Pregnancy puts extra strain on the heart and circulatory system. It is not uncommon, for example, for heart murmurs to develop during pregnancy; these represent slight alterations in blood flow through the heart and usually not serious, but your medical doctor will probably want to investigate.
If you have an existing heart problem, rest as much as possible during pregnancy, don't smoke, learn some form of relaxation or meditation, and follow the dietary suggestions given under Atherosclerosis. If you have a congenital defect, see your medical doctor; he or she will probably send you to see a specialist.
If one of your heart valves is damaged (valvular disease), antibiotics may be prescribed to prevent infection, which could prove fatal, but if you are unable or unwilling to take antibiotics, take 3 doses of Silicea 6c for 5 days out of 7 throughout pregnancy. To relieve the strain which delivery puts on the heart, you may need an episiotomy (an incision in the vulva so that the baby's head slips out more easily).
High Blood Pressure
During pregnancy can be due to general anxiety; constitutional homeopathic treatment, relaxation, and the diet suggestions given under High Blood Pressure will almost certainly help. If high blood pressure is accompanied by headaches, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, intolerance of light, and swollen ankles, the chances are that you are developing Pre-Eclamptic Toxaemia so consult your doctor if there is no improvement in 2 hours.
Palpitations
Not uncommon during pregnancy; they are a sign that the heart is having to work harder to pump an increased volume of blood. For some information see Palpitations.
Specific remedies to be taken every 2 hours for up to 10 doses
- Palpitations onset suddenly after a shock of some sort, fear of dying Aconite 30c
- Palpitations brought on by heat or rich, fatty food, general weakness Pulsatilla 30c
- Palpitations worse at night, especially when lying on left side Lycopodium 30c
- Heartbeats seem to shake whole body, constricted feeling in chest, heat and sympathy make discomfort worse Natrum mur. 6c
Swollen Ankles
Most common in the sixth and seventh month of pregnancy, tend to occur in women who take too little exercise and whose lymphatic drainage is poor; rest and walking usually improve matters. More seriously, puffy ankles can be a sign of High Blood Pressure or developing Pre-Eclamptic Toxaemia. Provided your medical doctor rules out the latter, constitutional homeopathic treatment would be beneficial.
Swollen or Inflamed Vulva
Has similar causes to swollen ankles.
Specific remedies to be taken 4 times daily for up to 7 days
- Bearing down sensation as if contents of womb are about to escape through vagina, sensation makes you cross your legs Sepia 6c
- Itchy, raw, scalding sensation after passing water, soothed by washing Mercurius 6c
- Vulval swelling associated with constipation, ineffectual straining to pass stools and always feeling there is more to come, urge to urinate Nux 6c
- Vulva and vagina excessively tender and itchy, but too sensitive to scratch Coffea 6c
- Swelling due to venereal disease Thuja 6c
Varicose Veins
Usually aggravated rather than caused by pregnancy, as the weight of the uterus begins to bear down on the veins of the pelvis. Usually one leg is more affected than the other; exercise tends to make distended veins more painful, and in severe cases they may burst. Get as much rest as possible, with legs raised above hip level, and avoid constricting clothing.
Specific remedies to be taken every 4 hours for up to 2 weeks
- Remedy of first resort Pulsatilla 6c
- If Pulsatilla does not work, and skin is marbled, with knotted, painful veins Carbo veg. 6c
- One foot hot, the other cold Lycopodium 6c
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