Apache graceful restart?

[NeilM]

Is there any chance of restarting apache using the graceful option instead of doing a hard restart?

I just had a whole bunch of pointer domains added to one SiteWorx account, and with apache being restarted after each one was added, some of my busy sites effectively became unavailable.

I realise a full restart will be needed after rotating logs etc. but I'd have thought a graceful should be OK after config changes?

Thanks
Neil