The Holistic Approach to Pregnancy

Creating a healthy pregnancy involves eating well and staying active, but it also requires dedication to other areas of wellbeing that are often overlooked; such as support, stress management, and assessing spiritual needs.

What is the holistic approach to pregnancy?

A holistic approach to pregnancy will seek to address all areas of the pregnant woman – physical preparation and nutritional needs, but also emotional, social, and spiritual aspects to help her hone innate healing abilities to enhance her pregnancy and manifest the labor she desires.

Why the holistic approach?

“Whenever and wherever you intend to give birth, your experience will impact your emotions, your mind, your body, and your spirit for the rest of your life.” Ina May Gaskins Pregnancy and childbirth are more than just physical events. The experience transforms every aspect of life – physicality, identity, beliefs, relationships – which can sometimes cause discomfort and anxieties. However, pregnancy can also, and should, be a very empowering event for the expecting mother – if her whole self (mind, body, and spirit) is properly prepared.

Applying this “whole” approach to pregnancy, the laboring mother can expect to:

1. Create an easier pregnancy with fewer discomforts

2. Nurture a healthier newborn

3. Gain the knowledge and skills to have peace of mind and confidence in her body

The holistic approach cultivates maximum health by acknowledging a woman's natural design to conceive, nourish, and give birth to a baby. It trusts and respects the innate strength and capacity of a woman during pregnancy and childbirth.

Accounting for all areas of a person and deliberately making choices to maximize well-being will bring about the highest potential to achieve the healthiest pregnancy as possible and create the labor experience desired.