First time mums to join Complementary Therapies study

Are you pregnant for the first time?  Are you interested in using Complementary Therapies to support your labour and birth? 

New international evidence highlights the potential role of non-pharmacological treatments such as: acupressure, yoga, massage and relaxation techniques, which may improve the management of labour pain, and appear to be safe for both mum and baby. These findings highlight the need for new research clarifying the benefit of these therapies during the childbirth experience. 

This new study will explore the effectiveness of complementary therapies in an antenatal education program to support labour and birth and assist with the management of natural pain relief. These treatments, when compared to usual care, may increase women’s sense of control, satisfaction with birth and relieve pain.  They may also decrease medical interventions and medical pain relief. 

PhD researcher at the University of Western Sydney’s Centre for Complementary Medicine Research (CompleMED), Kate Levett, is looking for first time mums to participate in the study, who are more than 20 weeks into their pregnancy, over 18 years of age, and are considered low risk in their pregnancy.

“Complementary therapies and techniques may provide useful support managing pain in labour and birth, and allow women to be empowered in their birth experience,” says Ms Levett. 

“Over 30 percent of Australian women now use pharmacological pain relief during labour and birth, and some complications may arise from this.” 

Randomly selected participants in the Complementary Therapies Antenatal Education Program Study (CompleTe Study) will join a two-day workshop at one of the following locations, including Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital, Nepean Hospital (Penrith), UWS Campbelltown campus. However, other locations are available on the North Shore, North West, South East and South West of Sydney. 

The special weekend workshops will teach various complementary therapies to support labour and birth, including, acupressure, breathing techniques, visualisation techniques, yoga and active birth positions, provide information about the physiology and hormones of birth, and facilitated partner support. 

If you and your birth partner would like to be part of this study please contact Kate Levett for more information on 02 4620 3284, mobile 0421 991 165 or email k.levett@uws.edu.au

Women already attending courses such as Calmbirth, Active Birth, Hypnobirthing or are enrolled in a continuity of care midwifery program need to be excluded from the study. 

This study has been approved by the UWS Human Research Ethics Committee. The approval number is H9579.

Ends

6 September 2012