By Jo Harris
A women's life can be defined by pregnancy and the birth of a child. There is obvious joy and love these events bring, but there is another, more painful side. There are a bevy of painful and uncomfortable symptoms many pregnant women bear, including heartburn, haemorrhoids, aches, pains, morning sickness, high blood pressure and many, many more - and that's not including the painful process of childbirth itself!
There are many ways to manage the discomforts and pains of pregnancy and childbirth, but an increasing number of women are moving away from traditional drugs and treatments and opting for alternative methods to staying pain-free. Some of these methods may seem weird and whacky but most have a loyal following of women with many success stories to tell.
If natural pain management appeals to you, why not try one of these alternative treatments:
Feldenkrais for pain relief
What is it?
Feldenkrais is a method of managing chronic pain by learning to use the body in an organised way. It focuses on improving pain through posture awareness as well as learning to move in new, gentle ways to alleviate pain.
How can it help during pregnancy and childbirth?
Feldenkrais brings awareness to the pelvic region hips and spine and teaches exercises to activate the pelvic floor. Relaxation is also an important part of utilising Feldenkrais in maternity care.
Alexander Technique for pain relief
What is it?
This is a technique focusing on the working of the �postural reflexes� � helping natural movements to become lighter and easier and breathing to become freer. It is concerned with undoing the bad habits that arise from everyday tension.
How can it help during pregnancy and childbirth?
In pregnancy, the Alexander Technique can assist in the prevention of symptoms like back pain and heartburn. It teaches postures that encourage what practitioners refer to as 'optimum foetal positioning'. In labour, this method addresses tension and anxiety through body positioning and breath.
Acupuncture for pain relief
What is it?
An ancient Chinese treatment, acupuncture involves the insertion of fine needles into the surface of the skin. This is said to encourage normal flow of 'qi' or 'life energy' by alleviating blockages.
How can it help during pregnancy and childbirth?
This method can be effective when treating women who are overdue in their pregnancies as unblocking the body's meridians is said to induce labour. Acupuncture can also be helpful in managing the pain of labour, or pain at a particular site such as pregnancy-related backache.
Hypnobirthing for pain relief
What is it? This is a method of natural childbirth using self-hypnosis techniques. Hypnobirthing aims to prepare women physically, mentally and spiritually for childbirth, using controlled breathing, relaxation and visualisation.
How can it help during pregnancy and childbirth?
Hypnobirthing is based on the belief that fear constricts the birthing muscles. Once fear is eliminated and the mother is in a relaxed state, it is believed that the she will be able to work through the sensations of childbirth more effectively, resulting in a faster and less painful birth.
Reflexology for pain relief
What is it?
Reflexology aims to relieve blocked energy pathways by applying gentle pressure to points on the hands and feet that correspond to various organs in the body.
How can it help during pregnancy and childbirth?
This method can be very effective in the treatment of fluid retention in the ankles and legs by stimulating the lymphatic system. It can also be useful in relieving the symptoms of morning sickness.
Making a choice about pain relief
Having a pain-free pregnancy and birth is at the top of every mother-to-be's wish list. Before deciding on which method of pain-relief is right for you, take some time to explore the options; try a few classes and choose an approach that makes you feel comfortable and confident.
Find related pregnancy and birth articles:
This article was written for Birth, Australia's best pregnancy, labour and birth resource. Sources include a variety of Natural Therapy Pages.
Last revised: Tuesday, 26 April 2011
This article contains general information only and is not intended to replace advice from a qualified health professional.