The Simple Magic of Homeopathic Induction
By Piper Martin B.Ed., DS Hom.Med Classical Homeopath When 40 weeks of pregnancy begin to stretch into 41, 42 and 43 weeks women begin searching for ways to coax their bodies into labour. The possibilities seem to be limited and medical induction via gel, oxytocin or artificial rupture of membranes is often what women going postdates face. For women planning a natural birth or a home birth this can dramatically change the way in which they have intended to welcome their babies. Homeopathic induction is an option that all women need to be aware of. Using homeopathy to induce labour means that you will be working with your body and with your baby to set the natural course of labour into action. The wisdom of your body will be the governing force and your body will enter into the birth process in its own unique manner. Homeopathic Remedies The main sources for homeopathic remedies are plants, animals and minerals and are extremely dilute in their form. Homeopathic remedies contain less then a molecule of the substance with which they are created, to visualize this level of dilution imagine that from here to the sun and back is a giant lake. In that lake there is one drop of substance. The substance is then transmitted via small, white pellets made of lactose (milk sugar). That is the dilation level of 30C potency, a common potency used and sold in health food stores. Homeopathy is a subtle medicine that is absolutely safe for pregnancy and babies. The remedies work on the belief that your body already knows how to heal itself and certainly how to give birth – the remedy is merely a reminder to inspire it into action. Homeopathic medicine works by giving equal consideration to the physical, mental and emotional symptoms that are out of proportion. For example, I may see a woman that is 42 weeks pregnant. Physically she may be experiencing contractions every night that keep her awake but seem to disappear in the morning. This will begin to create a serious level of exhaustion. On the mental/emotional level she may be weeping uncontrollably, be unable to make decisions and in need of constant support and guidance from her friends, family and midwives. This is a woman that needs to engage both physically and emotionally with her labour and a remedy will assist her in doing that. To find the best remedy match it is necessary and important to contact a trained homeopath. Homeopathic doctors receive years of training in the thousands of remedies that currently exist and they are able to offer that level of specialized care. I am a classical Homeopath that specializes in pregnancy, attends births and treats newborns. I have been in practice for seven years and began using homeopathic remedies to induce labour about two months into my practice. This has been an area of great satisfaction for my clients and I as we work together to create more positive birth experiences. What I have discovered is that in most cases there is no physical, mechanical reason women go postdates, the most obvious block seems to be fear. This comes as no surprise as birth becomes more medical and women are forced to overcome bigger and bigger obstacles to attain the birth they feel is right for them.
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Some of the most common fears that I hear about in practice are fear of the pain, fear of death, fear of losing control and fear of interventions ranging from episiotomies to emergency cesareans. These may be fears from a previous birth experience or fears that have been put into place through the media, family birth stories or even their own birth as a baby. The process of using homeopathy to alleviate fear is relatively simple. Through a consultation we will discuss her mental, emotional and physical state as she progressed through her pregnancy. I will speak in detail to her about any previous birth experiences she has had. I will ask about her birth plans and ask her to check in with her baby to ask the baby if he/she is ready to be born. I will ask about her specific fears and I may phrase the question as “what is the worst thing you can imagine happening at your birth?” If women are unable to name their fears then dreams are often a valuable window into her unconscious state. Once this question has been answered I will continue expanding into that information until I reach the source of the fear; I want to be able to understand where the fear originated and how the belief has become rooted in this particular woman. For example: Susan believed that she would be unable to handle the pain of labour. This fear of the pain was causing her to wake up with nightmares and panic attacks. She would experience restlessness, a racing heart, sweating and acute anxiety each time she contemplated the pain she believed labour would bring. She would be triggered into a panic attack by any situation that would signal the possibility of pain – ie: a vaginal exam to assess her cervix. To discover an etiology for her fear I asked how she came to know that she could not handle the pain of labour. She related a story to me regarding an injury she had experienced. The injury was a result of an accident and the intensity of the pain took her by surprise and she felt totally unable to cope with it. The pain continued for much longer then she had been told to expect and she felt inadequate and lost as to how to manage it. Her reaction was to rely on pain medication to alleviate her sensations. When she thought about pain, this was the situation she was re-experiencing. As a homeopath my next step is to find a remedy that has the symptom - fear of the pain, fear of the pain from a previous experience. In this particular case it was not a fear of the pain from a frightening story or fear of the pain due to sexual abuse or assault but fear from a previous experience. This is the reason the case taking needs to be detailed, assuming that she was afraid of the pain because it is a common theme in our society would not lead me to the right remedy. I need to know the origin of the fear, only then can that match be made accurately. Homeopathy is very specific to the individual and their unique situation. The better the fit between the woman and the remedy the more impact the remedy will have on both the physical and the mental/emotional state of the woman. Quite often I find just the opportunity to have this conversation, name the fear and speak it out loud goes a long way towards dissolving its power.
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How Does it Work? The remedy brings about labour by reducing the intensity of the fear enough to allow the body to do what it was already prepared to do. The fear is the block and the remedy just alleviates it so those things can move ahead as they should. Once the remedy has been found to shift the labour into action it will be just as if labour had started on its own. The sensations may begin as cramping, loosening of the bowels etc. Remedies do not force the body to have intense contractions that are out of proportion to the stage of labour. To use homeopathy effectively it is vital that the specific state of the woman be matched to a remedy that will address the symptoms that appear out of proportion – ie: fears. There are no “induction remedies” homeopathy is always individually fitted to the challenges of that particular person. The second most common factor for a woman going postdates may be the position of the baby. I encourage women to try and assist their babies with homeopathic remedies into the best possible positions. A good position for the baby is important for two reasons. One, the baby needs to be in the correct position in the pelvis to put pressure on the cervix and start the process of thinning and dilation. This can be a reason for the delay of labour. Two, the labour will likely be faster once the baby is in the position that nature intended. Your body and the baby both know the way in which a head best fits through a pelvis. It is a matter of reminding the body to work with that knowledge to guide the baby into a head down, anterior (baby’s back is facing out) position. A posterior (baby’s back is facing your back) baby and a breech baby can both be safely and easily shifted with homeopathic remedies. I have clinically witnessed a breech baby turn up to 39 weeks and persistently posterior babies turn during labour in two contractions. This simple shift in position can make all the difference in a birth experience for mother and baby. Many women find it difficult to find a care provider to catch a breech baby and may have to contend with a cesarean birth. Posterior labours are often longer and the back pain can be very intense for the mother. The important point again is that a remedy cannot override your body or your baby’s body. If for example a baby is breech and cannot move vertex (head down) due to a short or tangled cord the remedy will just simply not work. Homeopathy can not cause harm to you or your baby. The benefit of homeopathy can be extended from the point of induction, throughout the birth experience, postpartum time and into the lives of your entire family. Remedies can assist with birth trauma for mothers, fathers and babies, physical healing from labour and the many transitions that may occur throughout the life of a child. Homeopathy has a wide scope and the degree to which you engage in it can be a life-altering process. It is always a support and a comfort to know that the option of homeopathy exists for every mental, emotional and physical challenge that we face. For more information on homeopathy or to find a homeopathic practitioner in your area please contact: www.pipermartin.com
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www.canadahomeopathy.com www.homeopathy.org Piper Martin B.Ed., DS Hom.Med is a mother of two vital boys. She is a Classical Homeopath supporting families through pregnancy, birth and onward through the use of Homeopathic medicine. She acts as an educator and consultant for midwives across Canada and is the creator of Homeopathic Medicine for Pregnancy and Childbirth – a professional training program for birth care providers. Piper writes for Midwifery Today and believes in the opportunity of birth as a pivotal point in the lives of women and their families. She can be reached at www.pipermartin.com for further information on homeopathy.
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