Acupuncture offers a safe and drug free treatment option during pregnancy

During Early Pregnancy

Acupuncture is helpful in treating morning sickness, nausea and vomiting during the first trimester and also throughout pregnancy. Many woman feel some anxiety and stress during pregnancy. Acupuncture has many benefits including helping to reduce stress and anxiety.

Conditions Treated Throughout Pregnancy:

• Bleeding and Threatened Miscarriage
• Sciatica
• Pelvic and Hip Pain
• Heartburn
• Constipation
• Insomnia
• Edema
• Sinusitis
• Pregnancy Induced Hypertension
• Urinary Tract Infections
• Anemia
• Haemorrhoids & Vulval varices
• Headaches
• Preparing for a Smooth Labour
• Breech Babies and Malpresentation
• Moxibustion can be used from 33 weeks on, when the baby is in breech position.

 Pre-Birth Acupuncture (cervical ripening)

Beginning around weeks 36-37, weekly acupuncture treatments can begin until labour begins. These sessions encourage a smoother labour by balancing hormones, improving the blood flow to the reproductive organs which helps ripen the cervix. These treatments also help calm the mind and body to prepare for the birthing experience. Research shows that Pre-Birth Acupuncture Treatments have many positive effects including:

• A shorter duration of labour
• 35% reduction in medical inductions
• 32% lower cesarean rates
• 31% reduction in requests for epidural
• An overall increase in natural vaginal deliveries

Labour Induction

Acupuncture provides a gentle labour inducement when the baby is overdue. It usually consists of 1-3 acupuncture treatments over 3 days.

Post-Partum Support

“Mother warming”:
Is a useful one-time treatment given around day four of five post-birth. It helps energize the woman and aid their recovery. A moxa stick is used (compressed mugwort herb) which warms the lower back and lower abdomen. Then around ten to fourteen days after the birth, acupuncture is helpful to help the body build good quality qi and blood.

• Mastitis
• Insufficient Lactation
• Anxiety and Depression Fatigue

Research: Acupuncture During Pregnancy

Comments and Notes are written and printed with permission from Debra Betts.  You can visit her website at: www.acupuncture.rhizome.net.nz

Pregnancy

For over 3000 years Traditional Chinese Medicine has promoted treatment for women in pregnancy care and postpartum recovery. Today this care is becoming increasingly popular and used by acupuncturists in countries such as Denmark, England, France, Germany, Holland, Norway, Sweden, and New Zealand where acupuncture is available in antenatal clinics and maternity hospitals. Pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal recovery are viewed in traditional Chinese Medicine as a window of opportunity to enhance the woman’s well being. Conversely if adequate care is not taken the resulting problems may continue long after the birth. Value is therefore placed on promoting preventive care to strengthen the mother and baby as well as dealing with problems as they occur during pregnancy. Acupuncture can be used in a variety of ways to promote foetal and maternal health.

Nausea during pregnancy

Acupuncture is often very helpful in reducing both the severity and incidence of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Research from Australia [1] highlighted that women receiving traditional acupuncture (where points where chosen according to an individual diagnosis) experienced faster relief when compared to those groups receiving routine prescribed points or “sham” acupuncture. This research also looked at the successful pregnancy outcomes for the women involved, concluding that acupuncture is a safe treatment for women who experience nausea and dry retching in early pregnancy. [2]

Muscular – Skeletal Pain

Back pain, rib pain, sciatica and symphysis pubis pain are common in pregnancy and can all be markedly reduced with acupuncture. Research from Sweden [3] concluded that when compared to physiotherapy, acupuncture was the treatment of choice for symphysis pubis and sacroiliac pain.

Breech and Posterior Babies

The New Zealand Evidence Based practice guidelines for care of women with Breech presentation [4] recommends that moxibustion may be offered to women from 33 weeks gestation. This follows research from Italy [5] that demonstrated moxibustion can have a significant effect in helping to turn breech babies. Ideally treatment is at 34 –35 weeks, but can still be useful when used later in the pregnancy. Techniques can also help babies that are not in the optimal position prior to birth, such as those in a posterior position

Hypertension

Acupuncture can have an important role in assisting to reduce high blood pressure, especially if treatment is commenced early when hypertension is first noted. The benefit of acupuncture will be reflected in the improved blood pressure readings and blood tests. As hypertension has the potential to escalate quickly, ongoing medical monitoring remains essential throughout pregnancy.

Labour Preparation

Three to four weeks prior to the due date a treatment to prepare the pelvis and cervix can be commenced. This is followed by one treatment per week until labour begins. Research from Germany [6] indicated the potential for a more efficient active stage of labour. A New Zealand study with midwives [7] indicated a reduction in women requiring medical intervention, including medical induction and caesarean section.