Homeopathy is ideal for treating the niggles of pregnancy, as it carries no side effects

During pregnancy, any conventional medication feels like a threat to the unborn. However, the gentle and ancient system of homeopathy suits pregnancy because it does not introduce harmful substances into the body. With homeopathy, you're not just treating a symptom - nausea, constipation or itchiness, for instance - you're treating the whole pregnant person.

Remedies are chosen after a consultation, which can include bewildering questions about whether you have hot feet and what you like best to eat. This is in order to establish a complete picture of the patient, to which the homeopath can match a correct remedy. The same symptom can be treated with a wide variety of different remedies, depending on the person's unique susceptibility. Once the remedy has been identified, it works by stimulating the recipient's healing potential and restoring equilibrium.

Sometimes the effects can seem immediate and startling. For example, high potency Pulsatilla, used towards the end of pregnancy, is recommended for turning a breech baby head downwards. This has been documented many times, including in my own practise. So, if your baby is breech and won't turn it's worth consulting a homeopath - it certainly can't do any harm.

Panic stations
The overwhelming sensations of a first labour can induce panic. One evening, a few years ago, I rang a close friend who was in early labour with her first child. Her husband answered, as she was unable to speak to me because she felt completely out of control.

I could hear her wailing despairingly down the line. After asking a few questions I suggested a high potency of Aconite. An hour later I still hadn't heard back, so I rang again. This time she answered, confidently coping with her contractions and speaking softly so as not to disturb her sleeping husband.

If you are planning a pregnancy, it is worth consulting a professional homoeopath for care during pregnancy, birth and the post-partum period - obviously in addition to the medical team at the hospital. There are 'first-aid' remedies that can help with minor or uncomplicated problems. A remedy should be chosen that best matches the general state - as well as the symptoms - of the person.

The digestive system is often affected by pregnancy. Constipation is quite common and is sometimes resolved by a glass of hot water first thing in the morning, and by increasing fibre in the diet. If nausea (whether in the morning or any other time) is a problem, some people find it settles if they eat little and often, especially carbohydrate foods. Ginger in some form (such as ginger beer, fresh ginger tea or ginger biscuits) can also be helpful.

Finding relief
If symptoms are more persistent, you can try the following remedies:

• Sepia - nausea is intensified by the smell of food, yet relieved by eating. Tendency to feel worn out, irritable and over-burdened by her responsibilities, with no spare emotional energy for loved ones. Constipation with sluggish feeling and sense that some stool remains behind.

• Pulsatilla - nausea with some relief from fresh air. Intolerance of fatty foods and probably not very thirsty. Changeable moods, sometimes weepy. Feels generally better for company, sympathy and possibly cuddles.

• Nux Vomica - nausea relieved by vomiting. Indigestion and heartburn; constipation with frequent unproductive urging. Easily irritated, and loss of sleep affects her badly.

• Ipecac - continuous nausea that isn't relieved by vomiting. The tongue tends to be a normal pink colour and there may be more saliva than usual.

• Bryonia - useful in constipation with large, dry stools. This may be accompanied by a dull headache and dry mouth.

• One remedy you will probably be advised to have to help with soreness and bruising after the birth is arnica (to be taken in tablet form as the cream should not be put on broken skin).

• Calendula or hypercal (a mixture of calendula and hypericum) tincture mixed with warm water (20 drops in ¼ pint) is very soothing to bathe the perineum after birth.

• Caulophyllum has a great reputation for helping slow labours progress. The characteristic indications are painful yet ineffectual contractions, often with weakness and trembling.

• Aconite is very helpful if a woman in labour feels panicky, if she feels the baby is never going to arrive, and if she can't cope with the labour.

• After the baby has arrived, homoeopathic remedies are useful for both mother and infant. Two common problems with breastfeeding are mastitis and thrush. In the beginning stages of mastitis, or threatening breast abscess with pain, heat of the breast and fever, belladonna works in most cases. In thrush, passed to and fro between the baby's mouth and the mother's breasts, Borax given to both is often very useful.

• Calendula ointment or nappy cream can help heal cracked or sore nipples and also soothe a baby's sore bottom.

How to take remedies
When prescribing for yourself, it is best to try a 6c potency (readily obtained from health food shops and many chemists, also by post from Helios Homoeopathy Ltd (call 01892 537254 or visit www.helios.co.uk) and Ainsworths (call 0207 935 5330 or visit www.ainsworths.com). If you experience a definite improvement, only repeat the remedy if the improvement starts to wear off.

If there is little or no improvement after one dose, try further doses but no more than six over a couple of days. Avoid coffee and mint toothpaste, menthol etc., while taking the remedies. Don't touch them with your fingers (tip from the lid straight under your tongue and let them dissolve slowly). Avoid eating or drinking within half an hour on either side of taking a remedy.

Where to find a homeopath
You can get a list of homeopathic practitioners from the Society of Homeopaths by calling 0870 7703214 or visiting www.homeopathy-soh.org

The British Homoeopathic Association can be contacted on 0207 566 7800 for a register of homoeopathically trained medical doctors.

The Institute for Complementary Medicine (who have a register of homoeopaths as well as other practitioners) can be contacted at:
P0 Box 194,
London SE16 7QZ
Tel: 0207 237 5165
www.icmedicine.co.uk

Further reading

• 'Homeopathy for Mother and Baby' Miranda Castro, Macmillan
• 'Homeopathic Medicines for Pregnancy and Childbirth' Richard Moskowitz MD, North Atlantic Books
• 'Homoeopathy for Babies and Children, a parents' guide' Beth MacEoin, Hodder and Stoughton Headway