Complementary Therapies in Midwifery Practice

Chapter 18: Complementary Therapies in Midwifery Practice 

Overview:

• Description changing attitudes in midwifery
• Types of oils used are identified and explained
• Explanation of how to administer oils is provided
• Lists advantages of methods for both the baby and the mother

Description:

This chapter describes the background to the inclusion of aromatherapy in midwifery, and gives practical advice about useful essential oils, their effects, and precautions to be taken. Description of how The Birth Unit has now had nine years’ experience using aromatherapy and the benefits of this CT for patients, staff, and the unit in generally are provided.


Topics:

• The challenge for change
• Introducing aromatherapy
• Types of oils used
• Administration
• Indications for and method of massage
• Inhalation
• Hydrotherapy
• Aromatherapy and antenatal education
• Documentation and evaluation
• Sharing the caring experience
• Developing a policy
• Nine years later
• Acknowledgments
• References

Speaker / Author:

Susie Nanayakkara

RN (UK), RM (UK), Diploma of Plastic Surgery (UK), Diploma of Aromatherapy (Australia), Clinical Nurse Specialist, Auburn Hospital, NSW.

Susie trained in England and has wide clinical nursing experience gained overseas and in Australia. She worked as a senior midwife at Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, before coming to Australia in 1989. Since then she has been working as a clinical nurse specialist at Auburn Hospital. Susie has always been interested in complementary therapies and completed a Diploma of Aromatherapy in 1991. She is co-author of a book on baby massage published in 1996.

Susie won the Auburn Hospital and Community Health Services International Nurses’ Day award in 1998 for her contribution and commitment to improving patient care. At present she is involved in conducting workshops on female genital mutilation (FGM) and is a member of the team assisting in the formulation of a self-directed learning package for counsellors and a training manual for health workers.

Professional Reviews:

women in labour are now using complementary therapy as their first choice method of copingwith pain during labour and biirth , however more research is satill needed on this topic