Oxford Handbook of Midwifery (38 page)

Administration of BFRs

The BFRs are extremely dilute, and all the flowers used are non-toxic. They are suspended in a weak alcohol solution bought as stock bottles. Drops are then diluted in fluid, ideally water or juice, and taken orally.

The remedies can be taken singularly or in combination of up to six remedies if several emotional states need to be addressed.

• For day-to-day/short-term use: put two drops of each remedy chosen into a glass of water or juice and sip at regular intervals.
  
• For long-term use: put two drops of each remedy chosen into a 30mL dropper bottle and fill with spring water. Take four drops on the tongue or in drinks at least four times daily. This should be used within 3 weeks.
  

  CHAPTER 7
  Helping women cope with pregnancy
  

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  Recommended reading
  

  Ball S (2005).
  The Bach Remedies Workbook: A Study Course in the Bach Flower Remedies
  . London: Random House.
  

  Howard J (1991).
  The Bach Flower Remedies Step by Step
  . Saffron Walden, England: CW Daniel Company.
  

  Howard J (1992).
  Bach Flower Remedies for Women
  . Saffron Walden, England: CW Daniel Company.
  

  

  REFLEXOLOGY
  

  131‌‌
  

  Reflexology
  

  Reflexology is an ancient therapeutic form of foot and hand massage that activates the body’s natural healing responses. The feet and hands are seen as a miniature map of the whole body, and therefore can be utilized to treat various physical and emotional disorders. Reflexology is based on two main theories:
  

Benefits of reflexology in pregnancy

Reflexology may be used for many of the ailments experienced in preg- nancy, or used alongside conventional treatments to provide extra support and reduce anxiety that often exacerbates physical disorders.

Pregnant women should be treated with reflexology by either a qualified

reflexology practitioner with an understanding of the pathophysiology of pregnancy, or a midwife/reflexologist.

Contraindications to the use of reflexology in pregnancy

Recommended reading

Hall N (1994).
Reflexology for Women
. London: Thorsons.

Mackareth PA, Tiran D (2002).
Clinical Reflexology
—
A Guide for Health Professionals
. London: Churchill Livingstone.

Tiran D (2009).
Reflexology for Pregnancy and Childbirth: A Definitive Guide for Health Professionals
. London: Elsevier.

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Oriental medicine

The Oriental approach to health is based on a holistic view of the individual, nature, and the universe. Illness is viewed as a process of energetic dishar- mony within the body, which eventually undermines emotional, physical, and spiritual health. Various therapeutic practices are employed, including: acupuncture, massage, herbal medicine, dietary reform, meditation, exer- cise, and breathing techniques. The therapies of acupuncture, reflexology, and shiatsu are the most commonly used in midwifery. These therapies are underpinned by the concepts of traditional Eastern philosophy:

• Qi (or Chi, universal energy that permeates the whole of nature, which may also be referred to as the life force, which is vital to health and well-being)
  
• Yin/Yang (the two apposing forces within nature that help to maintain balance and synthesis within the body and its functions)
  
• Meridians (a network of channels which transport Qi throughout the body).
  

  Acupuncture points occur at intervals along the meridian lines, these can be described as miniature whirlpools or vortices that draw Qi deep into or out of the body’s energy flow. These points serve as access points for the practitioner to needle (as in acupuncture) or for massage (reflexology and shiatsu) to produce therapeutic changes in the energy state of the patient.
  

  Negative emotions are considered to have a debilitating effect on the flow of Qi throughout the body. The area of the body affected will
  

  depend on the type of emotion experienced; for example, anger will
  

  cause stagnation of liver Qi which, in turn, will lead to disorders such as diarrhoea, belching, and nausea.
  

  Major shifts in the energetic patterns take place during pregnancy to support growth and development of the fetus. Pregnancy is considered to be a Yin state, which encourages an inward movement of energy. This reflects the woman’s desire to reconsider values; to take more care of herself and focus on the fetus. Very often in Western culture it is difficult for women to foster this energetic pattern, due to their working and domestic environments. Therefore, many women are more Yang in nature; that is, they are focused externally from their pregnancies and a deeper nurturing experience. The resulting imbalance of Qi during pregnancy will result in various disorders.
  

  Acupuncture
  

  The systematic insertion of fine needles at specific acupuncture points to stimulate or balance the flow of Qi throughout the body. This therapy is based on empirical knowledge gained from the close observation of the effects of needling specific points, dating back at least 2500 years.
  

• During pregnancy, acupuncture treatment should always be carried out by an acupuncturist practitioner or a midwife acupuncturist.
  
• Acupuncture can be used for all the common ailments associated with pregnancy, e.g. backache, carpal tunnel syndrome, nausea, constipation.
  
• A full medical and obstetric history should be taken prior to commencing treatment.
  

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Moxibustion

This is the use of heat (produced by burning moxa, the herb mugwort) to stimulate acupuncture points. Cigar-shaped sticks of dried moxa are lit and held closely to the skin over specific points. Attention to this alterna- tive means of turning the breech followed on from a study in China of 260 primigravid women.
¹

The most common use for this in pregnancy is to turn breech babies from 33/34 weeks onwards: