Acupuncture & Pregnancy
When the body is out of balance, pregnancy can be a time of great physical and emotional discomfort. Classical Chinese medicine and acupuncture can provide a profound positive influence on this time of life, bringing positive balance to a woman's physical system, and emotional well-being by creating physical and hormonal stability.
Acupuncture alone can help to normalize the central nervous system and the endocrine system which helps to normalize hormonal function. Acupuncture can also be effectively used to treat related fatigue, anxiety, and pain during pregnancy.
Regular acupuncture during the period of pregnancy can set a strong stable foundation for a more comfortable pregnancy and easier birth experience. Several European studies found that once a week acupuncture during the last month of pregnancy had significantly shorter labor than women who did not receive any acupuncture.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), acupuncture alone has been found useful for relieving labor pain, nausea, vomiting and significantly reducing the duration of labor. There is also strong evidence that acupuncture can help with a breech birth.
-
Pregnancy Conditions Treated by Acupuncture
Anemia
Anxiety/depression
Breech presentation
Constipation
Pain: back pain, sciatica
Gestational diabetes
Heartburn
High blood pressure (pre-eclampsia)
Insomnia
Labor issues: pre-term labor, delayed labor
Labor pain
Lactation problems
Low energy
PUPPs & other pregnancy-related skin conditions
Certain types of threatened miscarriage
Nausea, vomiting, and hyperemesis gravidarum
Posterior presentation
Postpartum depression
Symphysis pubis pain
-
Acupuncture during the first trimester of pregnancy sets a strong foundation for the health and well-being of both mother and child during pregnancy. During this time, acupuncture addresses typical early pregnancy symptoms such as nausea and helps prevent miscarriage. During the second trimester, acupuncture serves to maintain balance and bring relief from many common complaints of pregnancy. During the third trimester, acupuncture prepares the body for labor and delivery.
-
Postpartum acupuncture assists reinstating balance and well-being. Some of the postpartum conditions that acupuncture can treat are:
Abdominal pain
Decreased energy and vitality
Hormonal imbalances
Lactation problems
Mastitis
Night sweats
Persistent bleeding
Postpartum depression
Sources:
www.sacupuncturetoday.com
Acupuncture & Fertility pamphlet from Acupuncture Media Works, LLC, (2005).
Acupuncture: Review and analysis of reports on controlled clinical trials. World Health Organization, Geneva, 2002. www.who.int/medicines
See what others are saying about Stacy’s acupuncture here.