Complementary Therapies during Pregnancy and Childbirth

Abstract

Introduction: Pregnancy and childbirth are significant experiences that mark every woman who makes this journey, so the application of complementary strategies contributes to more humane care. Objective: To describe the complementary therapies that can be applied effectively and safely in pregnant women to contribute to greater well-being during pregnancy and childbirth. Materials and Methods: An integrative literature review was carried out in ScienceDirect, Medline, SciELO, Scopus and Ovid databases in English, Portuguese and Spanish over the second semester of 2018 and the first semester of 2019. Results: Different alternative therapies used in pregnant women were analyzed such as massage therapy, hydrotherapy, thermotherapy, freedom of movement, birth ball usage, imagery visualization, and music therapy, which gave security in their application with beneficial results in the mother-child binomial. Discussion: Complementary therapies are an opportunity for nursing professionals to apply them in the different contexts in which pregnant women are cared for. Although diverse literature points out the benefits for both the mother and the fetus, it is important for professionals to recognize them and put them into practice in the different care settings. Conclusions: The use of complementary therapies during low-risk pregnancy and childbirth is useful to reduce the different discomforts presented during these stages and thus improve the experience of pregnancy and childbirth.