Pregnancy

Acupuncture can support a woman through the many physical and emotional changes that occur during each trimester of her pregnancy and help to ensure a comfortable and healthy pregnancy. Approaching the due date, weekly acupuncture treatments can help prepare a mother for a smooth labor. Acupuncture can also be an effective tool to turn breech babies, induce labor, and support a woman through the post-partum phase.

Each Trimester

Common conditions treated during each trimester of pregnancy:

First Trimester

› Morning sickness

› Frequent urination

› Fatigue

› Miscarriage prevention

› Colds and sinus congestion

› Digestion irregularities

Second Trimester:

› Headaches

› Body aches

› Sciatica

› Heartburn

› Varicose veins

› Hemorrhoids

› Preeclampsia

Third Trimester:

› Edema

› Back pain

› Insomnia

› Anemia

› Anxiety

› Muscle cramps

› Breech presentation

› Delayed labor

Breach Presentation

In one out of every six pregnancies, the baby turns into the breech, or upright, position. Research shows that acupuncture and moxibustion can successfully turn the baby back into head-down (cephalad) position. Moxa is a plant used as a heat source to stimulate specific acupuncture points. In some cases, as little as a single treatment can turn the baby.

Labor Preparation & Induction

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), acupuncture is used to help a woman prepare for and, when necessary, induce labor when her birthing time is getting close or past due.

Research shows that women who receive acupuncture for 4-6 weeks before giving birth have a significantly shorter and less painful labor than those that do not. Labor preparation treatments help alleviate a mother’s stress and anxiety, prompt the pelvic floor muscles to relax and encourage the baby to lower in position.

Acupuncture is also an effective tool to induce labor, providing a natural alternative to induction. By increasing blood circulation to the uterus, stimulating the pelvic floor muscles, and assisting in softening and ripening the cervix, acupuncture can help create a comfortable and conducive environment to encourage the baby to release oxytocin. This hormone signals the maternal hormones to begin contractions and initiate labor.