Postpartum women’s perceptions of integrative and complementary health practices used during labor
Fregnani, B. R. D. 
ORCID: 0000-0001-6653-4257, Contin, G. B. ORCID: 0000-0002-6019-8448, Leister, N. ORCID: 0000-0002-1505-1906 , Teixeira, T. T. ORCID: 0000-0002-7826-7990 & Puccia, M. I. R. ORCID: 0000-0002-4553-6699 (2025).
Postpartum women’s perceptions of integrative and complementary health practices used during labor.
Revista Eletrônica de Enfermagem, 27,
article number 78002.
doi: 10.5216/ree.v27.78002
Abstract
Objectives: to investigate the use and perception of postpartum women about
integrative and complementary health practices (acronym in Portuguese, PICS),
as well as to analyze the application of these practices during labor. Methods: this is a qualitative study using data from semi-structured interviews conducted by telephone with 10 postpartum women treated cared at freestanding birth center a peri-hospital Normal Birth Center in São Paulo. The data was submitted to Bardin’s content analysis. Results: three different categories emerged during data analysis: “Interference of integrative and complementary health practices in the evolution progress of the childbirth process”, “Assistance of integrative and complementary health practices in pain management” and “Contribution of integrative and complementary health practices in the childbirth experience”. It was observed that women seek information during pregnancy about practices that promote greater safety and control over childbirth pain. The main PICS mentioned were thermal therapy, music therapy, aromatherapy, and meditation. They are perceived by women as therapies practices that, in addition to pain management, promote empowerment, body awareness, emotional balance, self-awareness, and relaxation. Conclusion: the use of PICS can contribute to the promotion of empowerment, comfort, well-being, and pain relief and, consequently, they can promote positive childbirth experiences in childbirth.
| Publication Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | © 2025 Universidade Federal de Goiás. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons license |
| Publisher Keywords: | Complementary Therapeutic Methods; Complementary Therapies; Humanizing Delivery; Labor Pain; Pregnant Women. |
| Subjects: | R Medicine R Medicine > RG Gynecology and obstetrics R Medicine > RZ Other systems of medicine |
| Departments: | School of Health & Medical Sciences School of Health & Medical Sciences > Department of Nursing & Midwifery |
| SWORD Depositor: |
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.
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