Arnica, but which form??

[Busyalexsmummy]

Hmm, remember people saying to get some after birth for helping vaginal healing but have looked around and there are so many forms-creams/gels etc, what am I looking for??

[Hazellnut]

tablets - the strongest there are (60 I think ?!)...

[Toothache]

I took the wee pillules with dd. Don't know if it was the arnica or what, but I couldn't believe how quickly I felt back to normal! About 2wks with dd compared with 6 wks after ds!

[SoupDragon]

Tablets/pillule thingies (you can't put cream on broken skin IIRC and it's no good for any inaccessible bruising).

I think there might be some stronger than 60 but I'm not sure...

[GeraldGiraffe]

You can buy a childbirth kit with loads of useful bits in it here

[Busyalexsmummy]

Hmm, dont really want the kit,Im not a great beleiver in "alternative" medicine, but thought it wouldnt hurt to give arnica a go and see if it works, therefor dont really want to spend that amount on a kit I probably wouldnt use anyone know where I can buy it in either tablet or pillule(whatever that is??) form?
TIA

[GeraldGiraffe]

I used Arnica from Boots but i started using it at about 36 weeks as recommended by someone else, and it really worked. i had a second degree tear and stitches but i hardly knew about it. Honestly.

[SoupDragon]

Boots, Holland & Barrett, even a large Tescos...

I had a 3rd degree and was stitched from here to eternity 1st time round and had been taking/continued to take arnica and it was fine Maybe it was all in the mind but hey, I don't care! Also recommend about 10 drops of tea tree oil in your bathwater to help with infection.

[Busyalexsmummy]

re-tea tree oil in bathwater-does this hurt-be honest, stupid mug here advised by mil after birth to have a lovely salt bath -ooooouuuuuuuuuuchhhhh

[GeraldGiraffe]

yes the pillules are just tiny sugar pills which you either crunch or allow to dissolve under your tongue.

[dandycandyjellybean]

don't forget that coffee is a total no-no if you are taking homeopathic medicine. Nothing to do with the caffiene or anything, just something in the coffee that sort of cancels out the benefit....or so I've been told. Whether this just applies to the pillules, which are stronger than the basic tablets you can by from the chemist, or all I'm not sure. Thought it was worth mentioning.

[SoupDragon]

No, tea tree oil inthe bath doesn;t hurt

[fuzzywuzzy]

You can get Arcnica 200c for healing after giving birth. I did and it worked wonderfully I used pillulse. I ordered them from helios online.

I also did the Tea tree oild and lavender oil in bath's and it doesn't hurt. I have taken saline bath's and they didn't hurt either, salt is supposed to aid healing, although not neat on an open wound obviously.
I didn't need to take any sort of saline, or aromatherapy bathes with dd2 as I didn't rtear or bruise or anything, I seriously do think the Arcnia helped, I was told to take the Arnica every four hours during labour, and twice a day after birth (forget how long for now).

[bonym]

I have just found an almost unused bottle of Arnica in my drawer which I won't be using again. You can have it if you CAT me your address.

[GeraldGiraffe]

You're supposed to avoid caffiene and tobacco etc for an hour either side or something.

[Busyalexsmummy]

Thats ok, I dont drink coffee!
I cant believe how much it hurt when i got in the salt bath 4 days after giving birth-eek,brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it! did you have stitches inside and out?

bonym-thanks,will do x

[franke]

I also used arnica 200 and it worked really well. If you have a tear you could also try calendula - I took it as a homeopathic remedy (pillules) and also as a tincture dissolved in warm water (about 20 drops to a litre) to bathe the affected area; it really helped the healing process I think.

[SpikeMomma]

You can get it from Holland and Barrett too. I used the pillet things - like sugar balls.

I got a third degree tear too (soupdragon - thank god it's not just me then! - from A hoole to B hoooole - bummer, 'scuse the pun).

I healed quickly which i think was down to the arnica. I also used 'out and about' spray from the nappy lady 'down stairs' after going to the loo. It's got lots of natural oils in. Made me feel nice and fresh. My mid wife said i was healing better than some 2nd degree tears - so i reckon it was the combination of arnica and the spray.

I wouldn't have dared go near any cream...ooohh!

[kelli22]

while we're on the subject of healing things after child birth im due tomorrow and wondered if you girls think its worth sprinkling witch hazel on maternity pads to help the bruising and soreness as well as taking arnica, also when should i start taking arnica? as soon as labour starts or should i be taking it now just in case? (i dont want to harm the baby obviously)

[Hazellnut]

I started taking arnica when I was induced (early so didn't get to due date) - not as much as the dose on the pot - and that was 3 days before I had dd. I think I know of people who start taking on their due date and then didn't have their babies till 2 weeks later. I wouldn't have thought it would do any harm to start taking it but I have absolutely no medical knowledge whatsoever !! Hopefully someone will be along who will know ! Its best to start taking it before labour so I would say, at the latest, when you first start labour ! Good luck !

[kelli22]

Thanks for replying hazelnut, (ive got the 30cc ones btw)

just want baby to come now im washing all the baby clothes today and putting them away in their place (i should have done this already but i just didnt have the motivation) i am also going to do all the things i have been putting off, i am a woman on a (slow) mission!

just to get this off my chest, today i will ......

wash all the clothes and put them away.
file all loose paperwork.
finish painting my kitchen cupboards.
write letters to all companies informing them i have changed my name.
send off my criminal record check so i can go into childminding next yr.

omg i need to stop typing n get off my arse! ooops