Chiropractors
Chiropractors specialize in health care through the manipulation of the spine. Many women enjoy the care of a chiropractor during pregnancy to maintain health and reduce back and body aches and pains. Chiropractors also can care for infants after birth. Newborns may have difficulties after birth, related to neck and spine trauma, especially after a hard birth or the use of forceps or vacuum extractors.
To find a Chiropractor in your area go to Chiropractors
Birth Doula
A birth doula, or professional labour assistant, provides labour support, and some prenatal/postpartum services. A birth doula is experienced in birth and is an expert in providing physical and emotional support to a woman and her partner during labour and birth. Studies have shown that using a birth doula can: shorten labour, reduce the use of pain medications and augmentation of labour (pitocin), as well as increase a woman's satisfaction with her birth, enhance bonding, breastfeeding success, and reduce postpartum depression.
To find a birth doula go to Birth Doulas
Breastfeeding help
Breastfeeding begins just minutes after birth. Be prepared by connecting with support who can help when your baby arrives. Go to Breastfeeding to find out more about breastfeeding.
Gentlebirthing Hypnobirthing Classes
Antenatal education can be one of the most important elements of your birth preparation. Gentlebirth workshops include decision making skills, understanding Irish maternity care and ways to navigate your way to a safe, confident birth.
To find out more about Gentlebirth go to Gentlebirthing Workshops.
Infant Massage
Infant massage classes teach parents how to interact with their baby through a very personal and individualized massage technique. Babies and parents benefit from the soothing massage. Group classes encourage networking between parents.
Metamorphic Technique
Osteopathy – coming soon
Postpartum Doulas
A postpartum doula helps a new mother, and partner, make the transition into parenthood. She offers physical and emotional support and shares her experience with babies. Postpartum doulas help with cooking, light housekeeping, entertaining siblings, as well as, providing breastfeeding and basic baby care tips. The supportive ear and attentive eye of the postpartum doula can help to ease the worries of the first weeks of motherhood and to connect the family to resources and information. Partners also benefit from postpartum doula help by freeing them to be able to spend more time with mom and baby.
To find a postpartum doula go to Postpartum Doulas.
Prenatal/Postpartum Counselling
Prenatal/postpartum counseling can be invaluable in preparing for the birth of your child especially for those women who have had a traumatic first birth involving a cesarean section, unexpected emergency, or other disturbing situation. Women who have experienced physical or sexual abuse can benefit from prenatal counseling. These counselors can include hypnotherapy, marriage and family counseling, or other types of counselors.
To find out more about prenatal/postnatal counseling go to Prenatal/Postnatal Counselling
Prenatal/Postpartum Massage
Prenatal/postpartum massage from a specially trained massage therapist can help a woman relax and adjust to the dramatic changes happening to her body. The physical discomforts of pregnancy and postpartum can be reduced through the nurturing touch of massage. Prenatal massage practitioners have massage tables specially designed for pregnant and postpartum women. Some practitioners will come to your home.
To find out more about massage go to Massage
Prenatal Yoga
The goal of prenatal yoga is to increase physical comfort while assisting women to cultivate confidence in their bodies and minds as they prepare for birth. Some prenatal yoga classes include time for sharing and provide a much needed supportive environment for women to celebrate what's wonderful and acknowledge what's difficult about the physical, emotional and spiritual changes of pregnancy.
Basic Hatha yoga stretches and deep relaxation exercises are adapted to the special needs of pregnant women. The yoga postures develop strength, flexibility, balance and concentration - all important elements in preparing for labour. The relaxation exercises reinforce the techniques learned in childbirth preparation classes as well as teach women to maintain these states while working in appropriately challenging positions. This may give them some insight into how their focus can actually lessen their perception of discomfort during labour.
To find a class near you go to Yoga
Reflexology
Lisa Heeney is a Drogheda based reflexologist and a Tisserand Institute trained aromatherapist. Contact Lisa at 087 8581752
To find a Reflexologist near you go to Reflexology
Acupressure for Pregnancy and Birth
Acupressure is an ancient Japanese therapy in which finger pressure is applied to specific points on the body. It is sometimes referred to as 'acupuncture without needles'.
Throughout our lives, we are faced with many physical and emotional challenges. Overtime, our body's energetic system can take a hit as a result of the stress that life throws at us. We can develop, energy blockages, which can manifest as physical problems. Shiatsu works with the bodys energetic system aiming to remove the blockage and to re-balance the energy.
Becoming increasingly popular in Ireland, acupressure can be extremely effective in allieviating a wide range of conditions, including back pain, headaches and migraines, IBS, menstrual problems, joint pain, muscle stiffness, stress & anxiety conditions including insomnia and anxiety, and discomfort in pregnancy (after three months).
To find a practitioner go to Acupressure
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture, acupressure, massage, herbal and supplemental remedies are ideally suited as therapy for prenatal, labour and postpartum care. It orginated in China more than 3,000 years ago and due to its proven effectiveness, has been embraced throughout the world.
Acupuncture is a complete medical system that is used to diagnose and treat illness, prevent disease and improve well-being. It is effective for physical, psychological and emotional conditions and fine tuning. It is aimed at restoring balance in the whole person and enhancing the body's own innate mechanisms for healing in order to relieve symptoms and strengthen the person as a whole.
During the passage of pregnancy and childbirth the woman as well as her family goes through physical, emotional and spiritual changes which can be addressed by her and her practioner in an effective and caring way.
Common conditions are:
Prenatal: Preparation for conception, morning sickness, cystitis, edema, cough, depression, threatened miscarriage, eclampsia, malposition of baby, low energy, low back pain, hemorrhoids etc.
Labour: Prolonged labour, weak contractions, pain, fatigue, back labour, etc. Postpartum: Fatigue, diarrhea, anemia, dizziness, postpartum depression, mastitis, insomnia, constipation, incontinence, abdominal pain etc.
To find a provider in your area go to TCM
Other providers
There are many forms of holistic/supportive care in your community. Exploring these options may introduce you to some new ideas or reaffirm your current beliefs. Some of these providers may not be specific to pregnancy, but offer some services to pregnant/postpartum families.
Tracy Donegan - Holistic Birth Network
