holistic
sometimes necessary, complementary treatments such as massage, breathing techniques and acupuncture can all help to ease tension and relieve pain, possibly reducing the need for conventional drugs or treatments.
Massage: prior to labour, you need to source a massage practitioner to join you in the delivery suite (check first if this is permitted). Te practitioner can use pressure techniques on the back and buttocks, which can help to alleviate the pain of the contractions. When directed by you, these can be very effective.
“Research has found that acupuncture could ease the pain of childbirth and help mums to relax”
Chinese herbalism: the Chinese believe that nausea in early pregnancy is linked to 'excess cold' and weakness of the stomach, and so they recommend 'hot' foods, such as chilli peppers and discourage 'cold' foods such as bananas.
Labour Everyone is aware of the pain that labour can bring. What actually causes the pain are the small contractions of the uterus which can sometimes occur days before labour actually begins in earnest. As the contractions become stronger and more regular, the cervix widens and your baby descends into the vagina. While conventional treatment such as gas and air, TENS machines and anaesthesia are
Acupuncture: this can be really helpful for relieving pain. One study, which was carried out by midwives and doctors at Orebro University Hospital in Sweden, found that acupuncture could ease the pain of childbirth and help the mums to relax. In the experiment, one group of patients had acupuncture needles placed in their skin and researchers found that these women were half as likely to request pain relief, such as an epidural, as another group of women who were not given the treatment. In order to have acupuncture during your labour, you'll need to book an acupuncturist to be in the delivery suite with you. (Again, you'll need to check that this is OK with your midwives etc.) Some midwives are actually qualified in acupuncture now, but you'll probably find you need to source your own. If you do have acupuncture during your labour, fine needles will be inserted into the specific points of your body which are most likely to reduce pain.
Acupressure: if you opt for acupressure, then it's likely that the same points will be used but, instead of having fine needles inserted, acupressure simply involves fingertip pressure being applied to the points. You could actually get your partner or midwife to use acupressure techniques to help ease your pain, or to help regulate your contractions. Ask them to press their thumbs firmly into the dimples on either side of your lower spine, starting at your tailbone and moving up to your waist.
Western herbalism You need to be extremely careful with herbal remedies during pregnancy. If you do want to use them, it's vital that you speak to a qualified medical herbalist or a
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midwife, who has been specifically trained in herbal medicines. Tat's because herbal medicines actually work in the same way as some conventional drugs and some can interfere with pregnancy, or can interact with prescribed drugs. Raspberry leaf tea has always been touted as excellent for toning the muscles of your womb, making contractions more effective and possibly reducing the length of labour, but there's not much evidence as to its safety or effectiveness. (NB: You should never take raspberry leaf during the first three months of your pregnancy.) If you are planning to try the tea, you need to start drinking it from about 32 weeks, as the effects build up over time. Never, ever, take blue cohosh tea as it has been linked to serious side effects in babies, such as stroke and heart problems.
Aromatherapy: pain in labour is oſten exacerbated by the tension that is a natural, but unhelpful, reaction to the pain. Anything therefore that relieves some of the tension can be helpful. Aromatherapy involves the use of essential oils to stimulate and balance hormone levels and thereby relieve stress. It's thought that the essential oils can both help you to relax during labour and increase your feel-good hormones, such as oxytocin. Te most popular oils include: camomile, rose, ylang ylang, lavender and bergamot. For an aromatherapy massage, simply blend two drops of essential oils into about a teaspoon of an unscented base oil, such as grapeseed, and ask your partner to massage your shoulders, feet or back. Frankincense is highly rated by practitioners for the end of the first stage of labour and is particularly good for helping you to stay calm if your contractions are becoming difficult to cope with. Just rub a drop of it onto the palm of your hand. „
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