Acupuncture for Pregnancy
Treat Pregnancy-related Conditions with Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine
Acid Reflux Anemia Anxiety and Stress Asthma, Shortness of Breath Breech Presentation Constipation Cramping and Bleeding Delayed Labor Digestion Irregularities
Edema Fatigue Heartburn Hematomas, Blood clots Hemorrhoids Hyperemesis Gravidarum Insomnia Migraines and Headaches Morning Sickness
Nausea & Vomiting Pain, Back pain Placenta Previa Pre-Birth Preparation Pre-eclampsia Prevention of Miscarriage Post-term pregnancy Sciatica Varicose Veins
First Trimester 0-12 WEEKS
Weekly Acupuncture As Needed Moss Acupuncture Recommends weekly acupucnture, as needed, for the expecting mother in the First Trimester. Acupuncture Treatments may be designed to assist with specific first trimester discomforts or to generally encourage optimal health during the pregnancy. First Trimester Acupuncture
- Nausea and Morning Sickness
- Prevention of Miscarriage
- Fatigue
- Feeling bloated
- Frequent urination
- Mood swings
- Heartburn
Morning Sickness Morning sickness is a pregnancy discomfort that affects more than half of all pregnant women. Symptoms frequently come in the early hours of the morning and decrease as the day progresses but, despite the name, morning sickness can occur at any time of the day. For most women it may stop around the 12th week of pregnancy. Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can be used to treat symptoms of nausea and vomiting. Several studies have documented the use of acupuncture to combat nausea and vomiting. A randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management1 has found that acupuncture can ease the symptoms of morning sickness, and that acupuncture has a "clinically useful effect" in treating hyperemesis. 1 Carlsson C, et al. Manual acupuncture reduces hyperemesis gravidarum: a placebo-controlled, randomized, single-blind, crossover study. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management October 2000;20(4):273-279.
Threatened Miscarriage
Highest Risk in First Timester Most early pregnancy loss – miscarriage – happens in the first trimester. A combination of acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and medicinal supplements can help reduce the risk of miscarriage. Acupuncture is used in Pregnancy to:
- Increase the blood flow to the ovaries
- Nourish developing follicles, egg quality and embryos.
- Relax the body and reduce stress levels to prevent early uterine contractions.
Maintain Pregnancy With Acupuncture Over thousands of years, Traditional Chinese Medicine has developed protocols for preventing miscarriage, 'holding the baby,' and optimizing the health of a woman carrying a child. Acupuncture treatments for any condition are tailored specifically to the individual person and acupuncture treatments for preventing miscarriage are no exception. If you feel you are at risk of miscarriage, contact your acupuncturist to see what acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine can do for you. Research: Acupuncture and Miscarriage New research published by the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine2 demonstrated the efficacy of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine for the treatment of recurrent pregnancy losses. 2 Hullender Rubin, Lee, Dara Cantor, and Benjamin L. Marx. "Recurrent Pregnancy Loss and Traditional Chinese Medicine." Medical Acupuncture (2013).
Second Trimester 13-28 WEEKS
Weekly Acupuncture As Needed Moss Acupuncture Recommends weekly acupucnture in the Second Trimester, as needed. Acupuncture Treatments may be designed to assist with specific Second Trimester discomforts or to generally encourage optimal health during the pregnancy. Second Trimester Acupuncture
- Headaches and Migraines
- Back pain and Sciatica
- Digestive Problems
- Heartburn and Constipation
- Dizziness
- Shortness of Breath
Headaches and Migraines Migraine headaches can last for hours or more and can also cause nausea (compounding symptoms of morning sickness in pregnant women). Common triggers of a pregnancy migraine may include stress, fatigue, bright lights, loud noises, excessive heat or cold. Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine have extensive treatment protocols for headaches and migraines. Acupuncture has long been recognized by the World Health Organization as an effective treatment of headaches. Many pregnant women seek out natural medicines when they are pregnant. A 2009 study3 found that there is consistent evidence that acupuncture provides additional benefit to treatment of acute migraine attacks and acupuncture is at least as effective as, or possibly more effective than, prophylactic drug treatment, and has fewer adverse effects. 3 Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009 Jan 21;(1):CD001218. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001218.pub2.
Back Pain and Sciatica
Body Changes and Pain A pregnant woman's growing uterus and body changes can often lead to an aching back and back pain. The expanding uterus and the extra body weight of a pregnancy can shift the body's center of gravity, stretch out and weaken abdominal muscles, and put strain on the back.
Research: Acupuncture and Back Pain The results of a recent study published in the Clinical Journal of Pain4 provide further proof that acupuncture is a safe and effective procedure for low-back pain, and that it can maintain positive outcomes for periods of six months or longer without producing the negative side-effects that often accompany more traditional pain remedies. 4 Carlsson, C., Acupuncture for chronic low back pain: a randomized placebo-controlled study with long-term follow-up. Clinical Journal of Pain 2001;17(4):296-305.
Third Trimester and Pre-Birth 29-40 WEEKS
Pre-birth acupuncture refers to a series of treatments in the final weeks of pregnancy to prepare women for childbirth. Moss Acupuncture recommends 3-6 acupuncture sessions between weeks 35-40 to get you ready and in optimal health for the birth of your child.
Consistent acupuncture, pre-birth, can lead to timely labors, fewer birth complications, and better health for mother and baby. Research 5 has demonstrated that women who received pre-birth acupuncture have decreased labor time.
You may wish to consider acupuncture and moxibustion treatments if you discover your baby is in breech position and has not yet turned head-down by 33 weeks. 'Moxa' is a Chinese Herbal remedy made from dried mugwort and 'moxibustion' is the practice of burning of the moxa herb to warm regions and meridian points of the body to promote healing. For correcting breech presentation, specifically, the Chinese Medicine protocol is to burn the moxa herb close to the skin of the toes of both feet.
Moxibustion is safe and can be very effective. In a 1998 study published in the Journal of American Medication Association6, the moxibustion group had a 75.4% turn rate in comparison to 47.7% in the control group. In 2012, one study7 found that, as compared to no treatment, when a combination of moxibustion and acupuncture was administered, there was a 27% decrease in breech presentation at the time of birth and 21% decrease in the risk of having a cesarean section.
Post-Term Acupuncture 41+ WEEKS | PRE-LABOR
Acupuncture Labor Induction? We purposefully refrain from using the term "Labor Induction.' 'Labor Induction' is a term used in Western Medicine to describe the artificial stimulation of childbirth, usually when a woman is in a 'post-term' pregnancy – i.e. if the pregnancy has gone past the 41st week. Western medicine methods of Labor Induction include both pharmacological medication and mechanical or physical approaches. Chinese Medicine gets women ready for birth 'the Natural Way' and does not perform 'Labor Inductions' in the way that term has come to be commonly used.
2-4 Sessions Post-Term Acupuncture is a natural option for the pregnant woman to prepare the baby and body for labor and encourage the body's own natural labor process. Moss Acupuncture has a protocol of 2-4 sessions for mothers-to-be who are in a post-term pregnancy. Ideally, it would be best for the pregnant woman to receive pre-birth acupuncture as early as 35-weeks, or before, but it is never too late. Acupuncture can help prepare the cervix, balance hormones, relax the body and mind, and encourage the natural flow of energy necessary for labor.
Post-Partum ACUPUNCTURE FOR MOM AFTER THE BIRTH
Postpartum Acupuncture A postpartum period is the period beginning immediately after the birth of a child. Generally, it is the time after birth in which the mother's body, including hormone levels and uterus size, returns to a non-pregnant state. While, technically, the postpartum period last about six weeks, medical conditions and discomforts associated with the postpartum period can continue beyond a year after the birth. Postpartum Depression Postpartum depression is a type of clinical depression which can affect women after childbirth. Symptoms include sadness, fatigue, changes in sleeping and eating patterns, reduced desire for sex, crying episodes, anxiety and irritability.
Acupuncture Commonly Treats
- Insufficient Lactation
- Mastitis
- Abdominal Cramping & Pain
- Constipation
- Stop Bleeding
- Hormone Balancing
- Hemorrhoids
- Irregular Sweating
- Low Energy
- Poor Digestion
- Hair Loss
Jennifer Moss
M.S., L.Ac., Dipl. Ac., C.H. (NCCAOM)®, FABORMCalifornia Licensed Acupuncturist and Herbologist 415-244-4412jennifer@mossacupuncture.com
Jennifer is the owner of Moss Acupuncture and has over 13 years of experience in treating pregnant patients with Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Jen regulalry treats patients throughout their pregnancies and including post-term pregnancies and postpartum.