Alternative therapies and pregnancy

By Louisa Deasey
Alternative medicine can help during pregnancy and labour where western medicine might pose a risk to the unborn child (such as certain medications in conditions such as headache). It’s also much more gentle and non-invasive, and addresses many of the emotional issues western medicine generally ignores.
Certain pharmaceuticals are not recommended while pregnant, so here are a few of the more common alternative solutions you may wish to try for ails as small as a headache and as big as labour pains.
Aromatherapy
Literally ‘aroma’ (smell) ‘therapy’ (treatment), aromatherapy can help ease headaches and fatigue, invigorate you for the day ahead, or help you unwind if you’re suffering from tension or insomnia.
Ways to use aromatherapy include an oil burner (mix a few drops with water above a candle), adding it to a carrier oil (such as almond oil) and using as a massage tool, adding a few drops to the bath or inhaling via a steam.
Uplifting scents such as orange, peppermint and lemon will help improve clarity and focus.
For headaches and tension try peppermint, basil or rosemary
For insomnia and tension try relaxing scents such as lavender, rose, patchouli and ylang ylang.
Reflexology
Reflexology is basically pressure, stretching, and massage of certain points of the feet.
Reflexology is based on the premise that pressure points of the feet correspond to organs and points in the body. 
Since the body undergoes so many changes during pregnancy, and traditional massage and treatments can be difficult due to an expanding belly, reflexology is a fantastic alternative as the feet are the only part of the body being massaged.
Issues reflexology can help include morning sickness, fluid retention, fatigue, muscle pain, nausea, bowel movements, circulation and stress relief.
Reflexology has been used for over 4000 years and was first practised in Egypt.
Acupuncture
Similar to reflexology, acupuncture works on pressure points of the body, inserting tiny needles to stimulate and unblock what TCM (traditional chinese medicine) practitioner’s call ‘meridians’.
The needles aren’t left in the body for long, and don’t hurt. There are no drugs involved and treatment often results in immediate relief. 
Acupuncture can be undergone weekly, fortnightly, or daily if it is for a more serious issue such as mastitis or labour problems.
Issues acupuncture can address include:
Morning sickness
Emotional and physical exhaustion
Constipation
Heartburn
Colds & flu
Back pain & sciatica
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Insomnia
Anxiety & fear
Varicose veins
Headaches
Hypertension
Fluid retention
Sinus congestion
Labour
Pre-labour preparation
Postpartum recovery
Breastfeeding problems/Mastitis
Homeopathy
Homeopathy is the use of herbal and flower essences in an extremely diluted form, to bring subtle assistance to symptoms such as nausea and morning sickness, heartburn, itchiness and skin problems, fatigue, aches, swelling, tenderness, emotional problems, and even stretch marks.
Homeopathics can be really useful when medications are contra-indicated for pregnancy or labour as they harm the child: homeopathics are much more subtle and less risky.
Homeopathics come in tablet or drop form and are often taken more than once a day.
Homeopathics were supposedly discovered in Germany in the late 18th century, but have been used the world over ever since.
For best results keep homeopathic remedies out of sunlight, away from electronics and heat.
Hypnosis
Hypnosis is a psychological method which is a great tool for the emotional anxieties to do with labour and childbirth. It has also been said to affect length and pain of labour and lessen and/ or eliminate complications to do with labour.
Unlike drugs and invasive treatments, hypnosis poses no risk to the unborn child and is mostly used to make labour less painful and stressful for the mother.
Mothers who choose to have a natural childbirth often do so with the help of a trained hypnotherapist.
Kinesiology
Similar to hypnotherapy, kinesiology is a non-invasive therapy used to get to the emotional root of physical issues that may be causing pain or distress during pregnancy or labour.
Kinesiology is like a mix of physical and emotional treatment, and the practitioner will often ask the body a question, which will be answered by a strength or weakness in the muscle.
The kinesiologist often moves a part of the body gently asking the client a question. It’s based on the premise that the body will tell the answer when the conscious mind cannot.
Similar to acupuncture and reflexology, kinesiology is based on the premise that parts of the body correspond to internal organs, so symptoms are treated by addressing the corresponding organs.
Kinesiology is one of the least invasive methods of eliminating fears of hospitals, fear of labour, anxieties and stresses to do with childbirth and labour, and even beliefs to do with becoming a mum.

http://www.birth.com.au/pregnancy/natural-therapies/natural-therapies-to-consider/alternative-therapies-and-pregnancy#.U1r-EvmSzUt