Complementary Therapy Courses for Midwives
Dr Denise Tiran HonDUniv FRCM, is an international authority on midwifery complementary therapies.
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“Reflexology” is a generic term for a range of different therapies which are all based on the principle that one small part of the body (normally the feet and hands) reflects the whole. Denise teaches a German clinical style, reflex zone therapy, (RZT) devised by the midwife Hanne Marquardt, which is used by many midwives in northern Europe. Midwives on our courses learn the “map” of the feet and how to perform a relaxation treatment – but RZT offers so much more than relaxation effects.
RZT can be used to treat many of the physiological discomforts in pregnancy and is particularly effective in facilitating the onset and progress of labour through stimulation of two pressure points on the big toes which refer to the pituitary gland reflex zones and can therefore initiate oxytocin release to encourage contractions. We have much discussion during our courses on the precise location of these points because different styles of reflexology locate it in different positions on the toes. When she was at the University of Greenwich, Denise worked on clarifying these points in a research study on predictions within the female menstrual cycle, which appeared to show the pituitary gland points in very different locations from any other style of reflexology. She also identified which toe relates to the anterior part of the pituitary gland and which relates to the posterior pituitary – which, in fact, differed from what she had been taught when training in the late 1980s.
Understanding the most effective locations for the pituitary gland reflex zones can enable midwives to use RZT effectively for postdates pregnancy, labour acceleration, retained placenta and lactation support, all of which require pituitary hormone release. If you’d like to learn how to use RZT in your midwifery practice, we have two places left on our next course, commencing in January and currently available at the special discounted rate of £1800 (normally £2376). Contact info@expectancy.co.uk by 20th December for more information.
Denise has been reflecting on the differences between training as a nurse and midwife in the mid-1970s and training in the 21st century. When she first started training in 1975, standards were very strict. Most students were young, often school leavers going straight into training and tutors acted in loco parentis. Almost all were unmarried – and encouraged to remain so until qualified. All students were addressed as “nurse” and their surname: first names were not permitted to be used on the wards or even in the classroom! Uniform standards were very high – students had their hair length measured to ensure hair did not touch the uniform collar; nail length was checked, and no bracelets, watches or rings were permitted apart from an approved fob watch. Only very light make-up was allowed – and absolutely no perfume in case it caused nausea in some patients. Tights were not allowed to have ladders in them and had to be changed if any occurred on duty. Aprons had to be removed when going to the dining room for a break. No drinks were officially sanctioned to be consumed in clinical areas although it was easer on night duty to grab something quickly in the ward kitchens. Every nurse and midwife was encouraged to take a break during each shift and were reprimanded if the workload prevented this – it was seen to be the fault of the individual in not organising their work efficiently enough!
Classes were very formal, and teaching was largely didactic (straightforward information-giving). The amount of detail taught was phenomenal – and students were expected to “know” it all. Students would never have dared to ask “how much do we need to know? (a common question asked by students today, simply to pass an exam). Anatomy and physiology was the backbone of the entire course – and wo betide any student who could not explain clinical situations in terms of A&P. Denise says she finds this the most concerning aspect of contemporary midwifery education, with many midwives unable to apply A&P theory to practice. Obstetricians and other eminent doctors were brought in to teach some aspects of the course – although most of them couldn’t teach at all! Research was not considered – in fact, one of the first midwifery research projects was only undertaken in the late 1970s after Denise qualified (an investigation about the routine use of enemas in labour). Assessments were almost entirely by exams in large formal halls – Denise remembers her final exams being a whole day with two 3-hour papers followed by a practical exam the following day. There was then the trauma of having to go to the Central Midwives’ Board (CMB which was eventually replaced by the NMC) for a viva voce (oral exam) with a midwifery tutor and an obstetrician. The CMB was in Kensington in London in a very old building and the door to the room in which the vivas were held had a carved banner over the door stating “Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here”!
As a midwifery educator in the 1980s, Denise and her colleagues had their own “set” of students and were expected to teach the entire curriculum to their own group, as well as work with them on the wards. Indeed, every lecturer was expected to spend 20% of their week in clinical practice. The only aspect that was taught by a different lecturer on a rotational basis was the community element, with all students having a 3-month placement in the community. In the southeast London school of midwifery where Denise taught (Greenwich and Bexley), students were also sent to a second hospital for three months to gain different experience.
Does she miss those days? Yes, she does. It was hard work, but it was also fun, believe it or not. Students were proud of their training and their qualifications and went into practice well mentored. There were no clinical guidelines to constrain practice and innovation, no real shortage of staff and there was a supportive culture for everyone working in the health service. Would she go back into direct clinical practice now? Absolutely not, she states emphatically! Denise feels she has been very lucky to find her niche in midwifery, specialising in complementary therapies and teaching it to other midwives since 1984 – it will be 40 years next year!
MIDWIFERY AROMATHERAPY UNDER SCRUTINY: LET’S GET THE MESSAGE OUT THERE - PLEASE SHARE THIS POST WITH ALL YOUR COLLEAGUES.
Midwifery aromatherapy is currently under immense national public and professional scrutiny, but still Denise is consulted by midwives facing safety issues in their units. She recently heard from a midwife whose manager wanted to introduce oil diffusers using a few oils, with laminated cards in birth rooms to inform midwives how to use them (without any training). Other examples, often repeated, include managers asking midwives who have studied a few days of aromatherapy to write clinical guidelines, diffusers being use in the antenatal ward or triage areas, or the constant injudicious and unsafe use of clary sage oil in well-established labour.
Aromatherapy – the use of aromatic oils and massage – provides a wonderfully relaxing adjunct to labour care, easing pain and aiding progress. There is evidence to demonstrate the benefits of using aromatherapy – when it is used appropriately, by midwives with comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the potential safety issues AND how to minimise the risks. Aromatherapy is NOT just about acquiring the skills of massage and how to blend a few oils together.
Midwives who study aromatherapy with Expectancy explore the positive and possible negative pharmacological effects of the oils, the health and safety issues of using them in maternity units, their application to medicines management principles and their legal, ethical and professional responsibilities to all parents, babies, visitors and staff exposed to the chemically active aromatic vapours. It is of grave concern that midwifery managers permit their staff to implement aromatherapy without themselves having any knowledge of the subject and how to monitor midwives’ practice to ensure it is safe. Midwifery managers themselves need to understand the risks of essential oil use in pregnancy and labour so that they can take steps towards minimising those risks and developing an aromatherapy service for birthing parents that is safe, as well as effective, cost effective and equitable.
Denise will be running a series of FREE WEBINARS specifically for managers and consultant midwives to help them appreciate safe use of aromatherapy in midwifery practice. NB These 90-minute webinars aim to provide information, answer your questions and encourage discussion and will not be recorded.
BOOK YOUR PLACE: Thursday 11thJanuary at 1000 hrs; Wednesday 17thJanuary at 1900 hrs; Tuesday 23rdJanuary at 1400 hrs. CONTACT info@expectancy.co.uk for Zoom link.
Conflicts of interest for midwives offering private services whilst still employed by the NHS :
Increasing numbers of midwives undertake some private work such as antenatal education, pregnancy yoga classes,complementary therapies, tongue tie division or other services. However, it can be difficult to maintain the boundaries between being self-employed if you also continue working in the NHS – you should inform your NHS manager of your private work and ensure there is no crossover with local NHS services. An example of this would be providing private services for postdates pregnancy when there is already a similar NHS service. Another area that can cause difficulty is antagonism from colleagues who are committed to free-at-the-point-of-access care as with the NHS, and who do not agree with charging for your services. Knowing how to market yourself without overstepping the boundaries of the NMC Code can be problematic and requires sound business knowledge so that you can promote your services professionally. You are not, of course, permitted to promote your services during your NHS work (nor do anything related to your private practice whilst on NHS duty time – not even taking a ‘phone call). Knowing the limitations of your personal indemnity insurance will help to avoid the pitfalls between working as a therapist, antenatal teacher, yoga instructor etc, and providing midwifery-specific care.
When women wish to receive antenatal or intrapartum complementary therapies (CTs) such as aromatherapy, reflexology, acupuncture or clinical hypnosis, it is vital to obtained informed consent. But what do we mean by “fully” informed consent? It is easy to inform parents about the benefits but what do you tell them about the possible risks? Here is a list of the information you should be able to provide to enable parents to give their fully informed consent to CTs:
Did you know that raspberry leaf tea is a third trimester BIRTH PREPARATION remedy and NOT a remedy to bring on labour? See Denise's latest book Complementary Therapies for Postdates Pregnancy for more information.
This week, Denise and Amanda have been teaching our popular online Aromatherapy and Acupressure for Postdates Pregnancy course, with over 40 midwives.
On the first day we explored the theoretical background to aromatherapy and the safe use of essential oils in pregnancy and birth.
On day 2 we applied the principles of aromatherapy to midwifery practice, considering ways of administering essential oils for expectant and birthing parents. This involved group work and experimenting with selecting oils for both their clinical effectiveness and their aromas.
Day 3 saw midwives practising acupressure points that have been shown to be effective for aiding labour onset.
We concluded by discussing the implementation of aromatherapy and development of a postdates pregnancy service in the NHS or private practice.
Many people view herbal remedies as natural - and therefore safe, but this is not the case. All herbal remedies work in exactly the same way as drugs and can cause similar side effects, which may be precipitated by combining them with prescribed or recreational drugs. This is particularly significant when women at term resort to natural ways to try and start labour. Taking herbal remedies such as raspberry leaf, castor oil, black cohosh, ginger, evening primrose oil and others alongside medical drugs to induce or increase contractions can lead to serious hyperactivity of the uterus and fetal distress. Midwives and other birth workers should advise parents not to combine herbal remedies with prostin, Propess™ or syntocinon. In pregnancy, taking herbal medicines frequently, even prophylactically, can cause problems such as changes in blood sugar, liver overload and, notably, blood thinning.
Complementary therapies (CTs) are not part of standard antenatal care but are increasingly used in labour. There are many types of CTs, including massage, aromatherapy and reflexology, acupuncture, moxibustion, herbal medicine and homeopathy and hypnosis. Osteopathy and chiropractic are not now classified as “complementary” but are statutorily regulated as “supplementaryprofessions”. In pregnancy and birth all these therapies should be complementary options – not alternative to standard maternity care and it is important that midwives ask expectant parents about their use of CTs and natural remedies.
Expectant parents turn to CTs to resolve pregnancy issues such as sickness and back pain, for which they are generally discouraged from taking conventional medicines. Many use them for relaxation and preparation for birth. Perhaps the commonest reason for CTs use is to avoid induction of labour, closely followed by pain relief in labour. It has been shown that CTs are less commonly used after the baby’s birth although some women use them to aid recovery, ease discomforts and stimulate lactation.
Expectant parents often tell us that their sense of smell has changed, sometimes to the extent that they cannot tolerate certain odours. This heightened sensitivity to aromas is called hyperosmia. It is thought that this is due to the impact of increased ghrelin, a hormone found mainly in the stomach, and is often called the “hunger hormone” as it triggers the urge to eat. In pregnancy, it is also produced by the placenta in association with growth hormone, peaking in the second trimester and declining towards term. Reports of going off the smell of meat, milk orcooking/cooked food are common, but sometimes, a woman will tell you that her sense of smell is so sensitive that she cannot even bear the smell of her partner. When Denise was a student midwife in the 1970s, it was forbidden to wear perfume to work (in nursing too) as the aroma could have negative effects on expectant parents (and patients).
It is worth remembering this hyperosmia when working with expectant parents, especially in maternity units where aromatherapy is offered for labour. Essential oils should never be used simply to fragrance the environment in a birth centre or maternity unit, partly because of the potential for some people (not just parents, but also staff) may dislike certain aromas, but also because of the chemical impact on individuals inhaling the vapours.
Surreal conversation during our midwifery aromatherapy course recently:
Denise: all opened bottles of essential oils must be kept in the fridge
Midwife 1: can we keep our full carry case of oils in there?
Midwife 2: I can't do that, I wouldn't have space for my tortoise!
Midwife 1: why would you keep a tortoise in the fridge?
Midwife 2: to prepare him for hibernation
Denise: even without a tortoise you have to be careful to keep the oils insulated otherwise they can make your eggs smell - wrap the oil container in silver foil
Midwife 3: can the oils make the tortoise smell as well?
Midwife2: if so, should we wrap the tortoise in foil to protect him too?
Denise: actually you have to be careful about using essential oils around animals and you should avoid specifically oils such as eucalyptus and tea tree around tortoises.
Having been away for a while, Denise has just caught up with the latest revision of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) on care in labour (NICE guideline NG235 published 29 September 2023). As expected, very little has changed in respect of pain relief in labour, particularly relating to complementary therapies. In a continuation from previous versions, maternity professionals are still directed not to offer or advise parents on aromatherapy, yoga, hypnosis, acupuncture or acupressure in the latent or first stages of labour – but suggests we should support her choice if she wishes to use them. They are “kind” enough to suggest that women wishing to receive massage “that has been taught to birth companions” should be able to receive it, but then discourage the use of massage, acupressure or hypnosis by professionals. This is ridiculous, since therapy performed by professionally taught midwives or doulas is likely to be more effective than that performed by partners. Either massage, acupressure and hypnosis are safe in labour – or they are not - in which case birth companions should be discouraged from using them as well. You can’t have it both ways. Further, women wishing to receive acupuncture are extremely unlikely to self-administer this or ask their partners to perform it: acupuncture needs to be administered by visiting acupuncturists or appropriately trained midwives or doctors. By advising that it should not be offered deprives women of a choice they may prefer to conventional pain relief – and one that is as effective and potentially safer than pethidine, morphine or epidural anaesthesia.
Crucially, despite several previous editions of the intrapartum guideline having been challenged by Denise and others, NICE persists in classifying aromatherapy as “non-pharmacological”. Essential oils used in aromatherapy most certainly DO work like drugs, being absorbed, distributed, metabolised and excreted by exactly the same physiological mechanisms. NICE incorrectly and simplistically classifies aromatherapy with other relaxation therapies with its dismissive and potentially harmful attitude. Indeed, the vast number of expectant and birthing parents using aromatherapy means that many are completely unaware of the possible risks of inappropriate use, seeing them simply as pleasant smells to enhance massage. Further, NICE sets its guidelines on the basis of the available evidence – and assumes (incorrectly) that there is insufficient evidence on complementary therapies to support their use.
Conversely, the revised antenatal care guideline (NG201 published 2021) advises maternity staff to record at booking the use of herbal remedies and to offer advice on herbal and other remedies during antenatal appointments, as well as commending the value of both acupressure and (inappropriately) the ubiquitous ginger for all women with nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. These are more examples of the lack of knowledge and understanding of complementary therapies and natural remedies by members of the NICE guideline teams, who seem out of touch with reality and the trends in self-administered natural remedies. Even if the team members do not understand this subject and cannot find sufficient randomised controlled trials to advocate for the use of complementary therapies in pregnancy and birth, they should, at the very least, ensure that the information in the guidelines is accurate – and the word “non-pharmacological” is not accurate when referrring to aromatherapy.
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is a herbal remedy that is sometimes used by expectant parents to try to trigger labour. However, it should not be used in therapeutic doses – in the first and second trimesters it may cause miscarriage or preterm labour, or excessive contractions at term. Importantly, its high salt content means it should not be used by those with hypertension or oedema. Babies of women who have consumed a lot of licorice may have raised cortisol levels and exhibit signs of stress. Licorice should be avoided with gestational or pre-existing diabetes, renal conditions or hormone sensitive conditions. It has the potential to interact with many drugs, particularly antihypertensives, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories eg diclofenac, ibuprofen; some anti-diabetic medication andanticoagulants such as heparin, warfarin, aspirin, nifedipine, enoxaparin.
Maternal deaths continue to be largely concentrated in the poorest regions of the world and in countries affected by conflict. In 2020, approximately 70% of all maternal deaths were in sub-Saharan Africa. In nine countries facing severe humanitarian crises, maternal mortality rates were more than double the world average (551 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births, compared to 223 globally). South Sudan has the worst statistics in the world, with a maternal mortality rate of 1223 per 1000,000 live births. Life threatening haemorrhage, hypertension and eclampsia, pregnancy-related infections, complications from unsafe terminations, as well as HIV/AIDS and malaria are the leading causes of maternal deaths. These are all largely preventable and treatable with access to high quality maternity care.
Many people claim that the full moon affects their wellbeing. It is thought that menstrual cycles amongst groups of women become synchronised during the phase of the full moon, possibly due to the gravitational pull of the moon. It is claimed that a full moon affects mental health and wellbeing, although formal research studies have failed to confirm this.
A large French study of over 38 million births found a small but significant increase in labour onset during the full moon. (Chambat et al 2021).
Over 5500 plants growing in Africa are used in traditional medicines, although around 90% of these have not been studied, researched or classified for safety.
Many of the commonly used plants are the same as those used in first world westernised countries, such as ginger and peppermint for sickness and fennel and fenugreek for lactation, but others are rare or obscure plants– that may not always be safe.
Natural plant medicine in African countries is entwined with traditional sociocultural practices and spiritual beliefs and they are often shrouded in mystery such as when they are prescribed by the local sangoma (witch doctor).
One Zulu remedy in preparation for childbirth, called Isihlambezo, is a concoction of over 50 different plants, many of which in scientific medicine are not considered safe in pregnancy.
This week, 18th to 24th September is World Reflexology Week. Reflexology is a general term for a wide range of therapies based on the principle of one small part of the body representing a map of the whole body. Some styles of reflexology are simply adapted foot massages incorporating pressure point work. Reflexology in the Far East uses Chinese medicine meridians (energy lines) and there are some European styles that are similar. Reflex zone therapy, which is taught by Expectancy, is based on anatomical and physiological principles and fits well with midwifery practice. We offer a full six month Certificate programme in Midwifery Reflex Zone Therapy commencing on 3rd January 2024. If you’d like to join us to learn about this fascinating therapy, contact info@expectancy.co.uk
The growing number of birthing parents with complex medical, psychological or social needs, means that the focus of NHS midwifery is primarily on the pathological elements of complicated pregnancies and births. Since Denise started midwifery in the mid-1970s, childbirth seem to have changed out of all recognition and midwifery has become an extension of nursing practice, with greater medical intervention. This has led to a reduction in midwives’ experience of physiological birth – and their ability to help women whose births could remain physiological if only midwives had the confidence to help with them.
Using complementary therapies (CTs) can contribute to reduced stress in expectant and birthing parents which has a knock-on effect of increasing oxytocin and endorphins. Several units using aromatherapy for pain relief in labour or acupressure for postdates pregnancy have found a reduction in the need for epidurals, induction or acceleration of labour and Caesarean sections. Despite a national backlash against the use of CTs in midwifery from some quarters, there is no doubt that having birthing parents who are more relaxed contributes to greater levels of physiological birth, so long as there are no other complications or deviations from expected physiological progress.
Aromatherapy has become the most popular complementary therapy amongst birthing parents and is an effective tool for midwives to use. However, if you want to introduce aromatherapy for birth into your midwifery practice, it is essential to ensure that you choose the most appropriate training course. It is not necessary to be a fully qualified aromatherapist in order to use aromatherapy within midwifery practice, but midwives must undertake courses applicable to midwifery. Here are some questions you should ask to ensure that the course you want to attend is appropriate for midwives:
Expectancy aromatherapy courses provide you with all of this!
Midwives who’ve joined our Expectancy Licensed Consultancy have taken the plunge to work freelance so they can offer services for expectant and newly birthed parents that are not generally available on the NHS. We always advise our LCs to focus on their USP – their unique selling point – which is the fact that they are MIDWIVES and have undertaken specialist training with Expectancy on midwifery complementary therapies (CTs). Expectant parents like the fact that their appointments allow them time to ask the midwife any questions they may feel they can’t ask in a busy NHS clinic. We advise the midwives to market (advertise) their services in terms of offering SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS, rather than the process (the treatment). For example, rather than stating on their websites and social media that they offer reflexology, aromatherapy or hypnosis etc, we suggest midwives focus their adverts on being able to help relieve pregnancy sickness or backache or CTs treatments for those wanting to avoid induction for postdates pregnancy. Expectancy’s Licensed Consultancy offers full business training alongside your chosen complementary therapy programme, with support to establish and start your private practice and develop it further once you have started trading.
Denise was recently contacted by a midwife from a unit where aromatherapy has been available for some time. She asked whether it is possible to use polysorbate 20 rather than carrier oils when midwives provide aromatherapy in pregnancy or birth. Polysorbate 20 is a non-ionic surfactant and emulsifier substance derived from oleic acid and is soluble in water. The surfactant contains ethylene oxide produced from sorbitol through various industrial processes, so polysorbates are not natural products - they have been chemically altered.
There are several reasons why polysorbate 20 should not be used by midwives offering aromatherapy:
More importantly for midwives, the NMC Code 2018 requires midwives to:
Midwives need to be more careful than ever before, with so many challenges to midwifery complementary therapies (CTs), especially aromatherapy.
This requires them to be updated and to work within the very strict criteria laid down by the NMC, the RCM position statement 2020 and the forthcoming RCM Guideline for midwives using CTs (2023).
Denise was chatting with a midwife the other day, acting as her confirmer for NMC revalidation. The midwife explored a situation in which she was caring for a woman who had an undiagnosed breech presentation in the second stage of labour and commented on the reassurance that having another midwife present gave her. Denise then reflected on her own experiences as a community midwife in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when home births were generally conducted with only one midwife present. Midwives today work in a maternity culture in which, rather than focusing on appreciating physiological parameters, emphasises the need to avoid complications - and possible litigation when things go wrong. However, in the 1970s and ‘80s, midwives understood physiological birth so well that they had confidence in women’s bodies to labour and birth their babies spontaneously – and the parents had confidence in their midwives. Understanding physiological parameters meant that midwives were able to detect when deviations from normal progress were developing and the stage at which obstetric support should be summoned. The spectrum of “normality” was much wider than it is today – but then many parents still chose home birth, despite the move to encourage hospital birth. How confident would you feel in assisting parents without a second midwife present, especially at a home birth?
Did you know that the most commonly used herbal medicines during pregnancy include ginger (for nausea), raspberry leaf (for birth preparation, not induction), peppermint (for sickness), chamomile (to aid sleep), cranberry (for urinary infections - UTI), fennel or fenugreek (for lactation) and clary sage, black cohosh, blue cohosh and evening primrose oil (to aid labour onset). However, you may not know that all herbal medicines must be used with caution as they act in exactly the same way as drugs and can interact with some. Whilst most of these herbal remedies are safe enough in pregnancy and birth when used appropriately, some – particularly blue cohosh – should not be used at all. Others, including clary sage oil should be avoided until at least 37 weeks of pregnancy and only used when there are no complications. There are specific issues to consider depending on the remedy used, for example cranberry juice to prevent or treat UTI should always be sugar-free; chamomile should not be consumed to excess as it will then act as a stimulant rather than a sedative, and fenugreek taken in late pregnancy can cause the baby to be born with an unusual body odour, similar to maple syrup urine disease.
It’s essential for both the pregnant or birthing parent receiving complementary therapies (CTs) and the midwife, doula or therapist providing treatment, to remove their watches during the session. This is not only to avoid scratching the client (from a wristwatch), but more importantly because a watch can have an impact on the success of the treatment. CTs work on balancing energy levels to restore homeostasis. However, a watch (fob watches too) or any other source of magnetic or electrical energy, increases heat transfer which increases stress hormones and can adversely affect the success of the therapy. This also applies to other equipment, for example, CTG machines in the birthing room, which are an unpleasant source of heat that are counter-productive to physiological birth progress. The concept of energy is explored on our scientific basis of CTs, an essential study day for midwives on our Diploma in Midwifery CTs and our acupuncture programme.
Did you know that research supports the use of complementary therapies (CTs) in pregnancy and birth, with several studies showing a decrease in stress hormones. Massage, acupuncture and reflexology have all been shown to reduce cortisol and increase feel-good endorphins and encephalins. As we know, reduced stress hormones has a knock-on effect by increasing oxytocin to aid progress in pregnancy and especially during labour. Let’s return to nurturing birthing parents by using relaxing CTs during the first stage. Promoting physiological birth reduces the need for medical intervention – but does not preclude it if it becomes essential.
The number of allergic reactions has doubled in the last two decades, with over 25,000 people requiring hospital admission (this does not account for those who attended A&E but who were not admitted).
Whilst the main culprits are foods such as nuts, kiwi fruit and chickpeas, dairy and wheat products, people also react to chemicals in the atmosphere, from fuels and industrial use. Others react adversely to certain trees, for example, the increasing plantation of birch trees. Perfumes, bath products and household cleaning agents are also high on the list of allergens. This includes aromatherapy essential oils, which each contain up to 300 chemical constituents.
Denise has seen some extremely severe reactions to aromatherapy oils, with more reactions amongst students in the past ten years than in the previous 30 years working in the complementary therapy field. It only takes ONE single chemical to aggravate the nasal smell receptors, stimulating the olfactory nerve and passing to neurotransmitters in the brain which impact on various other nerves to produce respiratory, dermal, cardiovascular or other adverse reactions. Why then, is it so difficult to get this message across to midwives using aromatherapy in their practice? Essential oils act like drugs and can be very effective in relaxing pregnant and birthing parents, easing labour pain and nausea, fighting infection and lowering blood pressure. Conversely, if they have the power to do good, they also have the potential to do harm when not used appropriately. Midwives need to get past the belief that essential oils are just “pleasant smells” and take on board that they may cause allergic reactions – in expectant and birthing parents and babies, themselves and anyone else wo comes into contact with the chemical vapours (aromas). The issue is often that “aromatherapy” is taught as a skills-based “tool” to add to midwives’ options for care, without adequate theory to help them understand the therapy and its mechanism of action, contraindications and precautions.
Expectancy is currently developing a full implementation project for NHS trusts wishing to introduce or review aromatherapy services or to establish clinics for postdates pregnancy using essential oils and acupressure. Denise’s philosophy has always been “safety, accountability and evidence-based practice” – and this includes ensuring that midwives fully understand both the benefits and the risks of using essential oils in their care of pregnant and birthing parents – and that they know how to minimise those risks. Midwives should also acknowledge that they are “cherry picking” a small amount of someone else’s profession to add to their own. We would not expect aromatherapists to undertake a couple of days of skills based training on how to help someone give birth - and then expect to practise “midwifery” – so why do midwives assume that they can do so with aromatherapy?
There is much national scrutiny of midwifery complementary therapies at present - from people who know nothing about the subject but who have an axe to grind against the natural childbirth lobby and, indeed, against the midwifery profession. They argue that the NHS should not "waste" money on "unproven quackery" yet, conversely, want greater medical intervention to avoid the so-called risks of allowing women's bodies to do the fundamental job of giving birth.
Complementary therapies (CTs) should be just that - a complement to other midwifery care - offered as an aid to relaxation and a means of facilitating physiological progress of pregnancy and birth. Despite the sceptics' claims that it is unproven, there IS a considerable amount of evidence to support therapies such as massage, aromatherapy, acupuncture and others.
And what does this scepticism and antagonism do for expectant and birthing parents' choices? The fact that over three quarters may be using some aspect of CTs or natural remedies indicates the popularity of less invasive options particularly for pain relief in labour or as a means of avoiding induction.
At Expectancy, our courses aim to help midwives use CTs safely. Indeed, our philosophy is "safety, accountability and evidence based practice". Midwives on our courses not only learn the skills but acquire an in-depth understanding of the therapies, how they work and how to use them safely. Assignments are based around a critical understanding of the evidence and the professional,.legal, ethical and health and safety parameters required for implementing CTs into midwifery practice. Midwives complete a year-long academic programme designed to prepare them to defend CTs and to use them appropriately and safely.
Denise has been having some very interesting conversations with midwives on her courses recently. One group was reflecting on the power of touch and the benefits of massage, especially during labour. Massage, with fragrant herbs and oils has been part of midwifery care for childbirth since time immemorial. However, it seems that the skills and - importantly - the intuition to use touch may be being lost, unless we take steps to remedy the situation.
Student and newly qualified midwives seem hardly ever to witness their mentors touching expectant and birthing parents in anything other than a functional way, doing things TO them rather than FOR them. This may be due to lack of time, a fear of misunderstanding of intent or a worry that spending time with one woman denies others, thus making the service inequitable.
Touch and massage are fundamental to the nurturing of midwifery yet if we don't work hard to incorporate it into our care, it will be lost altogether. The changing nature of maternity care, the medicalisation of birth, the pressures on staff and the political correctness of modern day society all conspire to discourage many health professionals from providing anything more than the basic care to enable expectant parents to give birth to their babies.
On the other hand, massage is immensely powerful in its own right. It is well researched and demonstrates that touch reduces stress hormones such as cortisol and increases the feel-good endorphins and encephalins,with a corresponding increase in oxytocin and other birth hormones. Receiving regular massage (and other touch therapies) in the last few weeks of pregnancy has been shown to facilitate the spontaneous onset and physiological progress of birth. It enhances the birthing experience, promotes the infant-parent relationship, improves the immune system to aid recovery from birth and reduces the long-term physical and emotional negative effects of birth. This in turn reduces the long-term financial and logistical impact on the health services, particularly gynaecology and mental health services.
Student midwives need to be helped to develop a better intuitive approach to pregnancy and birth through pre-registration programmes that focus on holistic approaches. Newly qualified midwives need to lose the fear of punitive criticism for "wasting time" CARING for expectant and birthing parents. Midwives who have been in practice for some time need help to rekindle their joy of helping families at this most significant time of their lives. Managers need to factor in time and cost of caring as opposed to ticking boxes in pointless time wasting statistics gathering exercises. And society needs to embrace the value of birth as perhaps the most important human achievement of all.
Denise explains how she came to be involved in – and enthused by – complementary therapies. Now acknowledged as one of the world’s authorities on midwifery complementary therapies, Denise has spent 40 years developing the specialism, including practising, teaching, researching and publishing on the subject.
In the early 1980s, when I first became involved in this emerging field of healthcare, most therapies were viewed very much as “alternative” or “fringe medicine” (or even witchcraft!). I first become interested in complementary therapies (CTs) after completing a massage course, then decided to train in reflexology, which I loved. At the time, I had returned to my midwifery teaching role but was still breastfeeding my nine-month-old son. Whilst on the reflex zone therapy (RZT) course (a specific German clinical style of reflexology), I started to produce copious amounts of extra breastmilk, which my tutor informed me was due to slight over-stimulation of the foot reflex point for the pituitary gland during the previous day’s practical work. This caused me to consider the possible application of RZT to midwifery practice – indeed, it was my “aha” moment that was the driver for everything else I have done since. RZT became my primary tool in clinical practice and is still my preferred therapy today. Next, I attended an aromatherapy course which fuelled my interest in using essential oils for pregnancy and birth, but although I now teach more aromatherapy to midwives than any other therapy, I use it less in my own clinical practice than RZT. I have a serious interest in the need for professionals to use aromatherapy with extreme caution in pregnancy, especially when it is incorporated into midwifery practice and have recently completed guidelines for other midwives using CTs for the Royal College of Midwives (due to be published shortly). Over the next few years, I studied herbal and homeopathic medicine and later maternity acupuncture and clinical hypnosis. In the late 1980s, schools of midwifery and nursing in the UK were just being incorporated into the university system and the school of midwifery where I worked in southeast London became part of the University of Greenwich. I was appointed to lead the post-registration education provision and was given the opportunity to develop a Diploma of Higher Education in CTs and later a unique Bachelor of Science Honours degree in CTs. I also established, as part of this work, a CTs teaching clinic at one of the local maternity units where student midwives undertook their clinical placements. I spent one day a week in the clinic for the next ten years and treated almost 6000 expectant women with a variety of pregnancy discomforts and anxieties. As a midwife, I think I was initially seen as the “resident witch” particularly when it came to weird techniques such as burning sticks to turn a breech (moxibustion) or claiming that pressing points on the feet could impact on uterine action (RZT) or advocating natural remedies that contained “nothing” (highly diluted homeopathic remedies transformed from pharmacological chemical substances into energetic medicines). However, as time went by and the midwives and obstetricians witnessed the successes I achieved, they became increasingly more accepting of what was on offer, sometimes even attending themselves to experience a treatment session – a very good way of convincing them of the effectiveness of complementary therapies. At one point, having successfully relieved pregnancy sickness and hyper-salivation for one of the obstetric registrars, who later recounted her experience in theatre over a Caesarean section, I then had several anaesthetists with similar problems queuing up for treatment! One of the initiatives I introduced, with the help of other midwives I had trained in the unit, was a postdates pregnancy clinic, the first of its kind in the UK. We used acupressure, aromatherapy and reflex zone therapy as a package of treatment and had significant success in facilitating labour onset. I also undertook several research studies relating to CTs, including assisting a local maternity unit with research on using acupressure for postdates pregnancy. Postdates pregnancy has always been a specific interest of mine and no more so than now, when it is one of the most provocative debates in maternity care. In 2004, I left the University of Greenwich to set up my own education company, Expectancy, and have been training midwives in the UK and overseas on a variety of CTs ever since, together with continuing to write textbooks on the subject, an activity that began in 1992.
Yoga can be a very pleasant way of preparing for birth, although some authorities advise that the style of yoga should be one that is largely sedentary rather than the excessive exercise of “hot” yoga which would raise the woman’s temperature excessively. In general, yoga can have a positive physical and mental effect, reducing stress in pregnancy, which contributes to a positive approach to labour and has even been found to reduce depression in some women. Yoga may contribute to reduced intervention, shorter first stage labour and alter the perception of pain, thereby reducing the amount of pharmacological pain relief required. This is likely to be due to the generalised impact on stress and biomarkers such as cortisol, salivary amylase and immunoglobulins.
The use of aromatherapy by midwives in the UK has been under intense national scrutiny in the past few months, from the CQC, Ockenden review teams and national newspapers and radio. The media frenzy in particular has arisen from problems in some maternity units where midwives offer labour aromatherapy. Whilst there is not always a direct correlation between obstetric/neonatal complications and aromatherapy when midwives use it cautiously, there is bound to be some antagonism from sceptical colleagues when things go wrong. Similarly, parents experiencing traumatic birth or loss look for reasons and could potentially blame the use of aromatherapy in the absence of any known evidence for its safety.
So, is it safe to use aromatherapy in pregnancy and birth? The short answer is YES – when those using it understand how it works and when - and when not - to use essential oils. This includes ensuring that expectant and birthing parents appreciate that the oils act like drugs and are not always safe to use. And - is it safe for midwives to incorporate aromatherapy into their practice? YES - when midwives and managers apply the principles of aromatherapy to its use within a maternity unit or birth centre. This requires them not only to know how to select and blend appropriate oils and to administer them, but also to appreciate issues around health and safety, the law and the midwifery Code and the impact on everyone exposed to the oil vapours.
And – the crux of the matter – is aromatherapy use in midwifery currently safe? The answer here is - NOT ALWAYS. Many midwives ARE using essential oils judiciously and practice, monitored by managers who understand the subject, is based on contemporary evidence and safety principles intended to protect families and professionals. However, there are some maternity services where midwives’ use of aromatherapy is based on training undertaken years ago or, which has been provided by teachers who themselves do not understand the context in which they need to set maternity aromatherapy. These midwives’ practice is considerably out of date, both in terms of aromatherapy practice and NHS developments. It is not evidence-based and is not in keeping with contemporary maternity care, the parameters of institutional use and the NHS culture.
Do I think that midwives should learn about aromatherapy in their training? YES, absolutely. I have been campaigning for an introduction to the vast subject of complementary therapies to be included in pre-registration midwifery education for many years. This is not because I believe that all midwives, at the point of registration, should be involved in offering aromatherapy in practice, but because they should all be able to provide basic safe information to expectant and birthing parents who ask about it – and to advise on safety for those who don’t ask but who wish to use their own oils, particularly to aid the onset and progress of labour.
My professional philosophy, over 40 years of teaching complementary therapies in midwifery, has always been SAFETY, accountability and evidence-based practice. It was this philosophy that motivated me to establish myself as a freelance lecturer via my own company, Expectancy, almost 19 years ago after running a BSc(Hons) degree on the subject at the University of Greenwich for many years. It is the reason I am still working long after many of my colleagues have retired, and the reason I intend to continue hammering out the same message of safe practice as I pass on the baton to other colleagues.
For NHS trusts wanting to introduce or review current aromatherapy services or to establish complementary therapy services for postdates pregnancy, I can help you provide a safe, effective, cost effective, equitable, timely and evidence-based service. For those increasing numbers of UK midwives wanting to offer private pregnancy aromatherapy, I can help you avoid the pitfalls of “going it alone” and ensure that you can offer a safe, effective, marketable and profitable service. For midwives overseas, I can provide face to face or online courses to enable you to use aromatherapy appropriately and safely. Contact me now for more information – info@expectancy.co.uk
I am once again concerned to see several posts on Facebook from reflexologists asking questions that should not be asked in such a public domain. The most worrying post was from someone asking if it was OK to provide reflexology for someone who had had "brain surgery" two weeks ago, with no other information given. Some responses suggested this was acceptable, which I would truly challenge. If a reflexologist has to ask such a fundamental question, then they should not be providing treatment for people with complex medical conditions before further training. Moreover, if they do not recognise the boundaries of their own practice, perhaps they should not be practising at all.
Other posts pose similar questions based on what colleagues can see on photos of clients' feet, (only occasionally with a "posted with permission" comment). Whilst viewing photos in a formal training session can be a useful aid to learning, it is highly inappropriate to post these publicly and to ask for comments from colleagues who do not have the clients' full medical histories. Doctors would not post photos of patients' organs with a general "what would you do?" question to all and sundry, so why do some reflexologists feel it is acceptable?
One issue that raises its head in relation to pregnancy reflexology is that of helping to "induce" labour when women are approaching term and want to avoid induction. Whilst reflexology can be very useful in aiding relaxation, which encourages oxytocin, and even, when performed by appropriately trained midwives, facilitate the onset of contractions, I have come across several reflexologists claiming to offer an ™induction" service. This is most certainly not their role -especially when they do not know or understand the obstetric history or - in the case of one practitioner I met many years ago - even consider the need to take a history.
So why do some reflexologists feel these practices are acceptable? Is it a genuine interest in sharing of knowledge? I suspect this is what they would say. Is it a lack of availability of professional development opportunities to ask these questions in a formal setting? Perhaps there is a need for reflexology educators to provide a regular forum for reflection and further learning through case discussions, as we do regularly in midwifery. Or is it because some reflexologists are "wannabee" medical practitioners who see fit to stretch the boundaries of their practice because it gives them a sense of self-importance?I
Of course, these issues apply to only a very few therapists and most reflexologists are highly trained practitioners. However, in a health discipline that still draws scepticism from many conventional medical practitioners, it is these few who detract from the professionalism of the majority. Perhaps it is time for the reflexology regulators and training organisations to address how they identify and deal with these few mavericks.
Several research studies have been undertaken to determine its effect on labour pain and duration. Most of the more recent studies have been done in countries such as Turkey and Iran. There is no doubt that manual therapies such as reflexology and massage can be effective in relaxing women during labour, reducing their stress hormones and increasing birth hormones to aid comfort and progress. Denise has treated hundreds of expectant and birthing parents with reflex zone therapy, a German clinical style of the therapy that lends itself very well to midwifery practice 9and was developed by a German midwife, Hanne Marquardt).
Marhan, Varghese 2021 Unfortunately, the research is not as clear cut as it could be and does not give us the best evidence of effectiveness. There are several reasons for this. Most studies fail to define what type of reflexology is used, which precise reflex points on the feet are palpated, which techniques are used or even to differentiate between reflexology and foot massage. This makes it difficult to determine whether the effects are from reflex point stimulation specifically or from touch and massage more generally. Studies also need to be set in the context of the maternity care provided in the different countries: where care is very medicalised, with frequent vaginal examinations or other interventions, any nurturing in the form of touch therapies is bound to enhance the experience for birthing parents, irrespective of what type it is. There is no acknowledgement in most studies of the contraindications and precautions to using reflexology – this is particularly so when treatment is provided by midwives who have learned a few reflexology (or foot massage) techniques but whose knowledge and understanding of the therapy is limited. Indeed, there is no evidence for either the safety or risk aspects of reflexology in pregnancy, so practitioners need to determine for themselves whether or not it is safe to treat a woman by applying reflexology theory to the midwifery/obstetric condition of the individual. Reflexology is one of the most difficult therapies to fit into a randomised controlled trial methodology, because the foot points vary from one system to another – reflexology is not a single therapy but a wide range of different “reflex” related therapies which different mechanisms of action, different point locations and different techniques. Further, there are several studies where reflexology has either been compared to other therapies or interventions for pain relief, or have been used in combination with strategies such as massage, music or breathing exercises.
Complementary therapies (CTs) generally aim to work from the inside out, considering the physical, psychological and spiritual factors that contribute to health and wellbeing. This differs from conventional medical treatment which focuses on working with individual body systems and the relief of symptoms. In the case of pregnancy, obstetrics focuses on the reproductive system, its symptoms and effects on other systems, and rarely considers the impact of lifestyle or psychosocial factors that may impact on pregnancy wellbeing.
Most people experience effects from CTs treatments as the body starts to heal itself. Some of these effects are positive, for example an improvement in unpleasant symptoms such as sickness or backache. Other effects of treatment can appear to be negative, but in fact are a positive sign that the treatment is working, encouraging toxins to be eliminated as the body responds. This is called a healing reaction and people may experience headaches, increased urine output or perspiration, thirst or other signs of toxin release such as spots appearing on the face. Healing reactions generally occur within 24-36 hours of CTs treatment, usually being more dynamic after the first treatment.
Conversely, more significant advere reactions can occur, in the event of inappropriate ue of CTs, such as prolonged or excessive administration. Sometimes these effects can be relatively minor and may include symptoms similar to healing reactions although they may last longer than 24 hours. More often, and dependent on the doses and duration of misuse, some adveres reactions can be severe and occasionally even life-threatening. This is particularly so with inappropriate use of herbal medicines that have a systemic effect and can affect the liver, kidneys or brain.
Added to this is the need to be mindful that some symptoms may be unrelated to the CTs treatment but may be a normal physiological symptom of pregnancy, or herald the onset of a pregnancy complication. For example, headache may be a healing reaction to an appropriately used therapy or an adverse reaction to an inappropriately used therapy, Conversely, it may be unrelated to the CTs, but be a normal symptom of pregnancy, tiredness or stress, or it may be the start of impending fulminating pre-eclampsia. When midwives use CTs in pregnancy, birth or the postnatal period, it is vital to distinguish between normal healing reactions, common physiological symptoms, abnormal adverse reactions to CTs and the onset of clinical complications.
Did you know that the name of Denise’s company, Expectancy, is a mnemonic derived from the somewhat wordy title, “Expectant Parents’ Complementary Therapies Consultancy”? This was how Expectancy started back in 2004, when services were initially aimed more at expectant parentsrather than professionals. However, as a midwifery lecturer and international authority on the subject of complementary therapies (CTs), Denise soon realised that her forte was more in teaching other midwives to offer CTs for pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period, especially as this was at a time when many midwives were just becoming interested in learning more about this emerging specialist field.
Did you also know that Expectancy is the ONLY organisation, world-wide, offering this wide range of CTs courses specifically related to maternity care? Denise and her team teach in London, around the UK for various NHS trusts and Denise frequently teaches overseas, with courses for midwives and doulas wanting to learn about the therapies, and for therapists wanting to specialise in working with pregnant clients. Contact info@expectancy.co.uk for a prospectus.
Lets explore how complementary therapies can be helpful for sustaining mental and emotional wellbeing in pregnancy. We know that pregnancy and early parenthood can be a very stressful time for many expectant and new parents. Despite most babies being anticipated eagerly, physical, emotional, occupational and societal pressures combine to cause anxiety, stress and fear to a greater or lesser extent in most expectant parents. For some, the pressures are even greater, leading to both antenatal and postnatal depression – sometimes in both parents. We know that a large proportion of the population already experience mental health issues, with many taking antidepressants before and during pregnancy.
Therapies such as massage, reflexology and aromatherapy are known to be very relaxing and have been shown in various studies to reduce stress hormones (cortisol) and increase feel-good hormones (endorphins). A course of relaxation treatment during pregnancy, perhaps monthly or even more frequently, can be very effective in keeping stress and anxiety at bay, with an accumulative effect over the weeks. Reduced stress enhances expectant parents’ coping abilities when faced with the many discomforts of pregnancy, and aids growth and development of the fetus. Indeed, regular massage or reflexology has been found to make it more likely that labour will commence within expected time limits and progress will be good, resulting in a reduced need for intervention such as induction. Essential oils used in aromatherapy contain chemicals known to be relaxing, even sedating, and some can be useful in dealing with the physical symptoms that accompany mental ill health, such as headaches, insomnia and tension-induced muscular aches and pains.
Acupuncture is not usually the first therapy which comes to mind for relaxation, but studies have shown significant changes in stress hormones during and after receiving acupuncture for other conditions. This is particularly helpful when couples seek treatment to for fertility issues, since stress can be a real barrier to balanced hormones and sub-fertility. Herbal medicines, such as dong quai, chasteberry, black cohosh, evening primrose oil, red clover and others, can also help in the preconception period, but are best prescribed by a qualified practitioner rather than self-selected and administered. Similarly, homeopathy offers a gentle, individualised means of preparing for pregnancy, dealing with antenatal aches and pains and facilitating physiological birth.
Clinical hypnosis can be especially helpful in general preparation for the birth, but it can also be effective for specific issues during pregnancy, such as smoking cessation, needle phobia or extreme fear of giving birth. A course of treatment may be best, but there are also some excellent digital versions of general relaxation sessions which may be suitable for many. Note – clinical hypnosis is more specific and individualised than “hypnobirthing” and safer when attempting to treat acknowledged mental health issues. Like “hypnobirthing”, it is contraindicated when there is a diagnosed clinical mental health disorder.
In labour, midwives offering complementary therapies such as aromatherapy or massage find that birthing parents are calmer and progress better than those who do not receive aromatherapy. This may be due to the closer relationship between the midwife and parents, with a greater sense of wellbeing arising from the feeling of being nurtured. Postnatally, too, complementary therapies contribute to an easier transition into parenthood and quicker recovery from the birth. Regular treatments of all sorts of therapies can keep parents calm, focused and less likely to develop clinical depression or to experience a worsening of an existing condition.
At our recent online study day on natural remedies, we discussed the difficulties facing midwives in helping parents to understand the safety aspects of herbs, homeopathy and other natural remedies. Unfortunately, there is no single source of information for maternity professionals and parents. In addition, it has been shown from research surveys that expectant parents primarily obtain their information about natural remedies from the internet, friends and family, none of which may be the most knowledgeable source. Furthermore, student midwives are not taught about natural remedies such as herbal raspberry leaf tea for birth preparation, ginger for nausea, castor oil to expedite labour onset, echinacea to prevent winter colds or any of the other popular remedies. There is also a misunderstanding that highly diluted energetic homeopathic remedies such as arnica (for stress and bruising) is not the same as pharmacologically active herbal arnica, which can be toxic in large doses This lack of knowledge and understanding amongst midwives is due to several reasons:
1) there are virtually no midwifery lecturers with the appropriate training on the indications, contraindications, precautions and side effects to teach students about safe use of natural remedies so they can advise parents accordingly;
2) there is insufficient time to include the subject in pre-registration training and
3) there is no real acknowledgement at a national educational or clinical level (ie within the NMC) to appreciate the need for midwives to be able to provide this information for the people in their care, because “natural remedies” are classified under the same umbrella term as “complementary therapies” with its insinuation that CTs are solely for relaxation.
Denise has written guidelines for midwives on why aromatherapy diffusers should not be used in maternity units and birth centres. Recently, a consultant midwife challenged these guidelines, asking "where's the evidence?" There is, of course, no "evidence" in terms of formal research. It would be unethical to test out diffuser safety in a randomised controlled study. However, "evidence" can be gathered from a variety of sources, particularly from the application of knowledge to practice and from experience. The diffuser guidelines are based on physiological, chemical, legal and health and safety knowledge and principles, and the application of aromatherapy knowledge to midwifery practice and NMC and NHS requirements.
Unfortunately, it's easy to think of aromatherapy as just pleasant, relaxing aromas - but anything that has the power to do good also has the potential to do harm when used inappropriately. It's also sad to think that a consultant midwife, so keen to include diffusers in the birth centre simply for their aromatic effects, fails to understand midwives' professional responsibilities to parents, visitors, other staff and themselves and their legal obligations to the institution in which they work. Or perhaps we've become so reliant on seeking the "evidence" that we've forgotten how to apply knowledge to practice and how to appreciate and apply empirical evidence?
I am often asked about whether midwives working in private practice can be promoted by their NHS colleagues to women in their care. There is a long-standing misconception that NHS midwives are not permitted to suggest named practitioners, but this is not true. Amongst our Licensed Consultants, there have been situations where NHS managers have forbidden all midwives to promote the services of an individual midwife offering private complementary therapies. The NMC does not state, anywhere in its documentation, that a midwife cannot provide the names of specific practitioners to people in their care – and surely it is better to advise someone to contact a known practitioner than to conduct on online search. The NMC Code 2018 requires all midwives to promote professionalism and trust and to uphold their position as a midwife. Midwives working part time in the NHS cannot promote their own private services, as this would be a conflict of interest. However, another midwife can suggest that person and even give out business cards, if they feel the private practitioner has credibility. Direct reference to advertisements requires midwives working in private practice to ensure that they are “accurate, responsible, ethical, do not mislead or exploit vulnerabilities and accurately reflect skills, experience and qualifications”. It is not acceptable to imply that being a midwife makes you a “better” acupuncture or reflexology practitioner than someone who is not a midwife.
If you have lots of questions about this and other aspects of working for yourself, why not consider our Licensed Consultancy scheme? Full business training, problem-solving sessions, webinars, personal guidance on setting up and growing your business and much more, alongside your chosen complementary therapy programme – acupuncture, aromatherapy, reflexology, hypnosis or our signature Diploma in Midwifery Complementary Therapies. Contact Denise on info@expectancy.co.uk
Denise has a busy week ahead. She will be spending a lot of time with her laptop, offering webinars for current students on the mechanism of reflexology and literature searching to help with assignments. She also has a very exciting meeting to discuss our new project, offering a full aromatherapy implementation package to NHS trusts wanting to introduce aromatherapy into midwifery practice.
On Wednesday she has her business coaching meeting, to enable her to discuss the next stage of Expectancy’s services and a business networking lunch on Thursday. Having been teaching all of this last weekend, Denise will be taking a well-earned weekend off for the bank holiday.
Previous articles
Reflexology in Pregnancy and Birth: The Power of The Pituitary Gland
Differences Between Midwifery Training Standards in The 1970s and Today
Midwifery Aromatherapy Under Scrutiny
A Conundrum ?
Complementary Therapies in Pregnancy and Birth: What is Fully Informed Consent ?
Postdates Pregnancy
Denise and Amanda’s Week
Did You Know That Herbal Remedies And Drugs Should Not Be Combined?
Why Do Expectant And Birthing Parents Turn To Complementary Therapies?
Did You Know That The Sense Of Smell Increases During Pregnancy?
