Birth and the Carbon Series

The carbon series is the second row of the periodic table of the elements. It contains the elements lithium, beryllium, boron, carbon, nitrogen (Nitrogenium), oxygen (Oxygenium), fluorine and neon.

These elements have as their central theme the development of the 'I', the ego or the individual. Associated themes are value and self-worth. Another theme is the body as the bearer of the ego, which also includes protection and preservation of the body.

The second row symbolises a process that runs across the periodic table from left to right and concerns the development of an ego, that is, a personality. This development begins on the far left with lithium, corresponding to the stage of a child not yet born, and continues to the final phase of the process, in which separation from the parents takes place.

The birthing process mirrors this entire developmental process. One could also say it casts the shadow ahead of the individuation process. A careful analysis of the birth process and problems that occurred there can lead to a good prescription, especially in children, but this theme is still present in adults as well.

The birth stages of the carbon series

In this context it is also worth looking more closely at hydrogen (Hydrogenium) and helium. These remedies are numbers one and two in the periodic table, i.e. they lie before the carbon series in which we find atomic numbers 1 to 10. Hydrogenium and helium represent the stages before birth.

Hydrogenium corresponds to the stage of conception, the union of egg and sperm. The theme of union is typical for the remedy Hydrogenium. Helium corresponds to the stage of the foetus, happy and content and in a way still without consciousness, floating in the womb. A foetus does not have to do anything; everything happens by itself. It is a state of inactivity, typical for Group 18 of the periodic table, where we find the element Helium.

1. Lithium: birth begins

Lithium represents the beginning of labour with the first contractions. The contractions announce that labour has begun. If there are or were problems in this phase, a lithium remedy may be indicated. For example, contractions may have come to a halt or occurred only sporadically and therefore the birth did not progress. Perhaps the birth began too early (premature baby) or too late (post-term children).

Case study

A 3-year-old girl becomes incontinent again, although she had already been dry. She wets the bed and soils her nappies again. Eating is also difficult; the bread must be cut in a very precise way. Her mother suspects she has problems because she has to move to a larger group at kindergarten, although she would much prefer to stay in the smaller group.

The girl was born three weeks early. Her mother had the impression at the time that her baby wanted to get out of the womb as quickly as possible because she always pushed her little legs so hard against the diaphragm. Everything happened very quickly with the contractions. After the birth the mother was very emotional for several weeks; she could not cope well with the situation around her (the outside world). The early birth and the rapid contractions are an indication for Lithium, the first phase of labour.

With the administration of Lithium metallicum MK the girl quickly became dry again and was able to use the toilet normally for bowel movements. She also feels comfortable in the new kindergarten group.
 

2. Beryllium: the head engages

The second phase of labour begins when the head engages in the pelvis. The baby must adapt to the uterus, which becomes progressively smaller with the contractions. The themes of this second phase, in which beryllium is situated, are adaptation and passivity. In this phase we see problems related to the position of the child: breech presentation, transverse lie, face-up ("stargazer") babies, etc.

Case study

An eight-year-old girl has an eczema on the backs of her hands, her fingers and the backs of her wrists. It itches severely, is worsened by touch and by warm foods, especially after dinner at 6 pm. The itching is intense and cold water improves it. The girl is very shy and leaves the answering to her mother. She sits very quietly on her chair and has no objection to the eczema being examined.

She was born in a breech position and was a very small baby. Breech presentation is an indication for beryllium. Also the fact that she is very shy and immediately allows examination points to beryllium. She reacted to a dose of Beryllium MK with two asthma attacks and fever. Afterwards she was happier, more balanced and content. Her clothes now fit better and she no longer irritates others so much. She can also assert herself better and the eczema gradually disappears.

3. Boron: the cervix opens

In the third phase the cervix opens. The uterus opens before pushing contractions can begin. In this phase contractions press on the cervix, but there are not yet pushing contractions, which begin in the expulsion phase and belong to the next stage – carbon. In this phase the membranes usually rupture and the amniotic fluid begins to flow away. If the cervix does not dilate, the membranes are often artificially ruptured.

By the opening of the uterus the baby is deprived of support; the baby thus loses, so to speak, 'the ground under its feet'. For this reason the fear of downward movements is a key symptom of boron. This opening also establishes a direct contact with the outside world. Sounds are no longer muffled by the uterus and the mother's abdominal tissues, but reach the baby loudly and harshly. This explains boron's sensitivity to noise and sounds.

Case study

A six-year-old boy presents with an eczema around his mouth, on his chin and on his lips. He has bad breath, smells somewhat musty and foul, the smell reminiscent of almonds. He is very insecure, afraid to go down slides or ride a bike. He does not like to play rough games such as football, preferring to play with girls. He refuses to play with a boy who once pushed him. He dislikes loud noises even though he does not startle as a result. When on a large station with many trains he covers his ears because of the noise. During pregnancy his mother had a cerclage (a band around the cervix) because she had previously had surgery for cervical cancer and the doctors feared she might not be able to carry the child to term. It was a difficult pregnancy and the mother could hardly carry the child. The birth was also difficult; the head engaged late into the birth canal and the baby was delivered with the aid of a vacuum extractor. The mother feared for her life during the birth, which, together with the fear of downward movement and noise sensitivity, is a clear indication for boron. The boy's shyness and the localisation of the eczema around the mouth confirm the choice of remedy.

In the first week after administration of Bor MK the boy is irritable, cries easily and cannot tolerate his sister and other people. In the night after taking the remedy he wets the bed. Afterwards he becomes increasingly cheerful and content. Four weeks later the eczema is about 75% gone and the bad breath has almost disappeared.

4. Carbon: contractions and expulsion phase

In the fourth phase of birth the pushing contractions begin, that is the expulsion phase in which the baby is pushed out of the uterus. Now the actual 'work', the real birth, starts. Complications in this phase manifest either as contractions that are too weak to move the baby or as contractions that are too frequent and too painful. All of this is an indication for the remedy Graphites or a carbon compound.

Case study

A 7-year-old boy with a cough triggered by a tickling sensation in the throat. It is worst in the evening at around 7 pm. The complaints began after a surgical procedure for phimosis. He was afraid that he would not wake up from the anaesthetic. He also did not want to be born because he is sure that one dies when born. He does not want to go to bed alone in the evening because he fears death and his mother has to stay with him constantly. The fear increased after the death of his grandfather.

He loves pancakes and soft fried eggs. At his birth everything was fine except that his mother had very strong contractions and great pain. The severe contractions are an indication for carbon. The worsening around 7 pm, the liking for pancakes and soft fried eggs also fit the carbon remedies.

After the administration of Graphites MK his fear of death disappeared very quickly and he could be alone again. His cough disappeared within a few weeks.

5. Nitrogenium (nitrogen): the expulsion phase

Phase 5 is the expulsion through the birth canal. It is narrow in the birth canal and there is the fear that complications could occur here.

We also see these symptoms in the remedy picture of nitrogen and its compounds: fear of confined spaces and places, in lifts, tunnels, caves and the fear that there may be no way out.

In this stage the complaints relate to the possibility that the birth canal may be too narrow, e.g. a pelvic malformation or a too narrow maternal pelvis. Or perhaps the baby is too large or one shoulder of the baby is stuck behind the mother's symphysis.

Case study

The 8-year-old boy has skin problems. The skin on his soles and between his toes peels very strongly. There is no itching and otherwise the skin is unremarkable. There are problems with the change of teeth; the baby teeth do not fall out and the new teeth cannot come through. At present he has two pairs of incisors. At school he wears reading glasses because his left eye is not sharp. He is a very good student, studies a lot and always wants to be the best. He also always wants to win in sports. When he loses at football he starts to cry and is completely devastated. He also stopped playing tennis because he had to move to an advanced team and then lost too often in tournaments.

He likes to eat salami and hamburgers and would even get up at night for them.

His birth was smooth. It even went so quickly that the nurse told the mother to cross her legs and hold the baby because the doctor had not yet arrived. After the birth the baby had small bruises on the forehead, worse on the left side. The mother believes that her son's vision problems are due to the birth trauma.

Holding the baby back during the birth means for the child a blockage during the expulsion phase, which is typical for Nitrogenium and its compounds. Also the desire always to be the best and always to win is an indication for nitrogen. The craving for salami and hamburgers also fits.

After the administration of Nitrogenium MK he improves greatly. The skin heals completely, the change of teeth proceeds without problems, his sight improves and he no longer needs glasses. He has also become a better loser.

6. Oxygen (Oxygenium): the first breath

Phase 6 corresponds to the first breath. If the baby does not breathe well after birth and becomes blue, we can think of Oxygenium and oxides. There are also other remedies for breathing difficulties, such as Laurocerasus and remedies that contain prussic acid. Prussic acid compounds block haemoglobin so that no oxygen can be transported.

Case study

A 6-year-old boy with molluscum contagiosum. The molluscum lesions are on the cheeks, in the nostrils, in the groin, on the thighs and on the heel. He has abdominal pain around the navel, mostly after dinner. He sweats and grinds his teeth in his sleep.

He wants to be like his older brother, especially since his little sister was born. He expects a lot from his friends. He wants a lot of attention from them and cannot choose his friends for the team in sport because he is afraid he might upset someone and lose them as a friend. He allows other children to boss him around. At school he was bullied for a time and began to wet the bed.

The birth proceeded quickly, a little too quickly even. After the birth he did not breathe very well and was weak and blue.

The breathing problems and cyanosis after birth point to Oxygenium and oxides. His expectation of others also fits stage 16, where oxygen is located.

After taking Oxygenium MK he became stronger and freer, can sometimes say 'no' to other children and is no longer bullied at school. The abdominal pain disappeared very quickly and the molluscum lesions were gone after a few months.

7. Fluorine: the umbilical cord is cut and the afterbirth expelled

In phase 7 the umbilical cord is cut and the placenta is expelled. In this phase the bond to the mother is dissolved. Severing relationships is an aspect of stage 17 and the theme 'parents' belongs to the carbon series, i.e. the child that needs its parents, someone who can protect it. Problems with the umbilical cord can be an indication for a fluorine compound. Perhaps the cord is too short or wrapped around the baby’s neck.

Problems with the afterbirth can under certain circumstances also be an indication for fluorine. Perhaps there is retained placenta or it does not function adequately and cannot supply the baby well in the last months of pregnancy.

8. Neon: the newborn

Neon stands for the last phase of birth, or more precisely: the phase after birth, when everything is over and one can rest. In this phase the newborn lies peacefully in the cot and recovers from the strains of birth.

In this phase the bilirubin metabolism can cause problems, which can pose a real danger for the baby. If the bilirubin is too high, the baby turns yellow and toxins accumulate in the brain. Then the newborn baby is strikingly quiet.

Case study

The 20-year-old patient is depressed. She feels burned out and has to cry constantly. The problems began with her studies. She feels overwhelmed and has problems with her fellow students. She feels unable to meet the demands of the practical part of her course. She cries frequently and often without reason. Her depression worsens when she sees distressing things on TV or hears children's songs. Then she always thinks of a baby lying alone in its cot out in a field.

After taking Neon MK she improved within a short time and no longer feels depressed. She no longer procrastinates on things like telephone calls to strangers. After taking the remedy she had discharges from the ear, as she had as a child.

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Source: http://www.interhomeopathy.org/birth_and_the_carbon_series

Photo: Shutterstock_1303974610, Copyright: Tetiana Klymenko