Acupuncture is one part of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that treats conditions through the insertion of fine sterile disposable needles into targeted acupuncture points on the body. Its practice stimulates the body’s natural healing process. As such, acupuncture is an ideal treatment for moms-to-be and new mothers, as it can help women maintain a healthy state with a safe, effective and drug free alternative.

PRE-BABY

Acupuncture can ease several symptoms during pregnancy including nausea and vomiting, constipation and hemorrhoids, headaches and migraines, back, hip, pelvic pain, fatigue, anxiety and depression, breech and posterior babies, pre-birth preparation and preparation for medical induction. In fact, pre-birth treatments starting weekly at 36 weeks gestation can naturally help prepare a woman’s body for labour. Pre-birth treatments also ensures a woman has optimal energy for labour.

Moreover, a clinical trial has shown acupuncture to be an effective treatment to help ripen and dilate the cervix, as well as reduce the following: labour time, pain, the rate of epidurals, medical inductions and caesarean sections.

Acupuncture points are selected based on the woman’s physical constitution and pregnancy history. Points may be selected to reduce stress and anxiety, to reduce pain, and relax tendons and ligaments to help open hips for an efficient labour.

With the use of moxabustion or mugwort, a type of herb burned to warm specific acupuncture points, acupuncture can help assist with breech or posterior position babies — effectively turning babies upside down. Breech babies are ideally treated at 34 to 35 weeks gestation but can be treated later in pregnancy as well. It can also be an effective treatment to induce labour, providing a natural and gentle push into labour and is an alternative to medical induction. Induction acupuncture stirs the baby from a restful state into an active state, moving the baby downward to start labour, aiding in preparing the baby for labour.

It has been said: “If the fruit is ripe it will drop.” In other words, if the baby is ready, labour will occur.

FOR THE NEW MOM

Acupuncture in combination with dietary therapy can continue to support women post pregnancy. Postnatal treatments focus on promoting recovery, balancing hormones, as well as nourishing and rejuvenating the body. Treatments can also help several postnatal conditions such as postpartum depression, mood disorders, insufficient lactation, wound and scar healing and urinary incontinence.

To learn more about how acupuncture can be an effective, natural treatment during pregnancy, as well as assisting the body through the transitions of pregnancy from the moment of conception to birth and post birth, book an acupuncture consult with Sarah at BodyTx Massage and Health. 

Any questions? Communicate with Sarah directly at sarah@bodytx.ca.

Birth and Postpartum Doula Care

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