The postpartum period refers to the six to eight week period after the birth of a baby in which the body recovers from the changes caused by pregnancy and birth. During the postpartum period, the body also undergoes several physiological changes, such as the beginning of the lactation process and the discharge of lochia and uterine involution.
After-pains are the painful cramps occurs due to contractions of the uterus in order to get its previous size after childbirth-
- Begins right after birth and the delivery of the placenta
- After-pains- painful cramps from contractions of the uterus following childbirth
- The uterus returns to its normal size by the 6th–8th weeks after delivery.
Causes of After-pains
Clamping off open blood vessels – “After pains” are those pains when body works hard to get recovered by the presence of uterine contractions after child birth. These contractions serve the important function of clamping off open blood vessels at the placental site, minimizing the loss of blood after birth.
Laboring in different positions and pushing – After labor and birth you may have pain or soreness in your whole body. It happens because of laboring in different positions and pushing. Body undergoes tremendous changes throughout the nine months of pregnancy; and in just six weeks afterwards organs return to their normal or previous state, during this process a few transformations may cause some or more discomfort to the body.
Who gets After-pains?
If uterus doesn’t contract appropriate iv medication and firm massage must be given to the patient. First time mothers do not usually find the after pains or postpartum uterine contractions as painful as in females who have given birth second time.
If you have given birth before, your after pains may be very painful. An occasional first-time mother finds her after pains much painful. One should be aware that persistent severe cramps or uterine tenderness could be a sign of infection. To get ameliorated from after pains or after contractions, try spending time lying on your abdomen, if your after pains are especially uncomfortable, you can also apply heating pad to your abdomen along with medications.
Homeopathic treatment for After pains
Homeopathy is one of the most popular holistic systems of medicine. The selection of homeopathic medicine for labor afterpains is based upon the theory of individualization and symptoms similarity by using holistic approach. This is the only way through which a state of complete health can be regained by removing all the sign and symptoms from which the patient is suffering. The aim of homeopathic medicine for labor afterpains is not only to treat after pains but to address its underlying cause and individual susceptibility. As far as therapeutic medication is concerned, several remedies are available to treat after pains that can be selected on the basis of cause, sensations and modalities of the complaints. For individualized remedy selection and treatment, the patient should consult a qualified homeopathic doctor in person. There are following remedies which are helpful in the treatment of after pains:
Agaricus mus – this remedy covers most of the complaints after delivery of a baby. General paralysis. Sensation as if pierced by needles of ice. Sensitive to pressure and cold air. Violent bearing-down pains. Symptoms appear diagonally as right arm and left leg. Pains are accompanied by sensation of cold, numbness and tingling. Stiff all over. Pain over hips. Rheumatism better motion. Weakness in loins. Uncertain gait. Trembling. Itching of toes and feet as if frozen. Cramp in soles of feet. Pain in shin-bone. Neuralgia in locomotor ataxia. Paralysis of lower limbs, with spasmodic condition of arms. Numbness of legs on crossing them. Paralytic pain in left arm followed by palpitation. Tearing painful contractions in the calves.
Arnica Montana – It is especially suited to cases when any injury, however remote, seems to have caused the 
present trouble. After traumatic injuries, overuse of any organ, strains. Soothes muscles of the va-gina and uterus, and gives great sense of relief, and comfort after delivery. Will absorb the blood and induce maximum recovery of the damaged nerve tissue. Great fear of being touched or approached. Pain in back and limbs, as if bruised or beaten. Sprained and dislocated feeling. Soreness after overexertion. Everything on which he lies seems too hard. Deathly coldness of forearm. Cannot walk erect, on account of bruised pain in pelvic region.
Cimicifuga – homeopathic medicine for labor afterpains comes to mind when they are very intense, when they are worse about the region of the groin, and the patient is sensitive and cannot tolerate them. This intolerance of the pains suggests Chamomilla, which is a remedy to be thought of here; also Pulsatilla; the temperament of these two remedies will distinguish them. Gelsemium. Hughes was accustomed to rely on this remedy in the 1x for after pains. It acts best in very sensitive women who cannot compel quiet or sleep.
Caulophyllum – Is another homeopathic medicine for labor afterpains. They are spasmodic in character and fly across
the lower part of the abdomen. It comes in especially after a prolonged and exhausting labor. It is a specific for false labor pains. Arnica is a remedy usually prescribed in a routine way after labor for the soreness of the parts, and it is a very useful remedy in after pains. Xanthoxylum, clinically, has proved very efficacious. If the pains are intestinal rather than uterine, Cocculus will be found useful; and if they press on the rectum and bladder Nux is the remedy. Bellis perennis. Soreness all through the pelvis after labor; the patient cannot walk or stand; bones seem to be giving away. Sabina and Sepia may also be indicated by their peculiar pains, those of Sabina shooting from behind forwards, and those of Sepia shooting upwards and accompanied by weight in the lower bowel.
Kali carb – one of the best homeopathic medicine for labor afterpains. Pains are sharp and cutting; nearly all better by motion. Sensitive to every atmospheric change, and intolerance of cold weather. One of the best remedies following labor. Backs and legs give out. Uneasiness heaviness, and tearing in limbs and jerking. Tearing pain in limbs with swelling. Limbs sensitive to pressure. White swelling of knee. Tearing in arms from shoulder to wrist. Lacerating in wrist-joint. Paralysis of old people, and dropsical affections. Limbs go to sleep easily. Tips of toes and fingers painful. Soles very sensitive. Itching of great toe, with pain. Pain from hip to knee. Pain in knees.
Psorinum – patient has never felt well after delivery of the baby. The therapeutic field of this remedy is found in so-called psoric manifestations. Psorinum is a cold medicine; wants the head kept warm, wants warm clothing even in summer. Extreme sensitiveness to cold. Often gives immunity from cold-catching. Easy perspiration when walking.
Pulsatilla – it avoids many complaints of labor. It is pre-eminently a female remedy, especially for mild, gentle, yielding disposition. Sad, crying readily; weeps when talking; changeable, contradictory. The patient seeks the open air; always feels better there, even though she is chilly. Drawing, tensive pain in thighs and legs, with restlessness, sleeplessness and chilliness. Pain in limbs, shifting rapidly; tensive pain, letting up with a snap. Numbness around elbow. Hip-joint painful. Knees swollen, with tearing, drawing pains.
Staphysagria– excellent remedy for any kind of difficulty when child is born after caesarian section. Parts very sensitive, worse sitting down. Leucorrhœa. Prolapsus, with sinking in the abdomen; aching around the hips. –Muscles, especially of calves, feel bruised. Backache; worse in morning before rising.
Viburnum op – great uterine tonic, helpful in after pains. Colicky pains in pelvic organs. Superconscious of internal sexual organs. Female symptoms most important. Often prevents miscarriage. False labor-pains. Spasmodic and congestive affections, dependent upon ovarian or uterine origin. Stiff, sore feeling in nape of neck. Feels as if back would break. Sacral backache. Lower extremities weak and heavy.
