Complementary therapies are increasingly being
incorporated into conventional health services,
particularly maternity care, when the majority of
women are undergoing a normal physiological
process and are fundamentally healthy but are
suffering a variety of physical symptoms for which
medication is actively discouraged in order to
protect the fetus. There is also a growing recognition
amongst orthodox health professionals of the
inter-relationship between body, mind and spirit,
and the impact of psycho-emotional and spiritual
factors on health .
Within midwifery practice holistic care focuses
on facilitating the mothers’ psycho-social wellbeing
as well as helping them to cope with the
impact of physiological symptoms. Complementary
therapies can enhance routine antenatal care and
may be used either as a means of relaxation or to
treat specific pregnancy conditions. The psychological
effects of regular relaxation therapies can
be invaluable, offering the mother ‘‘time out’’ and
the opportunity to discuss some of her anxieties,
particularly when the therapies are provided by
midwives, and may help in the prevention of stressinduced
complications. It is important however to
acknowledge the physiological as well as the
psychological effects of complementary therapies
which are often viewed simply as ‘‘relaxation’’
strategies, but which may consequently reduce the
physio-pathological impact of stress to achieve a
more successful pregnancy outcome.
Touch therapies, such as massage and reflexology,
assist in alleviating maternal stress by stimulating
vagal activity to reduce cortisol and
norepinephrine and increase insulin, serotonin 5-
HIAA and immune functioning, indirectly enhancing
fetal growth, although the intensity and cause of
stress and massage duration produce variable
responses. Relaxation therapies such as yoga
and Qi Gong reduce catecholamine levels, cholesterol,
serum glucose, triglycerides and blood
pressure and consequently lower oxidative
stress