Arnica, peppermint, post ELCS healing and BF

[Lunarlyte]

Hello, DC2 is due in around one month's time and I have bought some Arnica (30c) pillules and peppermint oil to help my body heal as quickly as possible please!

I'm probably going to have an ELCS (hence the peppermint oil as I've heard that trapped gas pains are horrible) but am getting conflicting info about whether arnica can be taken when breastfeeding. Just wondering if this would be okay? Is it a good idea to start it the day before Baby is born? I'm also wondering whether they'd react with pain meds (will of course check this with those in the know at the hospital).

Do any of you ladies have experience of using these 'alternative' medicinal remedies? Did they work?

Thanks x

Hi there, I had a fairly traumatic birth with my first dc. Induction, forceps and a large tear! I started taking arnica the morning I was to be induced, 1 every hour for first day then 3 times a day for a week or so after. I healed really well and and the health visitor said that may have been due to the arnica. I researched it online and most homeopathic remedies are perfectly safe in pregnancy and breast feeding. I'm intending to take arnica again in labour in aug when I'm due. Hope this helps :-)

There is no conflict between arnica and breast feeding. Follow instructions on packaging for dosage and duration, which is normally about a week. I was told categorically not to take them before labour though. I don't think you ate supposed to during pregnancy. So I started last time as soon as I had given birth and will do again ths time. Not had a c section so on't know about peppermint sorry

Had ELCS and whilst in (NHS) hospital was given peppermint tea for free.

I got capsules of peppermint to take after my last elcs for the trapped wind and they were fine with bf. I'd highly recommend taking them too, the shoulder tip pain is awful!

Thanks everyone or your replies! And QTPie, the peppermint oil IS to drink and not to put on the wound! Ouch, imagine how it would sting! Thanks too, for the tip about not taking the arnica and peppermint together x :)

Thank-you xx

Oh, just an update to say that I didn't end up taking the arnica pillules. During the CS (just over 3 weeks ago already!), it took longer for my blood to clot as my blood (according to OB) was more 'viscous' and 'runny' than average. All down to a healthy diet; great if one wants to prevent a stroke but not so good if one wants to stop bleeding!

Obviously, I didn't want to take anything to further thin my blood. If you have known clotting issues, IME, I'd say avoid arnica.

Those homeopathy arnica tablets do not contain any arnica, have a look at the active ingredients on the bottle, its really just a sugar pill.

My OB was under no circumstances an advocate or believer in homeopathy, but even he admitted that high-dose arnica has a blood-thinning effect on the body. He believed it was the reason why a prior CS patient developed a large haematoma following surgery, as she had taken it on the lead-up to the birth.

As homeopathy is unregulated and you don't get medical advice about how/when to take it, it's difficult to establish just what a high dose is without consulting a homeopath. Woo or not, I think it's important not to take it if known clotting issues are present.

I know this is a fairly old post (given that you have already had the baby!) but peppermint is contra-indicated for breastfeeding as it has been noted to lwer milk supply when taken in high doses. More info here.

Just for future reference .

Congratulations on your baby.

Thanks, TruthSweet. Fortunately, no trapped wind for me, so I didn't need to take the peppermint. Milk came in on day 3, so no issues there, either! Thank-you again :)