Herbal and other complementary medicine use by Texas midwives

Area of Science:

• Integrative Medicine
• Maternal Health
• Midwifery Practice

Background:

• Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is increasingly explored in obstetric care.
• Understanding CAM utilization patterns among midwives is crucial for patient care and research.
• Licensed direct-entry midwives (LMs) and certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) represent distinct midwifery models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document the use of CAM therapies by midwives in Texas.
• To compare CAM usage patterns between LMs and CNMs.
• To identify specific CAM modalities and their applications in midwifery care.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was administered to Texas midwives.
• Respondents reported on their use, recommendation, or referral for CAM therapies.
• Data were analyzed to compare CAM use between LM and CNM groups.

Main Results:

• All surveyed midwives (n=69) utilized at least one CAM therapy.
• Herbal remedies were the most common CAM modality (90%), particularly for cervical ripening, nausea/vomiting, and labor induction.
• Herbal therapies were also prominent for anemia, perineal healing, and anxiety/stress.
• LMs reported using a greater number of herbal therapies compared to CNMs.

Conclusions:

• Texas midwives extensively use CAM, with a strong emphasis on herbal remedies.
• Significant differences in herbal therapy use exist between LM and CNM practitioners.
• Further research is needed to establish the efficacy and safety of commonly used CAM therapies during pregnancy.