Acupuncture is a safe procedure during pregnancy
When practised by a fully trained acupuncturist, acupuncture is a perfectly safe procedure during pregnancy. In fact, it’s often a preferred treatment. It is non-pharmacological and addresses issues such as morning sickness, back pain, stress and anxiety, and fatigue. It can even address issues such as pregnancy associated diabetes and high blood pressure.
I base a lot of my treatment on the research and knowledge of Debra Betts, a New Zealand mid-wife and acupuncturist.
Acupuncture for morning sickness
I’ve found that most Women feel a certain amount of reassurance to experience a bit of nausea in the first trimester. To be blunt, it’s reassuring to ‘feel’ pregnant. Extreme morning sickness however can be debilitating. Acupuncture is an excellent first line treatment. In extreme cases, it may be required to attend two sessions per week for a few weeks. I will make adjustments to fees to accommodate.
Using a traditional Chinese medicine framework, means we can look at the underlying causes of the morning sickness. Whilst this may be simply due to hormone changes, stress and anxiety can also be a factor. Acupuncture is extremely comfortable and relaxing!
Acupuncture birth preparation
Somewhere around 34-36 weeks, I recommend Women to attend for birth preparation. If nothing else, this is a good time to relax and conserve energy. Research shows that the treatment can encourage cervical ripening and reduce labour time.
Breech presentation
Using a moxa technique is effective in encouraging the baby to turn into its correct position. This is something to address around 34 weeks.
Delayed labour
There are effective acupuncture techniques to help promote labour once you have gone past your due date. Most midwives encourage their patients to try acupuncture first. They believe it is a kinder way to bring on labour if you are overdue. It is also considered better compared to medications for induction.
Post birth
Many women have acupuncture and other treatments post-birth especially if labour has been difficult or lengthy. Acupuncture can help to get the body back to normal quickly. The aim is to balance the hormones and emotions such as anxiety and low mood. It also aims to relieve pain or fatigue in the post pregnancy period.