Integrative Medicine/CAM and OB

[zahryia, LPN]

Have any of your nursess and/or units tried or embraced using CAM on your floors? (aside from doulas)

There's supporting research to show that aromatherapy and acupressure may have a positive efffect. I was just wondering if anyone has used the above modalities or others to support women during labor or during the postpartum period?

[babyktchr, BSN, RN]

We have an integrated health department in our facility, and the coordinator does come and do lectures and inservices on aromatherapy and other relaxation techniques. One of our physicians uses hypnotherapy with fabulous results. He can calm any out of control patient.

A group of friends were labor support for a mutual friend (we are all labor nurses) and we called ourselves the birth mothers. We did all natural pain relief measures (music, meditaiton, lavender oil everywhere, massage...you get the picture). We had a lot of fun and she progressed nicely, right up until the baby got STUCK. She ended up with a csection :smackingf

[zahryia, LPN]

We have an integrated health department in our facility, and the coordinator does come and do lectures and inservices on aromatherapy and other relaxation techniques. One of our physicians uses hypnotherapy with fabulous results. He can calm any out of control patient.

A group of friends were labor support for a mutual friend (we are all labor nurses) and we called ourselves the birth mothers. We did all natural pain relief measures (music, meditaiton, lavender oil everywhere, massage...you get the picture). We had a lot of fun and she progressed nicely, right up until the baby got STUCK. She ended up with a csection :smackingf

Wow! That's kind of sad but funny. At the end of the day, I'm sure she was happy with her baby.

I'm surprised there aren't more replies. There's too much research out there that shows the benefits of these modalities. Is it lack of interest by the nurses or management/hospital adminstration?

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

Maybe inadequate staffing? Staff inundated with documentation to do and not enough time to do more than the bare minimum for their patients? This is a complaint that I hear over and over and over.

That said, there are a few nurses who massage their patients' feet or backs during labor or run some water in the tub for them to labor in.

We toss a few drops of peppermint oil in the hat for postpartum mamas that can't pee. Works more often than not.

[zahryia, LPN]

Maybe inadequate staffing? Staff inundated with documentation to do and not enough time to do more than the bare minimum for their patients? This is a complaint that I hear over and over and over.

That said, there are a few nurses who massage their patients' feet or backs during labor or run some water in the tub for them to labor in.

We toss a few drops of peppermint oil in the hat for postpartum mamas that can't pee. Works more often than not.

That's interesting. I love learning alternative strategies. Sounds much better than a straight cath.

[CEG]

We toss a few drops of peppermint oil in the hat for postpartum mamas that can't pee. Works more often than not.

I was wondering if anyone did this. I tried it as a doula with great success. Now as an RN none of the nurses I work with have heard of it. Do you have to get an order or have a policy about it or are you able to just do it? I would like to just do it and have it work once to convince the nurses without having to convince "the powers that be to add it to standing orders.

[NurseNora, BSN, RN]

I've never had to get an order for it. The last two places I've worked just kept it stocked. In addition to helping a patient void, it's also good to cover up bad smells in a room (feces, vomit, chorioamnionitis). Just put several drops on a 2X2 in a medicine cup and put in a strategic location. It helps get rid of headaches, especially if you have some lavender oil to mix with it. You can just smell it, or mix it in a carrier oit and rub on your forehead--that's essentially the same thing as the product Head Off. For night shift workers, I find it helpful to sniff some when feeling sleepy as pepermint is invigorating without being a stimulant. In other words, it keeps me awake without giving me jitters or keeping me awake when I get in bed as caffiene often does.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

We don't have to have an order for the peppermint - we just do it.

[CEG]

Thanks for the info. Perhaps I'll give it a try this week.