A Holistic Pregnancy

How to complement your doctor’s care to enrich your mind, body and spirit

“Mindful birthing taught me that fear is just in my imagination. Labor wasn’t so bad.”

Lori Starnes of Allentown, Pa., worried about the pain of childbirth, and her partner, Patrick Dobson, worried about their baby’s health and whether they’d be good enough parents. Through a mindful birthing class, the two trained themselves to think differently.

They used techniques like repeated squeezing of an ice cube to practice coping with labor pain. “Instead of focusing on the cold, we focused on other things like music and our breathing,” Starnes says. That helped both of them during labor. Today, the two get mindfulness reminders from their son, Leland—“he’s naturally mindful and helps us get back there,” she says.

“Pain medications gave me no relief, but physical therapy did.”

Brenda Buffington of Lehighton, Pa., had two pinched sciatic nerves that caused pain in her legs. “It was hard to sleep, walk and even sit,” she says.

Through physical therapy, she learned how to change her posture to relieve pain and not strain any given muscle group. She also learned partner exercises she could do with her husband, Bryan.

A lab technologist, Buffington was able to work and exercise until the day of her delivery. “I was surprised I could be so active without hurting the baby,” she says. “The exercises even made me strong for childbirth, and we still do them today.”

You’re pregnant, and along with joy and excitement can come worry and discomfort. Relax! “Today, you have options beyond traditional medicine to soothe your mind, body and spirit,” says obstetrician Amanda Flicker, M.D., of Lehigh Valley Health Network. Complement your doctor’s care with these approaches:

Mindful birthing trains your mind to focus on the present, not the past or future. This is helpful during labor, when you’ll have moments with and without discomfort. “The pain-free times are lovely because your body releases endorphins,” says Flicker’s colleague Susan Wiley, M.D., psychiatrist and mindful birthing instructor. “But we worry about the next contraction and miss the bliss.”

Natural remedies such as ginger and vitamin B6 ease nausea and vomiting. (Always ask your doctor which herbs and supplements are safe.)

Acupuncture releases natural pain relievers through the insertion of fine needles into various points on the body. In place for several minutes to an hour, acupuncture needles can ease pregnancy-related nausea. (A skilled acupuncturist is important, because the wrong point could induce labor.)

Acupressure is similar to acupuncture, but the acupressurist uses finger pressure, not needles. The technique releases tense muscles and stress, and may relieve nausea, depression, headaches and pain.

Massage (after the first trimester) improves circulation and releases muscle toxins. “It may relieve cramps, headaches and swelling, and nurtures your emotional well-being,” Flicker says. “Certain perineal massages also can help prevent tearing or the need for episiotomy during childbirth.”

Physical therapy uses deep heat and massage to ease headaches, back pain, sciatica, leg weakness and carpal tunnel syndrome. You’ll also learn strengthening, balancing and stretching exercises, and ways to improve your posture.

Need Help?Call 610-402-CARE (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday) to learn more about our pregnancy physical therapy program.

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