Acupuncture & Pregnancy
Acupuncture Points the Way to a Healthy Pregnancy
If you are seeking drug-free treatment for the conditions of pregnancy, this ancient Chinese healing art has much to offer. With no drugs, it can treat many conditions for which there may not be a lasting or effective remedy.
Regular acupuncture treatments during this wonderful time improve your health, prevent complications and enhance the development of your baby.
Common pregnancy conditions Traditional Chinese Medicine can treat:
- Morning Sickness (nausea & vomiting)
- Fatigue
- Migraines
- Bleeding – help maintain a pregnancy (1st trimester)
- Maintain balance
- Heartburn
- Hemorrhoids
- Stress
- Backache
- Sciatica
- Pubic and joint pain
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
The above symptoms are common during certain times of a pregnancy. During the first trimester is when morning sickness, migraines, slight bleeding and fatigue are commonly experienced.
In the second trimester, most women feel great but sometimes complain of
heartburn, hemorrhoids, stress and sometimes trouble with their balance.
The third trimester some women may have problems with low back pain/sciatica, pubic and/or joint pain as when the hip bones separate and carpal tunnel syndrome.
While more serious complications such as edema, elevated blood pressure or excessive weight gain should be monitored by your Obstetrician, regular acupuncture can help to lessen the severity of these symptoms.
How TCM Views Pregnancy
In a normal pregnancy the woman looks and feels very healthy and even shines with an inner glow. This is explained in TCM – Traditional Chinese Medicine as the Blood and Fluids no longer needed for menstruation are transformed into Essence which nourishes the fetus and the body. This seems to correlate to the secretions of hormones during the pregnancy. It also depends on the woman’s pre-existing state of health and how well she takes care of herself during the pregnancy.
If a woman’s body was overtaxed either prior to conception or after, then she will not have enough fluids to properly nourish the fetus and her own body. This will be evidenced by fatigue, sallow skin, hot flashes, sweats, other problems and may have difficulty holding onto the pregnancy. An acupuncturist may diagnose someone with some of these symptoms with Kidney Qi or Kidney Yin Deficiency.
Another interesting tidbit concerns how TCM looks at morning sickness – It is said that after conception, Blood is gradually transformed into milk and transfers it’s location from the lower part of the body to the upper part of the body (the breasts). This upward movement or Rebellious Qi goes up in the Penetrating Vessel and causes morning sickness as well as breast distention and a feeling of heat in the upper body.
After the Baby is Born
- Postpartum is one of the most critical times for a woman to receive regular preventative care from a Chinese medical practitioner. In the first few weeks of postpartum care, acupuncturists can often offset years of poor lifestyle choices and stress. Problems or abnormalities with the lochial flow can be identified and addressed. It is possible at this time to correct years of menstrual irregularities.
- It is also possible to stop and even prevent serious postpartum depression.
- It can restore the mothers’ energy levels.
- It can also help relieve backache, perineal or other postpartum aches and pains.
An average session lasts 45 minutes, and most people usually only feel a mild sensation such as a feeling of slight heaviness at the site of needle insertion.
While some treatments may cause a slight increase in fetal movements, no treatment, unless intended to start labor, should significantly increase uterine activity.