Complementary therapies in pregnancy: Midwives’ and obstetricians’ appreciation of risk

SummaryComplementary medicine is increasingly being integrated into maternity care, primarily by midwives in response to mothers’ demands. Midwives and obstetricians must, however, develop a comprehensive evidence-based knowledge of risks, as well as benefits, to ensure that any complementary therapies in pregnancy and childbirth are not only effective but also safe.This paper discusses the results of an evaluative audit of midwives’ and obstetricians’ knowledge of and attitudes to complementary therapies in pregnancy in an NHS antenatal clinic which revealed a generalised lack of knowledge and poor understanding of the possible risks to women.