title: The influence of complementary and alternative medicine use in pregnancy on labor pain management choices: results from a nationally representative sample of 1,835 women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examines involvement with a range of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) during pregnancy on the use of pharmacologic (PPMT) and nonpharmacologic (NPMT) pain management techniques for labor and birth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal analysis of survey data.
  
  
  METHODS
  A substudy (n=2445) of the "young" cohort of the nationally representative Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health was conducted.
  
  
  METHODS
  Use of PPMT and NPMT during labor and birth.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The survey was completed by 1835 women (response rate, 79.2%). Most respondents used either intrapartum PPMT (81.9%) or NPMT (74.4%). Many (60.7%) used some form of CAM during pregnancy and also used PPMT during birth. More than two thirds of women (66.7%) who used NPMT used CAM during pregnancy. There was a general trend of increased likelihood of NPMT use by women who applied CAM during pregnancy. There was an inverse effect on use of epidural analgesia for women who consumed herbal teas during pregnancy (odds ratio, 0.60).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because of the study design, this paper does not confirm a causative relationship between the use of CAM during pregnancy and intrapartum pain management choices. It does, however, indicate that the use of CAM during pregnancy may not significantly affect the uptake of intrapartum PPMT, despite possible attempts to reduce PPMT by using NPMT. It also highlights the possibility of potential interactions between CAM and PPMT, given the high prevalence of concomitant use.
authors: 1 Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney , Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia .
authors: Amie
authors: A
authors: Steel
authors: Jon
authors: J
authors: Adams
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Sibbritt
authors: Alex
authors: A
authors: Broom
authors: Jane
authors: J
authors: Frawley
authors: Cindy
authors: C
authors: Gallois
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002755:Choice Behavior; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D048949:Labor Pain / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome