ACUPUNCTURE AND PREGNANCY
Why would Acupuncture help me throughout my Pregnancy?For over 3000 years Traditional Chinese Medicine has promoted specialised treatment for pregnant women and after birth. Pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal recovery are viewed in Traditional Chinese Medicine as a window of opportunity to enhance the woman’s health and well being. Acupuncture is becoming more widely used and recommended by midwives and antenatal clinics as it can be used in a variety of ways to promote foetal and maternal health.
Acupuncture treatment during pregnancy can help with:
Nausea during Pregnancy
One of the most well known uses of acupuncture in pregnancy is for reducing both the severity and incidence of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Research undertaken in 2002 has shown that:
"Acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment for women who experience nausea and dry retching in early pregnancy." Smith C, Crowther C, Beilby J. (2002)
“Pregnancy outcome following women’s participation in a randomised controlled trial of acupuncture to treat nausea and vomits in early pregnancy”. Complement. Ther Med. 10(2):78-83
Breech Babies
The turning of breech babies using the gentle technique of moxibustion (use of heat on acupuncture points), has been demonstrated to have a significant effect in this situation and can be undertaken between 34–36 weeks.
Labour Preparation
Acupuncture treatment can be used 3-4 weeks prior to the due date to prepare the body for labour. This series of treatments prepare the pelvis and cervix for when labour begins. Research in 2007 demonstrated that women who undertook these treatments required less medical intervention in labour, such as inductions and caesareans.
Induction of Labour
Are you over your due date but do not want to have a medical induction?
Acupuncture is a successful and painless option to inducing labour - a series of needles are used on points to stimulate a downwards motion and encourage labour to start.
Pain Relief During Labour
Catherine and Angela offer sessions for you and your birthing partner to learn simple acupressure points that can be used during labour as a drug free alternative of pain relief.
