Acupuncture for Pregnancy
Acupuncture during Pregnancy
Acupuncture is safe during pregnancy; I do treat most of my pregnant patients throughout pregnancy to support health of both the mother to be and the baby.
I can also support females during pregnancy and help with a range of pregnancy-related conditions including:
- Insomnia
- Morning Sickness
- Symphysis Pubic Dysfunction
- Anxiety
- Anaemia
- Constipation
- Backache/ Musculoskeletal conditions
- Fatigue
- Heartburn
- Headaches
- Urinary tract infection
- Sinusitis
- Pregnancy induced hypertension
- Oedema
Contact me today to find out more!
How often should I come for treatment during pregnancy?
I usually recommend regular treatment during first trimester, either weekly or biweekly. Weekly appointments are recommended for my patient that have had history of recurrent miscarriage, or if patient is not feeling well due to morning sickness or simply some patients decide to come in weekly because they find treatment, relaxing, reassuring and is helping them with energy levels.
In Second Trimester if women have no complications, biweekly or once a month is good enough all depends on how each pregnant women feels.
From 35 week I recommend weekly appointments to help the body get ready for labour. Acupuncture has proven to be very helpful in softening, ripening the cervix and encourage dilation for smooth birth.
Research: the mean duration of labour in a group of women giving birth for the first time was reduced from eight hours and two minutes in the control group (70 women) to six hours and 36 minutes in the group of 70 women who received pre-birth acupuncture. (D. Betts 2006)
Are you over your due date and would prefer to avoid hospital induction?
Please contact me directly as acupuncture can be very helpful with labour induction.
Once you’re full-term, acupuncture can be used to induce labour naturally. Studies have found that it can be an effective method, with fewer side effects than medical interventions such as synthetic hormones.
Acupuncture is a safe and effective way to help the body of pregnant women in the natural process of labour for post-term babies. Patients should attend labour induction treatment from 40 weeks for medical reasons or before medical induction.
My hospital induction is already scheduled can I still come?
Yes you can, especially if your hospital induction is in few days time.
Will you be able to induce me with one acupuncture session?
You may need more than one acupuncture treatment, usually women respond best to few acupuncture labour induction treatments over three days in the row.
How long does treatment take, and will I need consultation first?
Appointment takes about an hour, If I have not treated you before than first appointment will include filling out health form and taking some medical history records, but this will not be a full consultation appointment.
Turning Breech presentation with Moxibustion
Breech babies can be turned pain free and without ECV with Moxibustion.
What is Breeched position?
When baby is lying bottom or feet first rather then head down
When is the best time to come for this treatment?
As soon as you will find out that baby is in breech position but usually treatments for breech position starts from 34 weeks. Most women find out about baby being in breeched position in 36th, 37th week of pregnancy weeks, I still treat those patients with Moxibustion as some of those babies will turn after treatment. Moxibustion is pain free treatment, on occasion I may use needles too.
Moxa is made out of dried mugwort and I used both forms in my clinic, dried form that goes directly on to your skin and rolled like cigar that does not have direct contact with your skin. Moxa is used to warm an acupuncture point on your toe. Appointment involves short consultation, treatment and after you will be given Moxa stick and instructions on how to use it at home.
