holistic
Today there is a movement towards a less clinical approach to pregnancy and childbirth. Here's MM's guide to a holistic pregnancy and birth...
Doing it
naturally T
here's no doubt that pregnancy is one of the most life-changing and challenging periods in a woman's life. Since the 1960s,
however, more and more women in the West have adopted the 'low-tech, natural' approach to both pregnancy and labour. While 'high-tech' obstetrics will always
have an important role to play in childbirth, particularly in saving the lives of mums and their babies, the last few decades have witnessed a definite swing towards a more holistic approach to pregnancy. In a holistic approach to pregnancy and
delivery, all aspects of an individual - body, mind and spirit - are considered equally important. While the body cradles and nurtures the developing infant through
20MODERNMUM
nutrition and exercise, the mind and spirit, which relate to a person's values and beliefs, as well as emotional well-being, have an equally significant impact on the growing baby. A holistic approach can help you to
maximise your physical health and minimise the common discomforts of pregnancy, but it will also help you to cope well with stress, which will reduce the harmful effect that stress can have on your physical health. Working in conjunction with doctors and midwives, holistic childbirth allows you to use low-intervention techniques, such as complementary therapies, to help ease pregnancy issues. Here are some of the complementary
therapies most commonly used in pregnancy and labour:
Morning sickness It's estimated that about half of all pregnant women will experience nausea and vomiting in the first three or four months of pregnancy - and not just in the mornings!
Acupressure: a practitioner can show you how to stimulate an acupoint which is located just below your wrist. Clinical trials have indicated that this can relieve nausea in early pregnancy.
Western herbalism: ginger has also been shown in clinical trials to reduce nausea and vomiting attacks. You could also try sipping small quantities of herbal teas, such as lemon balm or lemon and ginger throughout the day to settle your tummy.
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