Homeopathy in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Are Remedies Safe to Take?
Pregnancy and the months of breastfeeding afterwards make most of us a lot more careful. Every cup of tea, every supplement and every remedy gets a second thought, and rightly so. I was asked recently whether a particular remedy was alright to take in late pregnancy, and the same question comes up just as often from new mums who are feeding their babies. It deserves a proper answer.
I have been a homeopath for over thirty years, and I was a nurse before that. So let me explain how homeopaths understand remedies, and then, just as importantly, what I would want you to do before taking anything while you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
How remedies work, in homeopathic understanding
A homeopathic remedy is not a drug that does a job inside you. In homeopathic understanding it is a gentle nudge, a signal to your body to rebalance itself where it needs to. The remedy prompts; your body does the actual work.
The part people find hard to get their heads around is what is in the little pill or drop. Remedies are prepared by repeated dilution and succussion (vigorous shaking). In the potencies most commonly used, from 12C upwards, the original substance has been diluted away completely. What is left, homeopaths would say, is its energetic imprint, and it is that imprint which engages with your body's own energy. (Very low potencies, such as 3C or 6X, can still carry traces of the starting material, so always tell your homeopath exactly what you have been given.)
Because no physical dose of the original substance is involved, homeopaths regard remedies as non-toxic and non-addictive. There is nothing to build up in the body, nothing to overdose on in the usual sense, and nothing to become dependent on.
Homeopathy in pregnancy and breastfeeding: what homeopaths generally say
Given all of that, homeopaths have traditionally regarded remedies as a gentle option during pregnancy and while breastfeeding, and many women ask about them for that reason. The way remedies are made is the reason they are widely considered non-toxic, and that is as true for a mother who is feeding as for one who is expecting.
I would not, however, go as far as saying that nothing could ever happen. Remedies work by stimulating the body, and a remedy that is a poor match, or taken too often, can occasionally stir up a brief, temporary aggravation of how you are feeling. It usually settles quickly when the remedy is stopped or the frequency is reduced. When you are pregnant or feeding a baby, that is one more reason to keep things simple and to ask for guidance rather than experimenting.
What does “polycrest” mean?
You may hear a homeopath describe a remedy as a polycrest. It simply means “many uses”. Pulsatilla, which has its own story and remedy picture, is a classic example. A polycrest has a very large remedy picture, covering all kinds of symptoms, sensations and quirks.
The art of homeopathy is matching the whole person to that picture. The closer the match, the better the response tends to be. That is why a homeopath asks so many questions, and why two people with the same symptoms may need different remedies.
When a remedy is not the right match
Sometimes a remedy is suggested on the strength of a general association, rather than a full consultation. This is sometimes called prescribing “therapeutically”. It can work out well, because certain remedies are traditionally associated with certain situations. But if the remedy does not suit you as a whole person, the most likely outcome, in my experience, is that nothing much happens at all.
That is reassuring, but it is not the same as the remedy being right for you. If you want a remedy chosen for you specifically, rather than a general one, a consultation is the way to find it.
A note about your baby
Once your baby is born, your own health and your baby's are closely linked, but they are not the same thing. Anything concerning your baby's health, such as a fever, feeding difficulties, poor weight gain or simply a feeling that something is not right, needs prompt attention from your midwife, health visitor or doctor. Please do not wait or try to manage it with remedies at home.
Sensible steps if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
Tell your midwife, health visitor or doctor about any remedies you take, just as you would with any supplement.
Choose a qualified homeopath who is experienced with pregnancy and breastfeeding mothers, and tell them which stage you are at.
Avoid repeating a remedy again and again without guidance. If it is not clearly moving things in a good direction, stop and ask.
Never use remedies in place of antenatal or postnatal care, or medication your doctor has recommended.
Contact your midwife or maternity unit promptly about anything that worries you, such as bleeding, reduced baby movements, severe headaches, swelling, or a high temperature.
Related reading
Individual Support
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning a pregnancy, and wondering how homeopathy might sit alongside your midwife or doctor's care, a consultation lets your whole picture be looked at properly.
In a first consultation, I would explore:
When it began, and whether anything seemed to trigger it
How you experience it day to day
What makes it better or worse, including stress and daily routine
The wider picture: sleep, energy, appetite and how long it has been going on
What you already take or do, and any diagnoses or care you are receiving
How it all fits together as one whole-person pattern
If you would like to talk it through, you are welcome to book a free intro call. I see clients in Malmö and online.
This article describes how homeopaths understand remedies and is for general educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and does not describe a treatment for any condition. Homeopathy should not replace antenatal or postnatal care or medical treatment. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, please speak to your midwife, health visitor, GP or obstetric team about anything you are taking and about any health concern, including your baby's health. I am not able to give individual advice through this article.
Sharon McAllister — UK-qualified homeopath, former Registered Nurse of 35 years, and former Vice Principal of a homeopathy college.
