is one long list of ailments…)? We’ve all heard about alternative therapies but before you rush headlong into trying anything that’s going, it’s worth doing your homework to see what’s most likely to help your particular problem and whether it’s safe

(OHSS) which can be dangerous.But while that’s up to the doctors, another study has suggested women hoping to conceive by IVF may benefit from alternative mind/body therapies, particularly those that reduce their stress levels.A study in the USA found

Alternative medicine and complementary therapies may not have any benefit for babies suffering from colic, according to a new study published in Paediatrics journal.Colic is a condition that causes babies to cry inconsolably and can be incredibly

With Mariah Carey singing its praises, and plenty of anecdotal success stories, acupuncture for fertility is becoming big business, so ThinkBaby set out to discover what its all about and how tiny needles and ancient theory of pressure points could help you get pregnant.We went t...

and air, an epidural - or hope to rely solely on alternative therapies - for instance, water therapy, aromatherapy and massage. Medical pain reliefWhen the topic of medical pain relief comes up, many people think immediately of epidurals or chemical pain

I’m looking to try out alternative relaxation therapies and Indian head massage has captured my imagination. Could you tell me how it works and whether it’s safe to try it out during my pregnancy?Laura, PortsmouthHelen SavillDirector of holistic

been used in childbirth since the 1970s as a drug-free alternative to pain relief but co-author of the report, Professor Edzard Ernst from the Peninsular Medical School said, “Our analyses show that the effects of acupuncture perceived by women

the trial of around 800 mums-to-be will support evidence that hypnosis is a viable alternative to expensive pain-killing drugs. If the trials prove successful, hypnosis could be used more widely as a pain relif option in labour. This would save the NHS money

and howWater Birth: for birth and labour pain reliefHome birth: the pros and consPain relief options: Medical pain relief and alternative therapiesWriting your birth plan Useful forum threads Find threadsAll threads with home birth in the title

alternative therapies, such as some aromatherapies, can be safe in pregnancy. However, it is important that you seek reliable advice when either buying essential oils or are receiving massage or other treatments, to tell the practitioner that you are pregnant