This document defines complementary and alternative therapies and discusses their use during pregnancy. It defines complementary therapy as treatments used along with standard medical treatments, while alternative therapy refers to treatments used instead of standard treatments. The document then lists several categories of complementary and alternative therapies and provides examples of safe therapies for issues like nausea, back pain, and labor pain during pregnancy. It also discusses techniques like reflexology, crystal therapy, mindfulness, massage, hypnotherapy, meditation, acupuncture, and herbal teas. Finally, it lists exercises like yoga, swimming and walking that are safe during pregnancy, as well as conditions where physical activity should be limited.

2. ALTERNATIVE/COMPLIME
NTARY TECHNIQUES IN
PREGNANCY
ANAMIKA RAMAWAT RN RM BSN
M.Sc. NURSING Prev.
GCON, JODHPUR

3. INTRODUCTION
Many people in recent time are aware and using
complementary and alternative therapies(CAT) to
promote health and assist with healing from illness.
Nurses should be knowledgeable about CAT primarily
for three reasons.

4. Definitions
“Complementary therapy is treatments that are used along with standard
medical treatments but are not considered to be standard treatments.”
Example is using acupuncture to help lessen some side effects of cancer
treatment.
“Alternative therapy is treatments that are used instead of standard
medical treatments.”
Example is using a special diet to treat cancer instead of anticancer drugs
that are prescribed by an oncologist.

5. CAT
Alternative Medicine differs in that it is
not used as a complement but as a
“substitute” for conventional therapy
1.Complementary Medicine is alternative
medicine used together with conventional
medicine. i.e. it “complements” the
treatment.
Integrated medicine- Uses some
combination of allopathic medicine and
CAT.

6. CAT
Categories
Whole
medical
systems
Mind–body
therapies
Energy
medicine
Biologically
based
practices
Manipulative
and body-
based
practices

7. Safe Alternative Therapies During
Pregnancy
– Nausea
– Backache
– Turning a breech baby
– Lab or induction
– Pain relief in labor
– Anemia (Nutritional)

8. More and Essential Techniques for
Pregnancy
Reflexology
Crystal therapy & Crystal jewellery
Mindfulness
Massage

9. Hypnotherapy
Meditation and Relaxation techniques
Acupuncture

10. Herbs and herbal
teas
Chiropractic medicine
Music Therapy
Hydrotherapy

11. EXERCISES IN PREGNANCY
Yoga
Swimming
Walking
Weight Training

12. Dancing
Stationary Cycling
Pilates

14. Contraindications of exercise and to limit
physical activity in following:
• Foetal growth restriction(FGR)
• Cardiac or pulmonary disease
• Cervical insufficiency
• Vaginal bleeding(APH)
• Hypertension in pregnancy
• Risk for preterm labour
• High Risk Pregnancy