Acupuncture is a natural and very safe option for pregnant women and can effectively help with a variety of problems related to pregnancy at a time when many women avoid taking drugs for minor problems. It has been proven that it helps to support a healthy pregnancy, to prepare for labour and birth and in correcting malposition of the foetus.
Acupuncture can eventually help you recuperate your physical and mental well-being after birth, assist with breastfeedingproblems and regulate your period.
Traditional Chinese Medicine has a long history of treating women’s diseases. The specialty of Gynaecology and Obstetrics is one of the oldest ones and there are classical medical texts like the SHAN SHAI SHU (Book of Mountains and Seas) written during the Warring States period (476-221 BC) that already mentioned herbal medicine treatments for infertility. The first obstetrical monograph appeared during the Tang dynasty (618-907 AD). The JING XIAO CHAN BAO (Tested prescriptions in Obstetrics) written by Zan Yin in 852 contained 12 chapters about medical care during pregnancy (nausea and vomiting, miscarriage, etc.), 4 chapters about pre- and postpartum problems (malposition of foetus, etc.) and 25 chapters about postpartum problems (mastitis, infections, urine retention, etc.).
Does acupuncture have any risks or contraindications?
Generally speaking there aren’t any major risks nor contraindications. It is important though that your therapist has undergone formal training consisting in a university degree or similar that includes 1000+ clinically supervised hours and belongs to a professional health organisation. Possible problems that can arise during or after a treatment are slight discomfort, bruising or a mild fatigue or drowsiness that is the result of the therapeutic process initiating in the body
Does acupuncture have any risks or contraindications?
Generally speaking there aren’t any major risks nor contraindications. It is important though that your therapist has undergone formal training consisting in a university degree or similar that includes 1000+ clinically supervised hours and belongs to a professional health organisation. Possible problems that can arise during or after a treatment are slight discomfort, bruising or a mild fatigue or drowsiness that is the result of the therapeutic process initiating in the body.
How can acupuncture help you during pregnancy?
Acupuncture is a very safe treatment to have while pregnant and is effective in treating pregnancy related issues during all pregnancy stages:
- morning sickness, nausea and vomiting
- headaches
- tense and contracted muscles
- low back and sciatic pain
- swollen legs
- anxiety and stress reduction
- insomnia
- fatigue and somnolence
- abdominal discomfort and acid reflux
- constipation
- breast discomfort and pain
- breech baby
Acupuncture during pregnancy can also help you balance your endocrine system and your hormones, promote optimal blood flow to the uterus and avoid possible miscarriages especially during the first twelve weeks.
Can acupuncture help a breech baby?
This is one of the most known acupuncture techniques but it’s worth mentioning that it is very important to start treatment as soon as possible. The best results are achieved if you start treatment around week 32 or as soon as you know your baby is breech, the closer you get to birth, the less space the baby will have to turn.
How can acupuncture help you prepare for birth?
Labour preparation is not only about supporting the onset of labour, it’s also about supporting the future mother physically and emotionally. These series of treatments will help prepare the uterus and ripening the cervix as well as balance you emotionally so that labour won’t be neither too long nor too short. Ideallytreatments should start around week 35 and continue weekly until the birth. Acupuncture can also help with labour induction and control contraction. pain.
How can acupuncture help after birth?
Acupuncture is used to re-balance hormonal activity, increase energy levels, promote healing of the reproductive organs and help you combat postpartum depression. It is equally helpful in treating breast inflammation caused by breast feeding.
