Holistic Approaches During Pregnancy and Their Implications for Midwifery Practice

Authors

  • Ellyzabeth Sukmawati STIKES Telogorejo Semarang
  • Titi Alfiani STIKES Serulingmas Cilacap

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55606/jikki.v5i1.6244

Keywords:

Holistic care, Holistic prenatal care, Maternal well-being, Midwifery practice, Mindfulness intervention

Abstract

This literature review explores holistic approaches during pregnancy and their implications for midwifery practice. Holistic care addresses physical, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions of maternal health, aiming to promote overall well-being and positive pregnancy outcomes. By synthesizing evidence from studies published between 2020 and 2025, this review highlights the benefits of integrating holistic methods such as stress reduction techniques, nutritional support, psychosocial counseling, and culturally sensitive care within midwifery. The findings suggest that holistic care enhances emotional resilience, reduces anxiety and depression, and strengthens the mother infant bond. However, challenges remain in standardizing holistic practices, ensuring adequate training for midwives, and overcoming systemic barriers. The review underscores the need for midwives to adopt a comprehensive, woman centered approach supported by ongoing education and interdisciplinary collaboration. Future research should focus on evaluating holistic interventions’ effectiveness and developing scalable models to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes globally. Ultimately, holistic pregnancy care offers a promising framework to enrich midwifery practice and support maternal well-being throughout pregnancy.

References

‘Aini, Q. (2024). Application of the Conceptual Model of Holistic Midwifery Services to Pregnant Women in Independent Practicing Midwives in Purwakarta Regency. Archives of The Medicine and Case Reports, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.37275/amcr.v5i1.474

Adrian, Syahputra, R. A., Juwita, N. A., Astyka, R., & Lubis, M. F. (2023). Andaliman (Zanthoxylum acanthopodium DC.) a herbal medicine from North Sumatera, Indonesia: Phytochemical and pharmacological review. Heliyon, Vol. 9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16159

Ali, A. (2021). Current Status of Malnutrition and Stunting in Pakistani Children: What Needs to Be Done? Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 40(2), 180–192. https://doi.org/10.1080/07315724.2020.1750504

Aynalem, B. Y., Melesse, M. F., & Bitewa, Y. B. (2023). Cultural Beliefs and Traditional Practices During Pregnancy, Child Birth, and the Postpartum Period in East Gojjam Zone, Northwest Ethiopia: A Qualitative Study. Women’s Health Reports, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1089/whr.2023.0024

Babbar, S., Oyarzabal, A. J., & Oyarzabal, E. A. (2021). Meditation and Mindfulness in Pregnancy and Postpartum: A Review of the Evidence. Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology, 64(3). https://doi.org/10.1097/GRF.0000000000000640

Baird, K., Hastie, C. R., Stanton, P., & Gamble, J. (2022). Learning to be a midwife: Midwifery students’ experiences of an extended placement within a midwifery group practice. Women and Birth, 35(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2021.01.002

Bass, J., Sidebotham, M., Creedy, D., & Sweet, L. (2020). Midwifery students’ experiences and expectations of using a model of holistic reflection. Women and Birth, 33(4). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2019.06.020

Burger, A., Rahman, F., & van der Veen, M. (2021). Implementing mindfulness‐based interventions in low‐resource communities: A comparative study in the Netherlands and Indonesia. Midwifery, 98, 102966.

Cao, F., Wang, L., & Li, H. (2023). Digital self‐help mindfulness program for pregnant women: Effects on maternal stress, anxiety, and infant neurodevelopment. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 25, e41298.

Carter, A. G., Sidebotham, M., & Creedy, D. K. (2022). International consensus definition of critical thinking in midwifery practice: A Delphi study. Women and Birth, 35(6). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2022.02.006

Cunningham, O., & Brady, D. V. (2023). Women’s views and experiences of pregnancy yoga. A qualitative evidence synthesis. Midwifery, 127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2023.103857

de Waal, N., Boekhorst, M. G. B. M., Nyklíček, I., & Pop, V. J. M. (2023). Maternal Mindfulness During Pregnancy and Early Child Social-Emotional Development and Behavior Problems: The Potential Mediating Role of Maternal Mental Health. Mindfulness, 14(7). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-023-02174-9

Douglas, S., Stott, J., Spector, A., Brede, J., Hanratty, É., Charlesworth, G., … Aguirre, E. (2022). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression in people with dementia: A qualitative study on participant, carer and facilitator experiences. Dementia, 21(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/14713012211046150

El Hajj, M., Sitali, D. C., Vwalika, B., & Holst, L. (2020). “Back to Eden”: An explorative qualitative study on traditional medicine use during pregnancy among selected women in Lusaka Province, Zambia. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2020.101225

Ferguson, B., Baldwin, A., Henderson, A., & Harvey, C. (2022). The grounded theory of Coalescence of Perceptions, Practice and Power: An understanding of governance in midwifery practice. Journal of Nursing Management, 30(8). https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.13892

Green, R., Patel, S., & Nguyen, T. (2021). Establishing evidence‐based protocols for holistic maternity care: Barriers and facilitators. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 42, 101276.

Johnson, A. H., & Brown, L. M. (2017). Spiritual coping in pregnancy: A qualitative exploration of women’s experiences. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 35(2), 183–194.

Johnson, P., & Lee, S. (2020). Physical activity and nutrition counseling in prenatal care: A holistic approach to preventing gestational diabetes and hypertension. Public Health Nutrition, 23(4), 621–629.

Jun, P., Rahmat, E., Han, C. H., Yang, C., & Kang, Y. (2021). Traditional Chinese Medicine and Traditional Indonesian Medicine: A Comparative Review of Herbal Medicines Restricted in Pregnancy. Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine, Vol. 27. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-021-3487-7

Kim, Y., & Park, S. (2023). Effects of prenatal mindfulness training on maternal stress, anxiety, depression, and mother–infant attachment: A randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Women’s Health, 15, 1101–1113.

Küçükkaya, B., & Işık, H. K. (2023). Attitudes pregnant women in Türkiye towards holistic complementary and alternative medicine and influencing factors: a web-based cross-sectional study. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-023-04065-x

Lazarevic, N., Pizzuti, C., Rosic, G., Bœhm, C., Williams, K., & Caillaud, C. (2023). A mixed-methods study exploring women’s perceptions and recommendations for a pregnancy app with monitoring tools. Npj Digital Medicine, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-023-00792-0

Li, X., Zhang, Y., & Chen, M. (2023). Comparing mindfulness‐based interventions with structured social support for postpartum depression: A randomized trial. Journal of Affective Disorders, 320, 1–10.

Li, Y., Chen, J., Chen, B., Wang, T., Wu, Z., Huang, X., & Li, S. (2022). Effect of mindfulness meditation on depression during pregnancy: A meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, Vol. 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.963133

Maddocks, W. (2023). Aromatherapy in Nursing and Midwifery Practice: A Scoping Review of Published Studies Since 2005. Journal of Holistic Nursing, Vol. 41. https://doi.org/10.1177/08980101221078736

Mahardika, P., Setyowati, S., & Afiyanti, Y. (2021). The holistic needs of women with hysterectomy: A grounded theory study. Enfermeria Clinica, 31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enfcli.2020.10.009

Martin, M. A., & Gurven, M. (2022). Traditional and biomedical maternal and neonatal care practices in a rural Indigenous population of the Bolivian Amazon. Global Public Health, 17(6). https://doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2021.1882531

Njue, C., Sharmin, S., & Dawson, A. (2022). Models of Maternal Healthcare for African refugee women in High-Income Countries: A Systematic Review. Midwifery, Vol. 104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2021.103187

Novick, G., Sadler, L., Kennedy, H. P., Johnson, D., Groce, N., & Cohen, S. (2019). CenteringPregnancy group prenatal care in the United States: A multisite randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 221(5), 499.e1–499.e7.

Patel, R., Singh, A., & Desai, K. (2020). Women’s use of prayer and meditation during childbirth: Coping, comfort, and control. Midwifery, 82, 102616.

Pham, T. V., Koirala, R., & Kohrt, B. A. (2021). Traditional and biomedical care pathways for mental well‐being in rural Nepal. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-020-00433-z

Rahmawati, I., & Murtaqib, M. (2024). Efforts to Deal with the Impact of Adolescent Pregnancy through a Holistic Approach: A Literature Review. Nursing and Health Sciences Journal (NHSJ), 4(1). https://doi.org/10.53713/nhsj.v4i1.329

Smith, J. A., & Brown, L. M. (2018). Mind–body interventions in prenatal care: Evidence for improved maternal self‐efficacy. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology, 39(3), 162–170.

Smith, J. A., Patel, S., & Lee, H. (2024). Postpartum holistic support programs: Effects on long‐term maternal health and parenting. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 28(2), 250–259.

Stavros, S., Papamattheou, E., Preka, S., Mavrogianni, D., Domali, E., & Drakakis, P. (2022). Risk factors for intrauterine deaths in the third trimester of pregnancy. A holistic approach of case series and literature review. HJOG, Vol. 21. https://doi.org/10.33574/HJoG.0507

Sugiyono, P. D. (2022). Metode Penelitian Kualitatif Dan Kuantitatif. CV Alfabeta.

Tesfaye, M., Solomon, N., Getachew, D., & Biru, Y. B. (2022). Prevalence of harmful traditional practices during pregnancy and associated factors in Southwest Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study. BMJ Open, 12(11). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-063328

Tinney, A., & Rice, E. (2023). Homeopathy: A State of the Science Review With Recommendations for Practical Therapies in Midwifery Practice. Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health, Vol. 68. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmwh.13504

Tumuhaise, C., Kabanda, R., Nanyingi, M., & Kiconco, A. (2021). Health system factors influencing traditional herbal medicine use during pregnancy amongst women in Mpigi District, Central Uganda. African Journal of Reproductive Health, 25(6). https://doi.org/10.29063/ajrh2021/v25i6.10

Tumwine, C., Aggleton, P., & Bell, S. (2021). Interface between biomedical and traditional systems of treatment and care among hiv positive fisher folk in two fishing communities on lake victoria, Uganda. African Health Sciences, 21(3). https://doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v21i3.11

World Health Organization. (2016). WHO recommendations on antenatal care for a positive pregnancy experience. Geneva: WHO Press. Retrieved From.

Zhou, Y., Wu, X., & Li, J. (2022). Meta‐analysis of mindfulness‐based interventions for perinatal depression, anxiety, and stress. Journal of Affective Disorders, 310, 1–12.

Downloads

Published

2025-06-05

How to Cite

Ellyzabeth Sukmawati, & Titi Alfiani. (2025). Holistic Approaches During Pregnancy and Their Implications for Midwifery Practice. Jurnal Ilmu Kedokteran Dan Kesehatan Indonesia, 5(1), 149–161. https://doi.org/10.55606/jikki.v5i1.6244

Similar Articles

<< < 1 2 3 4 5 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.