Homeopathic Remedies for Pain During Labor

Homeopathy, a form of alternative medicine based on the principal of "like cures like," treats patients using diluted medicinal preparations that at higher doses would cause symptoms similar to those they are being used to cure. According to Midwifery Today, homeopathic medicine offers a safe and effective way to alleviate labor pain. While most homeopathic preparations consist of natural ingredients, remember that these treatments are often quite strong medicine. Always consult with your care provider before taking any type of homeopathic remedy.

General Labor Remedies

• Homeopathy Today recommends taking a childbirth preparation class as well as a course in relaxation training to prepare for your baby's birth. They suggest that self-hypnosis can help alleviate much of the pain and discomfort associated with childbirth. If you do find that you need pain relief during labor, a homeopathic prescriber can recommend a number of preparations to help you.

  To enable relaxation, homeopaths often recommend Belladonna, which can quell agitation and deliriousness. Try Aconite at times when you find yourself panicking due to seemingly unbearable labor pains. Cimicfuga (black cohosh) can be used for spasmodic pain or to help comfort those who find any type of pain unbearable. If you tire easily and had a tendency to overindulge in junk food throughout your pregnancy, Calcarea phosphorica might help you withstand the rigors of labor. If your body remains exhausted due to repeated close-together labors, or overwork, Carbo vegetabilis can offer some additional strength. Arnica alleviates muscle strain due to exertion and can treat shock. When you feel that you cannot stand any more labor and want to stop and go home, a preparation of Pulsatilla will help you keep going. When a woman ceases to progress in her labor and it appears stalled, a solution of Cimicifuga will help dilate the cervix.

  In order to avoid tearing or stretching of the vagina or bladder, many prescribers recommend a preparation of Sulphur. And Staphysagria, commonly offered after a C-section or episiotomy, helps women heal more quickly. Another medicine that helps with healing is a tincture of calendula, especially when applied as a salve to the injured area.

Back Pain and Posterior Presentation

• Posterior presentation, which is when the baby's head faces the mother's front instead of her back, often causes extreme back pain throughout labor. Homeopathic medicine can offer safe, effective relief for this pain as well as possibly helping the baby move into a more desirable birthing position. If you experience pain in your lumbar region and feel labor contractions as back-breaking pain, a preparation of Kali carbonicum (potash) offers relief. Gelsemium (yellow jasmine) alleviates labor pain in women who are fully dilated but having problems pushing the baby out of the birth canal due to its positioning. Nux vomica (poison nut) can help relieve labor pains suffered throughout the back and rectum.