Supporting Pregnancy and Postnatal Wellbeing Through Complementary Therapy

A thoughtful, evidence-informed approach to care during pregnancy and after birth.

Pregnancy and the postnatal period can be joyful and exciting, but they can also feel overwhelming. Physically, emotionally, and mentally, a lot is happening at once. In my work, I meet women navigating aches and pains, fatigue, disrupted sleep, anxiety, and the unique challenges that come with each stage of life — even if they’ve had a baby before. Add the constant stream of advice, social media posts, and news articles, and it can feel like too much at times.

Many people explore complementary therapies during this time because they want support that feels holistic — care that looks at the whole person, not just isolated symptoms. It is estimated that between 36% and 70% of women or birthing parents use complementary therapies during pregnancy (RCM, 2023).

It’s natural to feel cautious and to have questions such as “Is this safe?”, “Is there evidence for this?”, or “Could this do more harm than good?” Complementary therapies are often considered natural, which can sometimes lead to complacency, but “natural” doesn’t automatically mean risk-free.

This blog exists to help answer those questions with clarity, care, and honesty — and there are many more posts to come!

Why I Believe Complementary Therapy Has a Place in Pregnancy and Postnatal Care

I’m passionate about providing complementary therapies because I see how much support women need during pregnancy and after birth. In my work as a midwife, I often noticed how care can feel fragmented — and how sometimes the time and scope of conventional maternity services make it hard to provide the extra support many women need. Conventional maternity care is essential, and it does so much, but I wanted to create a space where women could feel truly heard and supported, both physically and emotionally. Complementary therapies offer an opportunity to fill that gap in a gentle, evidence-informed way.

When practised responsibly, complementary therapy creates space to slow down, tune into the body, and address both physical and emotional experiences in an individualised way. For many women, this can make a real difference to day-to-day wellbeing.

Complementary therapy is never about replacing maternity or medical care. For me, it’s about working alongside healthcare - respecting its role, recognising its limits, and offering something additional where appropriate.

However, we know that pregnancy is a profound whole-body experience - it affects posture, muscles, hormones, circulation, sleep, mood, digestion, and even the way we move through daily life. Because these changes impact both body and mind, surely the best way to provide care during pregnancy is to reflect and mirror that perspective: with a whole-person, holistic approach. Complementary therapies, when practised thoughtfully, embrace this view, supporting both physical and emotional wellbeing throughout pregnancy and beyond.

Whether you’re curious about complementary therapy, exploring options for the first time, or simply seeking reliable information, this blog is here to help. You don’t need to have all the answers right now, and you don’t need to rush. My hope is that these posts provide a calm, evidence-informed space where you can feel reassured and supported.

If you’d like to learn more, you’re very welcome to explore the rest of the blog or get in touch - even just to ask a question.

Liz, The Runa Midwife