Skip to content

Labour And Birthing Remedies

Commonly Used Birth Remedies

  • Remedies marked with an * are already available in the Ainsworth 42 Essential Remedy Kit.
  • While all remedies can be given as pills, there are advantages to dissolving them in water so they can be given in a liquid form. If you would like to dose in this manner, please contact the clinic for further information and an instruction sheet on how to do this.
  • Not every symptom contained within the information has to be present before that remedy can be given.
  • Commence with a 30C potency, only progressing to a 200C potency if the 30C potency had been helpful but no longer is.
  • During labour remedies can be given as often as every 10 – 15 minutes, if needed. If there has been no improvement in symptoms at all by three doses, stop and change to a better-indicated remedy. Once improvement has been established give following doses only as needed to maintain that improvement, or when symptoms start to return.
  • If using remedies for discomfort or pain following labour, take a dose every hour until discomfort is relieved. If there is no improvement at all by three doses, stop and change to a better-indicated remedy. Once improvement has been established give following doses only as needed to maintain that improvement, or when symptoms start to return.
  • If you come across the recommendation that Cimicifuga and Caulophyllum should be given routinely to prepare for labour please disregard this information, as labour can be made more vigorous or painful in ‘sensitive’ people if the remedies are given when not needed. It is much better to use the remedies only when symptoms are present.
  • All remedies outside the kit are supplied in dropper bottles at a cost of $25.00 each.

Aconite (30C*/200C) – Contractions feel violent and intense, producing a state of fear and anxiety. Restless, agitated and fearful that may die. Baby appears shocked and frightened after birth.

Arnica (30C*/200C) – Feel bruised, sore, as if beaten during labour. Don’t want people to touch. To relieve soft tissue damage (perineum or abdomen) following birth or caesarian section – reduces swelling, bruising, and risk of infection, and promotes healing. Caput or cephalohaematoma of newborn.

Arsenicum (30C*) – Anxious restlessness leading to physical exhaustion. Chilly with anxiety. Perineal infections following childbirth.

Bellis perennis (30C/200C) – For bruised, sore pelvic or abdominal tissues following birth or Caesarean section. Bellis often follows well after Arnica, or when Arnica has failed to relieve the discomfort or pain.

Caulophyllum (30C/200C) – False labour where pains fly about the abdomen. Rigid cervix with pricking pains – cervix fails to dilate. Contractions become irregular and cease.

Cimicifuga (30C/200C) – Cervix spasms and becomes rigid on examination. Uterus ascends high into the abdomen during contraction. Pains fly from side to side of the abdomen. Irregular but painful contractions. (Note: Caulophyllum and Cimicifuga can be alternated 15 minutes apart when contractions are irregular and it is hard to determine which remedy is needed. Cease upon contractions becoming established and regular).

Chamomilla (30C*) – The pains feel unbearable, even early in the labour. Extremely irritable or angry. No matter what is offered or done, it is not right. Hands and feet cold.

Gelsemium (30C*) – Weakness and exhaustion – difficult to support weight. Muscles tremble with the effort of movement. Contractions weaken and cease.

Hypericum (30C*) – Shooting nerve pains following perineal damage or caesarian section.

Kali-carb (30C/200C) – Irregular contractions. Pain of contractions felt mainly in the back (ie – with posterior postion babies). Feels as if back may break, much better for firm pressure. Fearful of dying.

Kali-phos (30C) – Physical exhaustion either during or after labour where few other symptoms may be present (cf – Ars).

Pulsatilla (30C*/200C) – Changeable and erratic contractions. Very restless. Weepy and wanting support and comfort from others. Happy to be held.

Pyrogenium (30C) – Not likely to be needed but very important remedy if a post-partum infection in the uterus develops following childbirth. Works much better and more rapidly than antibiotics. Can be used for protective effects against infection of mother or baby if the membranes have been ruptured for a long time before the onset of labour, especially if a temperature develops.

Staphysagria (30C*/200C) – Useful following incision, penetration, or stretching of muscle fibres, as happens with a Caesarean sections or dilatation and curettage (d&c). It encourages the quick healing of incisional or lacerated wounds. Relieves the feelings of anger, resentment, disappointment, and emotional upset that may follow a Caesarean birth.