Acupuncture during Pregnancy
We at Acushastra has always stressed that a woman needs to take special care of herself during pregnancy and in the weeks following childbirth.
Acupuncture provides a safe and natural way for you to alleviate some of the unwanted side effects of pregnancy like morning sickness, insomnia, back and body pain, relieve pain during labour, ease birth and promote recovery after delivering your baby.
Acupuncture is completely safe during pregnancy, and is proven to be extremely beneficial and effective. Acupuncture treatment is recommended according to the trimester twice a week for first trimester.
For second trimester, we generally recommend acupuncture once a month. And again, twice a week or more during third trimester.
First trimester is the most important and delicate stage of pregnancy. In the first trimester acupuncture helps to maintain pregnancy, nourish the body and alleviates early symptoms such as fatigue, nausea and heartburn. Later, the aches, pains, constipation and swelling that go along with pregnancy can be greatly alleviated by acupuncture treatment as well.
During second trimester acupuncture is done to ensure the optimal health of the mother and the developing foetus at different stages of growth.
One of the most important times to have acupuncture during pregnancy is the third trimester, to help prepare the body for labour. Acupuncture is given for 20-minute beginning at 36 weeks, and continuing until her due date. Routinely, we recommend a set of pre-birth acupuncture points, and add in specific points based on individual needs. Pre-birth acupuncture prepares a woman’s body for labour by tonifying and nourishing the body. The acupuncture points help to relax and soften uterine ligaments and bring blood flow to the pelvis.
This encourages the baby to descend into the birth canal in the proper position, while preparing the cervix to soften and dilate and the uterine muscles to effectively contract when needed. Acupuncture during this phase also helps to increase likelihood of spontaneous labour around due date, meaning reduced likelihood of induction. Reduced risk of medical intervention (C-section, forceps, epidural, etc.) Faster, easier birth (on average, 1.5 hours shorter). When acupuncture has been done routinely, there is an increased effectiveness of natural “induction” acupuncture.
Acupuncture also helps to induce labour even when you are overdue.
additional acupuncture points can be added if you are past your due date to: help your baby engage into the birth canal, gently promote cervical softening and dilation, and strengthen birth sensations (contractions). These treatments can be done more frequently (every 1-3 days) until labour begins.
Acupuncture also helps to build energy and calm anxieties and frustrations, which often arise when a woman is past her due date.
Trimester Acupuncture Treatment
At Acushastra we highly advocate Trimester acupuncture. tradition has it that beautiful baby point should be needled once at the onset of 2nd, 4th and 7th month to ensure a happy healthy and of course gorgeous baby.it is claimed that stimulating this point minimises the transmission of toxins from the mother to the child, increases the health of the baby and its resistance to disease and also tonifies the mothers Qi.
Breech Presentation
Though breech presentation appears to be very common, most babies (96-97%) turn into the head down position between week 28 and week 32 of pregnancy. Once the babies have turned, they usually stay in this position because their head is the heaviest part of their body and space to move gradually becomes limited.
If you check with your primary healthcare provider at your regular monthly appointment and baby appears to have not yet turned head down by 33 weeks, this is a great time to try acupuncture and Moxibustion. Acupuncture and Moxibustion are most effective between 33-36 weeks, increasing turning rates to 75.4%.
Postnatal Recovery
You have just had a baby and your body needs time to recover, your body needs extra support at this time to make a full recovery. In the Asian traditions, women are expected to rest for 30 days after giving birth and not to leave their home for any reasons. The emphasis during this time is eating nourishing foods, engaging in gentle activity, sleeping when the baby sleeps, and enjoying lots of kisses and cuddles with the new baby. In addition, acupuncture can help support lactation, postpartum recovery and mood. Mother roasting is a relaxing acupuncture and Moxibustion treatment designed to help restore the mother’s qi and to aid in recovery from labour and delivery.
