Use of complementary and alternative medicine during pregnancy and delivery

To assess the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) during pregnancy and birth and the reasons behind it from the patient's perspective.

In a prospective study, we assessed the use of CAM before and during pregnancy as well as during delivery in women by means of a self-report questionnaire.

Some 205 patients completed the questionnaire at a response rate of 43.2% (205/475) and 104 women used CAM during pregnancy, especially homoeopathy, acupuncture, and phytotherapy. Stepwise regression analysis identified CAM use prior to pregnancy, greater income, and nationality as the most important predictors of CAM use.

In accordance with earlier studies from Germany, we determined the most important methods used in the field of obstetrics. Interestingly, these are not evidence-based and those methods which are evidence-based are not now used. Also, the predictors of CAM use in pregnancy were similar to those in oncology. Future studies should focus on the safety and efficacy of CAM in pregnancy.