Complementary Therapies That Can Help You Through Your Pregnancy
Pregnancy can and should be a joyous, exciting time, but that joy is sometimes dimmed by the many concerns and discomforts that are associated with bringing a new life into the world. Many women experience a great deal of stress and anxiety throughout their pregnancy; plagued with fears and worries about the possibility of miscarriage, the health of their child, the painful reality of labour, or their ability to care for the baby once it arrives. As the pregnancy progresses and your body experiences massive changes, there are also the inevitable physical symptoms to cope with. Complementary therapies can help you through your pregnancy, alleviating the emotional and physiological symptoms and helping to protect the health of both you and your baby. There are many types of complementary therapies that have proved beneficial during pregnancy. Here are a few you may want to consider.
Hypnotherapy: Using hypnosis to relax and to release any stress and tension is one of the most effective ways for you to experience a healthier and more comfortable pregnancy. The more relaxed you are, the better it is for your baby. The therapist can teach you how to achieve a state of profound mental and physical relaxation and concentration on your own, which will prove invaluable during labour and delivery. When the uterine muscles are relaxed, they are able to do what they were designed to do with minimal pain. Hypnosis helps facilitate a natural birth without the need for medical intervention.
Acupuncture: Using specifically designed treatments, acupuncture can assist your pregnancy throughout, helping you build up your strength and overall health while addressing the symptoms that arise at every step from conception to postnatal care. Acupuncture can greatly alleviate such symptoms as morning sickness, heartburn, hypertension, water retention, backache, hemorrhoids, sciatica and it helps with weight control. Acupuncture is also used to: treat women who are prone to habitual miscarriage, induce a birth, turn breach babies, or relieve pain during labour.
Aromatherapy: Essential oils, extracted from aromatic plant sources, can be used to alleviate many pregnancy related symptoms. This does not apply to all essential oils, as there are certain oils that should be avoided, particularly those that have blood thinning properties or could stimulate cramping or contractions. Among those that are recommended for use are: Lemon, Lavender, Tangerine, Petitgrain, Neroli, Patchouli, Ylang Ylang, Grapefruit, and Chamomile. They each have unique properties but collectively can relieve morning sickness, reduce fluid retention, sooth aches and pains, prevent stretch marks, ease nervous tension, and be used in the prevention and treatment of pre and post-partum depression.
Homeopathy: Homeopathic remedies are an effective alternative to pharmaceutical medications during pregnancy. Safe and free from side effects, they have been used during pregnancy for the past two centuries. An increasing number of pharmaceuticals have been shown to cause serious birth defects including some antifungal, acne and anti-seizure drugs. Homeopathic remedies can be used to treat minor injuries, acute and chronic illnesses, as well as symptoms related to the pregnancy.
More and more women are discovering the benefits of complementary therapies in managing the emotional ups-and-downs and physical discomforts of pregnancy. Integrating one or more types of complementary therapy into your pre-natal routine is good for both you and your baby.
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