Overview

This overview focuses on how an Integrative Health approach can be useful to support people before, during and after the birth of a child.  As with all aspects of our health, reproductive health issues do not exist in isolation; focusing on fertility, prenatal care, post-pregnancy concerns, and other such issues must occur in conjunction with a focus on each person as a whole.  What really matters to them, and what gives them meaning, aspiration, or purpose?  Integrative Health emphasizes mindful awareness and general self-care along with conventional and integrative approaches to health and well-being.  The Circle of Health highlights eight areas of self-care: Surroundings; Personal Development; Nutrition; Recharge; Family, Friends, and Co-workers; Spirit and Soul; Mind and Emotions; and Physical Activity.  The patient narratives below, focused on a couple wanting to start a family, provides an example of how Integrative Health might inform this important area.  Research has also shown success with certain complementary approaches, ranging from using mind-body tools or acupuncture to taking dietary supplements or exploring body-based therapies. 

Meet the Patients

Juan and Alli are 28- and 23-years-old respectively, and they present to discuss their plans to start a family.  They are both patients in the same clinic and see the same family doctor.  Juan works in the construction industry.  He did has smoked since college and has an old sports injury to his leg, for which he has been through a course of Physical Therapy.  He has no other substance abuse issues and has good mental health.  He is otherwise healthy and reports that, to his knowledge, he has never impregnated anyone before.

Alli met Juan in college.  She is middle school teacher.  She is in good general health.  She has never been pregnant before.  Her periods are regular and come every 30 days.  She had been on combination oral contraceptives for the past five years but just stopped them 6 months ago.  They have been having intercourse every 1-3 days when Alli is not menstruating and are a little frustrated that they have not conceived yet.  Alli has not noticed any ovulation-related pains or any egg-white discharge mid-cycle, but she has not really been paying attention to that.  Her periods have been a little heavier since stopping the oral contraceptives but still seem to be what she remembered having prior to being on birth control.  There has been no excessive cramping or bleeding.  She heard she cannot drink alcohol in pregnancy, so she stopped drinking 1-2 drinks a week several months ago.  She has not started a prenatal vitamin because she is a bit confused about which one to purchase.  She is up-to-date with her preventative health care and vaccines.