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Acupuncture in Pregnancy and Childbirth
Every women hopes pregnancy will be as painless and symptom free as possible.When it doesn't, acupuncture can help with some of your problems.Optimise your pregnancy and labour naturally, with acupuncture, a non-invasive gentle therapy.
Wanting to get pregnant? Please go to our fertility page.
How does acupuncture work?
Originating in China, acupuncture has been used to treat illness for over two thousand years. Historically believed to balance your Qi (‘chi’), acupuncture was developed as a way of unblocking energy channels called ‘meridians’ in the body. This is achieved by inserting tiny sterile needles in strategic energy points. This practice is believed to remove the blockages, allowing Qi to flow freely, and creating balance of the yin and the yang. Imbalances and blockages can be caused by a range of things, but include too much or too little exercise, food, or stress.
Modern science has researched acupuncture and it’s now theorised the needles are placed in points that trigger release of natural painkillers and endorphins, which offer relief from stress and anxiety. Other theories have postulated it works on a cellular level involving the mitochondria of the cell. Ancient or modern theories, acupuncture has been proven to be safe in pregnancy!
What can acupuncture help in Pregnancy?
Miscarriage, nausea and vomiting, heartburn, constipation, varicose veins, haemorrhoids, vulval varicosities, UTI's, musculoskeletal conditions (aches and pains), fatigue and exhaustion, anaemia, insomnia, anxiety and depression, vaginal discharge and itching, light bleeding in pregnancy, skin problems, sinusitis, hypertension, oedema, small for dates baby, breech and posterior positions, prebirth treatment, induction, labour and delivery and postnatal treatment.
Morning sickness
During pregnancy, mothers want to create the best environment for their child to encourage growth and prevent problems. The mother also needs to be in optimal health herself. Safe, gentle and non-invasive, pregnancy acupuncture can help with a variety of pregnancy-related symptoms. It can help optimise health and prevent problems from occurring.There are a number of theories as to why women feel so sick in the early stages of pregnancy but one could be a result of rising HCG levels. Morning sickness can be a debilitating side effect of pregnancy. The name (morning sickness) given to nausea and vomiting during pregnancy can be misleading as it can happen at any time during the day and night. Acupuncture can help with easing nausea and vomiting.
Prebirth treatment
Come in 33 weeks onward for prebirth treatment. Waiting until week 40 can be considered but the outcome is not as efficient.
Induction
Sometimes your midwife will refer to an acupuncturist for induction at 40 weeks. Come wearing loose clothing and have a bite to eat before you come.
Breech and posterior postions
Acupuncture and moxibustion started at 33 weeks. Self Moxa at home daily is needed for success.
Relief from pregnancy back pain
A common problem in pregnancy, acupuncture offers natural pain relief. As it grows, the baby puts extra pressure on muscles, adds weight, and tilts the pelvis forward. This causes extra pressure on the mother’s body and can cause muscle and joint pain. Pregnancy also results in increased progesterone, oestrogen and cortisol. These result in joint laxity and soft tissue swelling. The increased blood flow that acupuncture encourages helps to reduce swelling.Commonly used pain relief such as paracetamol and ibuprofen may not be suitable for use during pregnancy. Acupuncture stimulates the release of naturally occurring pain killers in the body, causing no harm for expectant mothers and their babies.
Headaches, Neck pain, Back pain
Headaches, neck pain and back pain are all commonly experienced side effects of pregnancy. Back pain, sacroiliac and pubic pain is caused by the extra stress on the joints, muscles, and ligaments. The weight of the baby tilts the pelvis forward, causing ongoing pain for the mother. Acupuncture offers more relief than physiotherapy, by triggering natural pain relief chemicals within the body, and helping to lower inflammation.
Pelvic pain, symphysis pubis dysfunction and sacroiliac joint dysfunction
Common in pregnancy, pelvic pain is often caused by the sacroiliac joint reacting to the extra stress of carrying more weight around the pelvis. This pain can feel like back pain or can refer to the thigh interior. Acupuncture helps to relieve this pain by helping the body release its own natural opioids.
Stress and Pregnancy
Stress in prospective mothers decreases the chance of successfully becoming pregnant. Stress is considered a factor in an inability to conceive, up to a 29% reduction in pregnancy success.Furthermore, babies born to mothers with high stress/ cortisol responses and depression may lead to the baby being a smaller birthweight with proportionally smaller brains. If you experience a stress-free pregnancy, there is a correlation towards happier babies. Acupuncture has shown promising results for anxiety sufferers, offering relief from stress and lowered cortisol levels as a result.
Depression and Pregnancy
Use of SSRI antidepressants during pregnancy may not be safe, yet a new mother’s mental health needs to remain stable throughout the pregnancy and afterwards. Acupuncture has been shown to be safe and effective to treat anxiety and depression during pregnancy. Mothers want to create the best environment for their baby, but also need to look after themselves too. Start acupuncture for depression and anxiety before pregnancy.“…acupuncture has the potential to be an effective, safe, and well-tolerated monotherapy for depression and a viable augmentation for AD partial responders and nonresponders.”Post-natal depression can rob new mothers of the joy of time with their new-born infant. Like any depression, it can manifest as anxiety, insomnia, lack of energy, appetite changes, and can escalate to delusional thoughts and behaviour. Medication can have a variety of side effects and often can be problematic to prescribe the correct medication and an effective dosage. Studies have shown that acupuncture may offer a viable treatment option for depression.
While further studies are required and it is not encouraged that depression sufferers stop taking their medication, acupuncture is a gentle treatment option that is worth trying. If there is a desire to stop taking antidepressants, it is advised that the GP is consulted to control and manage the medication removal in conjunction with their advice.It is theorised that acupuncture alleviates depression by modulating and normalising the limbic-paralimbic-neocortical (LPNN) network. This network helps to control sleep and emotions. Many people report improved sleep quality following acupuncture treatments.If a prospective mother suffers from stress, anxiety, or depression, this may affect their ability to fall pregnant, and can go on to affect the health of the baby. Conventional medications have a range of side effects that are unpleasant and some are not recommended during conception or pregnancy. Acupuncture offers a non-invasive therapy with minimal side effects that is safe during pregnancy. Make contact with Acupuncture Health to arrange an appointment.
Pregnancy after IVF
Pregnancy can be a scary experience after IVF and being monitored so aggressively with medical intervention and then left with marvellous support of midwife and G.P but wanting more intervention.I have found acupuncture to week 12 of pregnancy very useful and can deal with any problems that arise that can't always be easily treated medically like light bleeding in pregnancy.
Getting acupuncture from Angelique is so nurturing, she really treats the whole body and every session is different, responding to what I need at the time. Alex K
References
1. Betts D (1999). "Acupuncture Analgesia: Providing Pain Relief During Labour"" The Journal of Chinese Medecine, 59: 25-27 and http;//acupressure.rhizome.net.au2. Cardini F, Weixin H (1998). "Moxibustion for correction of breech presentation" Journal of the American Medical Association, 280: 1580-1584.3. Elden H, Ladfors I, Fagevik OLsen M, Ostaard H, Hagberg H (2005). "Effects of acupuncture and stabilising exercises as Adjunct to standard treatment in pregnant women with pelvic girdle pain: randomised singleblind controlled trail" British Medical Journal 330: 7614. Smith C, Crowther C, Bellby J (2002). "Acupuncture to Treat Nausea and Vomiting in Early Pregnancy"Birth, 29: 1-9.5. Rabl M, Ahner R, Bitschnau M, Zeisler H, Husslein P (2001). Äcupuncture for cervical ripening and induction of labour at term -a randomised controlled trial", Wien Klin Wochenschr 113(23-24):942-6.
Come in and speak to us as soon as you can to increase the chances of success in conceiving. Acupuncture is safe, effective, and cost effective.
Bachelor of Health Science (BHSc) includes a 4 yr full-time degree in Chinese Medicine
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