Acupuncture, pregnancy and birth preparation
If you have just found out that you are pregnant – Congratulations! Pregnancy can be such a beautiful and magical time in a woman's life.
Pregnancy can also be difficult and challenging if there are health issues getting in the way of your 'glow'. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine can offer wonderful support to women in all stages of pregnancy to help you make the most of the experience. Acupuncture offers women the choice of a drug free treatment and can be used for a wide range of conditions.
In this article, I will investigate just a few of the common reasons that women seek acupuncture during pregnancy and provide clinical research to support claims that acupuncture can be an invaluable support during this special time in your life.
Pregnancy can also be difficult and challenging if there are health issues getting in the way of your 'glow'. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine can offer wonderful support to women in all stages of pregnancy to help you make the most of the experience. Acupuncture offers women the choice of a drug free treatment and can be used for a wide range of conditions.
In this article, I will investigate just a few of the common reasons that women seek acupuncture during pregnancy and provide clinical research to support claims that acupuncture can be an invaluable support during this special time in your life.
Morning sickness
Morning sickness is a very common symptom in early pregnancy, and ranges in severity from mildly annoying to extremely serious (requiring hospitalisation – this is rare).
For cases of mild to moderate morning sickness, acupuncture can be a godsend. It has been clinically proven to reduce the incidence of nausea, dry retching and vomiting, and thus improve nutrition and quality of life for women in the first trimester. Click here to see the research
At your treatments, I will teach you acupressure points that you can use yourself, and may also provide you with small adhesive magnets on relevant acu-points to provide continuous support between treatments. Please don't suffer through what you think is an inevitable part of pregnancy. Unless your morning sickness is very severe (in which case acupuncture can still help, but is more limited in its effects), acupuncture may help you get through it.
For cases of mild to moderate morning sickness, acupuncture can be a godsend. It has been clinically proven to reduce the incidence of nausea, dry retching and vomiting, and thus improve nutrition and quality of life for women in the first trimester. Click here to see the research
At your treatments, I will teach you acupressure points that you can use yourself, and may also provide you with small adhesive magnets on relevant acu-points to provide continuous support between treatments. Please don't suffer through what you think is an inevitable part of pregnancy. Unless your morning sickness is very severe (in which case acupuncture can still help, but is more limited in its effects), acupuncture may help you get through it.
Breech babies
Knowing that your baby is breech can be very stressful. Those in favour of a natural birth may worry that they will receive extreme pressure to have an elective C/section, or that they won't have the right support to attempt a vaginal birth if that is what they desire. There are so many things you can do, however, to encourage baby to turn, so don't lose hope!
Chinese medicine has a long history of success in helping to turn breech babies. Ideally, you should seek treatment by around 34 – 36 weeks, however if you are further along than that there is still a chance I can help. The typical treatment would include one acupuncture session including moxa (moxibustion), and a lesson in how to continue treatment at home daily with a moxibustion stick. Moxa is made out of a herb that is pressed into a cigar shaped stick, and when lit provides a special type of heat that stimulates the acupuncture points.
Research has shown that daily moxibustion on the acupuncture point BL-67 has a 75% success rate in turning the baby (compared to 45% in the control group). Click here to read the research.
Chinese medicine has a long history of success in helping to turn breech babies. Ideally, you should seek treatment by around 34 – 36 weeks, however if you are further along than that there is still a chance I can help. The typical treatment would include one acupuncture session including moxa (moxibustion), and a lesson in how to continue treatment at home daily with a moxibustion stick. Moxa is made out of a herb that is pressed into a cigar shaped stick, and when lit provides a special type of heat that stimulates the acupuncture points.
Research has shown that daily moxibustion on the acupuncture point BL-67 has a 75% success rate in turning the baby (compared to 45% in the control group). Click here to read the research.
Birth preparation
I recommend all pregnant women come in from 36 or 37 weeks for a series of four weekly acupuncture treatments to prepare their body for labour. Acupuncture points used at this stage of pregnancy help to ripen the cervix, encourage optimal positioning of the baby, and improve energy levels for labour.
Research has shown that women who have prebirth acupuncture are:
- 35% less likely to have an induction
- 31% less likely to receive an epidural
- 32% less likely to have an emergency C/section
(Click here to read the full study).
I hope this gives you some insight into the range of conditions that acupuncture can assist with during your pregnancy. If you have any questions about a particular condition, please contact me. And if you know anyone who might benefit from this information, please do share it along. I would love to help as many women as possible have happy, healthy, glowing pregnancies!
Research has shown that women who have prebirth acupuncture are:
- 35% less likely to have an induction
- 31% less likely to receive an epidural
- 32% less likely to have an emergency C/section
(Click here to read the full study).
I hope this gives you some insight into the range of conditions that acupuncture can assist with during your pregnancy. If you have any questions about a particular condition, please contact me. And if you know anyone who might benefit from this information, please do share it along. I would love to help as many women as possible have happy, healthy, glowing pregnancies!
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Copyright © 2013 | Angie Savva | Quan Yin Healing Centre, Shop 12, 150 Macquarie Road, Springwood, NSW 2777 | 0403 945 325
Serving the Blue Mountains - Lapstone, Glenbrook, Blaxland, Blaxland East, Warimoo, Winmalee, Yellow Rock, Hawkesberry Heights, Valley Heights, Springwood, Faulconbridge, Mount Riverview, Linden, Woodford, Hazelbrook, Lawson, Bullaburra, Wentworth Falls, Leura, Katoomba
Serving the Blue Mountains - Lapstone, Glenbrook, Blaxland, Blaxland East, Warimoo, Winmalee, Yellow Rock, Hawkesberry Heights, Valley Heights, Springwood, Faulconbridge, Mount Riverview, Linden, Woodford, Hazelbrook, Lawson, Bullaburra, Wentworth Falls, Leura, Katoomba