end of oesophagus and irritate its lining.

      INDIGESTION

    • Indigestion or dyspepsia is digestion-related discomfort in abdomen.

      CAUSES

    • Hormonal changes during early pregnancy.
    • Pressure of the growing womb on the stomach in the later pregnancy.
    • Excessive intake of tea, coffee, caffeine, fried or fatty food or less intake of water may worsen it.

      SYMPTOMS

    • eartburn, Excess gas, Bloating of abdomen, Burping, Feeling of fullness after a normal meal.

      DO’S

    • Eat smaller meals more often rather than three large meals.
    • Eat yogurt(curd) or drink a glass of milk.
    • Sit up straight when you are eating.
    • Sleep well propped up, raising the head side of your bed.

      DON’TS

    • Don’t eat foods, which cause trouble. Avoid fried, spicy or rich food.
    • Don’t drink much while eating.
    • Don’t eat or drink for few hours before going to bed.
    • Don’t lie down immediately after eating.

      HOW CAN HOMOEOPATHY HELP?

      (IT IS ADVISED THAT A QUALIFIED HOMOEOPATHIC PHYSICIAN SHOULD BE CONSULTED)

    • ANACARDIUM- Empty feeling in the stomach. Eating relieves the symptoms of indigestion.
    • NUX VOMICA- Bloating and sensation of weight in the stomach, as of a stone, worse after eating. Indigestion from drinking strong coffee. Stomach region sensitive to pressure.
    • PULSATILLA- Indigestion from eating rich food, cake, pastry. Aversion to fatty and warm food. Taste of food remains for a long time after eating. Bad taste and rising of acidic fluid in the mouth in the morning. Tongue dry yet thirstless.
    • SEPIA- Feeling of emptiness in abdomen, not relieved by eating. Craving for vinegar, acids and pickles. Acidity with bloated abdomen and sour belching.