Why see an acupuncturist during pregnancy?

Mar 5

Acupuncture is a great adjunctive care modality to use throughout pregnancy. It supports fetal and placental development by increasing the circulation of blood, oxygen and nutrients to the uterus. Acupuncture provides a safe, drug-free option for addressing the many pregnancy-related complaints that may arise. It is useful as preventative medicine against complications such as pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, breech presentation, and hyperemesis gravidarum. Additionally, it can help stop bleeding and prevent miscarriage.

Here are our recommendations for pregnancy care and why you should consider adding us to your support team.

Morning Sickness / Digestive Issues

If you experience nausea, vomiting, constipation, reflux or other digestive upsets, acupuncture has your back. In fact, Pericardium 6, an acupuncture point located on the inside of the wrist, has been researched extensively for treating nausea. If you’ve ever used Sea Bands for seasickness while on a boat, these are designed to provide acupressure to that particular point!

Pain

Back, hip, knees, head… you name it, we can work with that. Typically when a headache comes on you reach for an over-the-counter pain medication, but with concerns over how that might affect your developing fetus, finding alternatives is important. Even very early in pregnancy women can experience new aches and pains as the Relaxin hormone changes how our tissues support our frame. Acupuncture and associated bodywork, such as massage or cupping, can feel great on an achy pregnant body or provide key support to individuals battling chronic pain conditions.

Anxiety & Depression

Just because you’re pregnant doesn’t mean you’re suddenly immune to the stressors of life! In fact, many people find an increase in anxiety and mood swings during pregnancy. The things that we might have used (for better or worse) to help us cope prior to pregnancy, like alcohol, THC, CBD or extreme sports, are off limits – so now what? Acupuncture has been shown to be an effective treatment for anxiety. It calms the nervous system, releases endorphins, reduces the body’s response to stress and improves its ability to cope with it as well. We also recommend implementing or re-committing to self-care practices like meditation, breathwork, yoga, journaling, etc during pregnancy.

Breech Presentation

Baby not shifting into the necessary position? We can help! Acupuncture can be used to address any musculoskeletal issues that might be impacting a baby's ability to move. Moxibustion, a therapy in which prepared Chinese mugwort is burned over a specific acupuncture point to stimulate the baby to reposition, has been shown to reduce the chance of breech position at birth and decrease the need for oxytocin use during labor. This treatment is most effective when performed during weeks 33-35 of pregnancy.

Labor Prep / Induction

Late in pregnancy, acupuncture can be useful in preparing the body to initiate labor by ripening the cervix, softening the tissues of the pelvis, and calming the mind.