Dear List,

Could anyone suggest a good reference book and website articles on midwifery and the use of homoeopathy please.?

Many thanks,

Rochelle.H.

I haven't seen anyone through pregnancy and birth yet--have managed a few quick fixes that I hope will bring people in more seriously some time--I have to study it in school of course. The book I love (and want the chance to use more!!) is Miranda Castro's Mum and Baby--I respect Castro hugely anyway (got started on her Complete Handbook and really like her Stress) AND it's been recommended to me (by homeopaths who *have* dealt with mums and babies).

Robin

Robin,

Another very good book you may want to get is Richard Moskowitz's "Homeopathic Medicines for Pregnancy and Childbirth." He is an excellent homeopath who started his journey from 'regular' MD to homeopath, many any years ago, by attending many home.

-Eric

Rochelle

I have worked for about 8 years with birthing woman as a traditional birthing assistant or lay trained midwife and sometimes in the capacity of a Doula. As a birthing assistant I wanted something in my birth bag that I could use when dealing with out of the ordinary situations or situations that needed immediate attention. Homeopathy of course is it and since then I decided to take up the study of homeopathy through the Devon School.

I would have to say that in my experience the best homeopathy reference book for pregnancy, birth and postpartum care for mothers and baby is Sandra Perko's book called "Homeopathy For The Modern Pregnant Woman And Her Infant" it is an absolutely excellent book and very easy to use with quick referencing indexes. My only criticism is that it does not cover the emergency type of remedies for the baby if it is born with low vitality and needing a bit of help. It is a bit more money then most other birth books but well worth it if you are going to be involved with birth to any extent.

Hope this helps :-)
Carol

I use a combination of Miranda Castro, Murphy's rep and Mat Med ( I have had some surprisingly nice "results" ) and The Accoucher's emergency manual, by Yingling. " I also use the leaflet with the Helios Birthing Kit, although a good mat med is useful for differentiation.

Now, I am a Birthing Doula, and NOT a midwife. So in the UK, I cannot do any clinical type work. Yingling does cover some of the emergency situations with flat babies, and uses remedies I have not seen in other reps. There is even a brief description of how to get through a placenta preavia to quickly deliver baby (no c/section) without the mother bleeding to death.

I sometimes find that I go through 2 or 3 remedies quite quickly, think they are not helping and then the mother specifically requests a particular remedy.

Hope this helps

Caroline :-)

Many thanks to those who posted a reply to my request for a good reference book on homoeopathy for midwifery.

Many midwives are interested in using homoeopathy to assist childbirth - so in conjunction with a midwife I am giving a weekend workshop on how to safely use homoeopathy and I wanted to recommend a good reference book.

Best wishes,

Rochelle .H.

Sorry for not replying sooner. Birth and homeopathy are big topics for me and I many thoughts going many directions.
Take what I say with a grain of salt. After having nearly been killed by a interventionist homebirth lay midwife, I'm an avowed unassisted homebirther. I think the medical model of birth is a delusion that makes women dependent on a saviour.

I'll start with my reflection on homeopathy-birth books.

I really like Sandra Perko's book. I've read it a few times and used it as a reference for pregnancy and post-partum issues. I've not used it during labor BUT this could be because I've never been at a first time mom's birth. I only go to the births of friends and aquaintances who hire no "birth professionals". We have many conversations about how previous labors and births went physically, mentally, emotionally, with interpersonal dynamics and feelings regarding them as well as hopes and concerns for the current pregnancy. The key is working through these issues to a point where the parents can readily verbalize their core beliefs about pregnancy, birth, our bodies, health, and life. They can then reflect on how well their actions and words do or do not line up with them. They can then change their words and actions to line up with their core beliefs. Because of the work the parents do during pregnancy (other than offering a suggestion of a different position) the only intervention I've ever done during labor is asking what one is feeling, fearing, or believing and stating their own truth back to them.

Pardon that rabbit trail. ;-) What makes Sandra Perko's book so good IMO is the helpful and easy to reference differentials.
Not surprisingly I've repertorized cases and given effective remedies that weren't listed for that particular condition in her differentials. Her differentials have proven themselves valuable time and again. Several times I've rep'ed a cradle cap case and not gotten a well fitting remedy. Invariably, I'll turn to her differential and find the perfect description under a remedy that didn't come up in my repertorization.

I have a lay homeopath acquaintence who's acted as a midwife's assistant and she said Richard Moskowitz's book and a rep/mm was all she ever needed.

Miranda Castro's book didn't impress me. IMO it's target audience is folks who have a limit understanding of both birth and homeopathy. I think it a woman who's hired out for labor care yet self-prescribes for acutes could find is useful stand-by reference work. The unchallenged medical model assertions bother me. If I had a pregnant friend using the book I'd strongly urge her to read Henci Goer's _Obstetric Myths Versus Research Realities_ or _The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth_ along side it. Most midwives without a strong homeopathy background might find it very useful. Those IME rare midwives who aren't sucked into the medical model and fearful of birth might be turned of by what I was and disregard Miranda Castor's homeopathy expertise.

On to teaching homeopathy to other health care professionals...

Personally I'd be cautious about anyone implementing homeopathy in their practice after a weekend seminar. I've seen dangerous prescribing from MDs, DCs, and pharmacists who've attended weekend seminars. I think a weekend seminar on homeopathy in midwifery might be very effective if given after the midwives already have working knowledge of homeopathy. I attended an NCH study group covering acutes and first aide which used the Breslow and Panos/Heimlich books. I think that such a course would be an excellent background for a "homeopathy for the midwife" seminar. Homeopathy isn't like first aid/CPR in that you can successfully implement a nugget of knowledge without embracing understanding of the whole. You can treat a sprain without knowing how to treat sunstroke or apply CPR without knowing how to stop bleeding. Generally for homeopathy you need a much broader understanding before you can successfully .

Do you know why these midwives are attending this seminar? If they're just looking for continuing education credits I recommend a cheap 'lite' book. If they're going just to learn more to better assist blrthing women, I'd explain that homeopathy isn't like many things where you can learn a little bit and implement it effectively. I'd recommend Perko's or Moskowitz's books with a MM/Rep as well as taking something like the NCH course. Having that month between classes to practice what you've learned plus hearing how other folks applied their learning between classes really solidifies the material.

I apologize for rambling and for anyway my broad comments might offend. I'm distracted by many things and have to get breakfast around for my family.

Take gentle care,
Cheryl

Hi Cheryl,

I've no experience with midwifery, but found your post wonderful and
thoughtful, thanks!
I'm especially captivated by your remark,

Quote:

(other than offering a suggestion of a different position) the only intervention I've ever done during labor is asking what one is feeling, fearing, or believing and stating their own truth back to them.

Could you give an example?

Thanks!
Shannon