By Hannah Schenker
A woman’s body goes through so many changes during pregnancy, and every woman has her own unique experience. Huge changes occur physically, hormonally and emotionally over a relatively short period of time. Your body has to adapt to carrying up to 20kg of baby, waters and placenta, which can create strain on all parts of your body. Depending on the condition, seeing your GP doesn’t have to be the only port of call when it comes to treating any problems that arise during pregnancy, as there are a wealth of different healing modalities and practitioners available. Here are five different practitioners you may not have thought of for common pregnancy complaints.
Nutritionist
Good nutrition plays a huge role in pregnancy – for the health of both mother and baby. Unfortunately, these days many of us get completely overwhelmed by food choices and may not realise what it is we really need to be eating, and how much of it, to stay healthy and strong. Pregnancy is the only time in your life where what you eat directly affects another person, so it’s important to be eating wisely. Seeing a nutritionist is a good way to get clear about what to eat and how much of it, to give your baby a fantastic start in life but also give you the strength and resilience to bring that baby earth-side. Specialist advice is especially useful if you follow a particular diet that excludes some food groups, to make sure you can make up for any lost nutrients.
Naturopath
When you are pregnant, you do need to be careful about what you ingest in terms of medications and remedies, due to how they may affect your baby. Many women turn to naturopathy and the healing properties of natural remedies, as prescribed or advised by a qualified naturopath, to ease the various troubling symptoms you may encounter during your pregnancy. It is important to make sure your naturopath is experienced and well educated about treatments that are safe for foetal development. The kinds of symptoms that you may try a natural remedy for are things like morning sickness, heartburn, hormone balance, digestive problems, and even remedies for labour.
Acupuncturist
Acupuncture while pregnant, when done by an experienced and qualified practitioner, is another great way to alleviate some of the troubling effects of pregnancy on the body without the need for medications. Some of the conditions that acupuncture may be used for are: nausea and vomiting, early pregnancy supportive care, digestive complaints, headaches and migraines, pain, fatigue, anxiety and depression, preparing the body for an efficient labour.
