Acupuncture treatments from conception to labour

Traditional Chinese Medicine has for thousands of years encouraged women to modify their lifestyle during pregnancy to ensure a healthy baby an efficient birth and a calm emotional state during this possibly stressful time. Acupuncture is a very effective way to promote the proper flow of blood and qi circulation prior to delivery.

Acupuncture during pregnancy and childbirth offers women a drug free alternative and method of relief in order to deal with various issues related to pregnancy.

Not only can acupuncture be used for conditions that come hand in hand with being pregnant, such as pelvic pain, low back pain and nausea, but its also used in order to ease the labour process and prevent further medical intervention.

Acupuncture is Safe!

Pregnancy related conditions are a special branch of Chinese medicine and acupuncture and fall with in the scope of practice of registered acupuncturists frequency of treatment reaction does not differ between pregnant and non pregnant women Involves inserting superfine needles into specific points on the body stimulates the release of oxytocin and endorphins internally regulates your bodies own hormones earlier treatment begins the more effective it is.

During pregnancy acupuncture has been shown to effectively ease discomfort and treat the following conditions:

• Nausea & vomiting
• Heartburn
• Pregnancy related pain
• Carpel tunnel
• Low back pain
• Pubic pain
• Fatigue
• Anxiety and depression
• Sinusitis
• Pregnancy induced hypertension
• Insomnia
• Edema
• Breech presentation
• Miscarriage
• And many more issues!

A healthy pregnancy depends on adequate rest, a suitable diet and emotional well being. Maintaining a regular relationship with your midwife or Ob/Gyn is encouraged.

Acupuncture as a pre-birth treatment

Pre-birth acupuncture treatments are designed to prepare women for the most efficient labour possible and are offered as a series of treatments in the final weeks of pregnancy. Pre-birth treatments for pregnant women from weeks 36 on have been shown in research to reduce the duration of labour in first time pregnancies. The mean labour duration for women seeking acupuncture was two hours shorter then women not receiving acupuncture. The acupuncture treatments should start at about 36 weeks and are given once a week until labour commences. Clinical experience shows that this consistently increased the chance of women experiencing a natural labour. (betts)

We offer individualized treatments that promote regulating exercise, dietary guidelines and maintaining a calm emotional state.

Acupuncture for induction of labour

If you are past your due date and/or a medical induction is planned, acupuncture has been shown to:

• support cervical ripening at term
• shorten the time interval between the expected due date and actual delivery time. (betts)

Acupuncture induction should start two to three days prior to planned medical induction. After the acupuncture treatment is given you can then give self-administered acupressure. If the labour does not commence spontaneously, research shows that you will still have a more efficient labour when compared to a group of women who did not receive acupuncture (betts). It is not advised to have an induction before term if not medically necessary.