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Morning sickness
Nausea and vomiting, or so-called “morning sickness”, is experienced by many women. Some experience only nausea for the first 3 months of pregnancy, usually in the morning before they have eaten; others feel nauseous throughout the day, and sometimes, throughout their pregnancy.
Morning sickness can occur at any time of the day and throughout the 3 trimesters.
The remedies
- Ipecac: Constant nausea with empty belching and retching; vomiting is difficult and does not relieve your nausea.
- Nux Vomica: Nausea with retching that is relieved by vomiting; sour belching, indigestion and heartburn. You may have a sensation that there is a knot in your stomach and you feel bad-tempered.
- Pulsatilla: Nausea with little vomiting, which is worse after eating and drinking. You often feel weepy, moody and like to be comforted.
- Sepia: Intermittent nausea that is worse in the mornings and when you smell or think of food; there is an empty, sinking feeling in your stomach, which is temporarily relieved by eating. You feel apathetic, exhausted and heavy.
Oedema
Oedema or fluid retention is common in pregnancy, especially around the ankles and feet, occurring mostly in the final trimester. It is caused by rising hormone levels and increased blood volume, becoming more severe if you are heavily pregnant in the hot summer months.
The remedies
- Natrum Muriaticum: You have swelling in your extremities, together with a craving for salt. You are often thirsty, with a tendency to feel tired or ill from being in the sun.
- Pulsatilla: You have swelling in the knees, ankles, feet or hands, accompanied by a feeling of heaviness or weariness, especially if it occurs after eating spicy, rich foods. Problems are worse when the extremities are hanging down and when they’re warm. You are also moody.
- Calcarea Carbonica: You develop swelling in the lower extremities, especially around the knees, and symptoms can be worse from sitting, unless your legs are supported. You may have weight issues, get tired easily and feel worse from exertion.
Constipation
Constipation is common in pregnancy as the hormones that prepare the pelvic-floor muscles for labour can slow down the digestive processes. Eating correctly can help mild constipation. Drink lots of water and eat high-fibre fruit and vegetables.
The remedies
- Bryonia: Large, hard, dry stools that are difficult to expel accompanied by a headache. You are also irritable.
- Nux Vomica: Frequent urging to pass a stool, passing only small amounts each time.
- Sepia: Straining to pass a large, hard stool; stomach feels full and you feel sluggish most of the time.
- Sulphur: Constipation with piles that itch and worsen in heat. You are restless and thirsty.
Healing after the birth
After the birth, you can use homeopathic remedies to speed up the healing process for both yourself and your baby.
The remedies
- Aconite: For shock following the absolute intensity of birth.
- Arnica: To relieve soreness, bruising and after-pains; it is also helpful for babies who are bruised from a long labour or a forceps delivery. If you are still sore after three days, take Bellis Perennis to help with bruising in deep muscle tissues.
- Kali Phos: For mental exhaustion after delivery; if you have a headache or are tired but too excited to sleep.
- Pulsatilla: You feel miserable and burst into tears at the slightest thing but feel better after being comforted. Pulsatilla helps to prevent post-natal depression, especially when your milk comes in.
