Acupuncture and Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a beautiful and very special time in a woman’s life.  Whether a woman’s first pregnancy or one of many, each experience is unique and specialised, natural drug free treatments with acupuncture can be provided during this time.

For over 3000 years Traditional Chinese Medicine has promoted specialised treatments for women during pregnancy and in post-partum recovery and today this care is becoming increasingly popular and used by acupuncturists and specially trained midwives all over the world.

Acupuncture and Moxibustion is a safe and effective form of health-care to alleviate many of the physical discomforts experienced during pregnancy. Acupuncture treatments can also help new mum's prepare thier body, mind and emotional self so they are as ready as possible for the birth of thier baby and for an efficient post-natal recovery.

At Balmain Natural Therapies, we specialise in acupuncture for relieving many of the discomforts experienced during pregnancy and also provide specialised pre-birth treatments for an efficient delivery and recovery.

Acupuncture and Moxa can be used for a variety of conditions to promote foetal and maternal health that research as well as clinical experience has found to be effective and safe.

Nausea

Acupuncture is very effective and safe in reducing the severity and incidence of nausea and vomiting experienced during the early stages of pregnancy. Research has shown it is provides faster relief, compared with women not receiving acupuncture and that is also a safe and effective treatment.

Smith C, Crowther C, Beilby J. Acupuncture to treat nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy: a randomized trial. Birth.2002, Mar:29 (1):1-9.

Smith C, Crowther C, Beilby J. Pregnancy outcome following women's participation in a randomised controlled trial of acupuncture to treat nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy. Complement Ther Med. 2002 Jun; 10(2):78-8

Hypertension

Acupuncture can assist in reducing high blood pressure, especially if treatment is commenced early when the hypertension is first noticed. As hypertension can escalate quickly, it is important to receive ongoing monitoring throughout the pregnancy.

Breech and Posterior Presentation

Acupuncture and moxibustion has a remarkable ability to turn both breech and posterior babies. Typically treatment can start from 33-35 weeks, right up until prior to labour.

Research has shown that in prigravidas at 33 weeks gestation with breech presentation, moxibustion treatment for one to two weeks at Zhiyin BL-67 increased foetal activity during the treatment period and 75.4% of women receiving this treatment, had babies which turned to cephalic presentation at 35 weeks compared with 47.7% with no treatment.

Cardini F, Weixin H. Moxibustion for correction of breech presentation. JAMA 1998; 280:1580-1584.

Recent research has also shown that women presenting with a breech presentation at 33 weeks who received acupuncture were less likely to present with breech presentation at full term and thus reduced the need for C-sections. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20430289

Labour Preparation

Preparation for labour starts with weekly appointments from around 35 weeks, to encourage the baby to engage, to ripen the cervix, to prepare for an efficient delivery and to strengthen mum's body, mind and spirit to have an easy post-partum recovery.

Research has shown that for women receiving acupuncture prior to labour, they were less likely to be induced compared with women who received no acupuncture at all. Medical induction rates were found to be 35% less for those receiving acupuncture and there was a reduction of 31% in the epidural rate.

Betts D, Lennox S. Acupuncture for prebirth treatment: An observational study of its use in midwifery practice. Medical acupuncture 2006 May; 17(3):17-20

Research by Rabl et al (2001) showed that acupuncture can support cervical ripening and shorten the time interval between the woman’s expected date of delivery and the actual time of delivery.

Rabl M, Ahner R, Bitschnau M, Zeisler H, Husslein P. Acupuncture for cervical ripening and induction of labour at term – a randomised controlled trail. Wien Klin Wochenschr 2001; 113 (23-24): 942-6

To Induce Labour

Acupuncture can be used to gently promote labour if the baby is overdue. This can be a very effective alternative to being medically induced.

Pain Relief during Labour

Acupressure techniques can be taught for support people during the birth for pain relief.

Muscular-Skeletal Pain

Back pain, sciatica, pubic symphysis are common during pregnancy and acupuncture can provide relief from the pain experienced.

Postpartum problems – Insufficient Lactation
                                    -Anaemia
                                    -Fatigue
                                    -Post-natal depression
                                    -Urinary Incontinence
                                    -Prolapse – Uterus
                                    -Scar tissue repair

LINKS

Here are some useful links with information on how you can further assist your pregnancy and birth

For further information and enquires, please dont hestitate to call anytime, phone Christine on 0401-342-196.