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CME Credit Offered
CME Credit Offered
Abstract Award
Abstract Award
Recording available 2/16-5/2
Recording available 2/16-5/2
AIUM Credit
AIUM Credit
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Foundation Awardee
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Abstract Award
Abstract Award
Foundation Awardee
Foundation Awardee

Poster Session 3

Category: Clinical Obstetrics

Poster Session 3

(797) Integrative Medicine Therapies in Hospitalized Antepartum Patients: Utilization Patterns and Impact on Discomfort Scores

Thursday, February 12, 2026
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM  
Objective:
Integrative medicine (IM) therapies are increasingly used alongside conventional treatments to manage pain, stress, anxiety, and prolonged hospitalizations. However, IM remains understudied in obstetric populations. We evaluated the utilization of IM therapies and their impact on discomfort scores among hospitalized antepartum patients.

Study Design:
We conducted a retrospective study of antepartum patients admitted to a tertiary care center who received at least one IM consultation between 1/2024 and 7/2025. IM therapies included aromatherapy, meditation and breathwork, sound, light, and relaxation therapy. Demographics, admission characteristics, IM modalities, and discomfort scores were abstracted from the medical record. Discomfort scores were measured on a generic 0-4 scale (0=no discomfort, 4=severe discomfort). Patients without both pre- and post-intervention discomfort scores were excluded from analysis of discomfort scores. Paired scores were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Results:

Of 207 antepartum patients who received IM consultations, 174 (84%) had both pre- and post-intervention discomfort scores available. Median gestational age at admission was 30 weeks, and median length of stay was 7 days. The most common admission indication was hypertensive disorders (31%). Most patients delivered during their hospitalization, with cesarean delivery more common than vaginal delivery (43% vs. 28%). Most patients received multiple IM modalities during a single visit, with aromatherapy (94%) and mind–body therapies such as meditation and breathwork (58%) being the most frequently used. Median discomfort scores decreased from 2 pre-IM to 1 post-IM (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion:
In our hospitalized antepartum patients, IM therapies frequently involved multiple modalities and were associated with improvement in discomfort scores. These findings support the potential value of IM as a holistic intervention in the care of hospitalized antepartum patients. Prospective studies are needed to confirm and expand these results and evaluate effects on maternal and neonatal outcomes.