Acupuncture and Pregnancy

Pregnancy Acupuncture

Firstly, congratulations, for some the journey to pregnancy is easy for others its been years on the fertility rollercoster

Here at Mornington Chinese Medicine we offer acupuncture through all stages of pregnancy. You may experience morning sickness or hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), anxiety, exhaustion, low iron, gestational diabetes, digestion issues, oedema, threatened miscarriage, posterior or breech presentation or labour preparation, no matter what you are struggling with our team can assist you.

We believe that pregnancy is a precious time, and we want you to feel your best and enjoy the experience of growing your baby. Our acupuncture treatments can feel the best you can and support you as your body undergoes the changes necessary to nourish your growing baby. So, whether you have a high risk pregnancy,  you're a woman juggling the demands of daily life or simply seeking to optimize your pregnancy health, we are here to assist you every step of the way.

Threatened Miscarriage
Fatigue
Morning Sickness
Musculoskeletal Pain
Pregnancy Induced Hypertension
Gestational Diabetes
Stress & Anxiety
Oedema
Breech & Posterior Presentation
Labour Preparation
Pain Relief during labour 

Labour Preparation

 Pre-Birth treatment involves a series of four treatments weekly from 36 or 37 weeks to prepare for labour. Points are used according a woman's constitution and pregnancy history. 

♥ Aid cervical ripening and dilation
♥ Promote optimal energy and stamina for labour
♥ Help shorten duration of labour
♥ Reduce the need for c-section and interventions
♥ Reduce need for pain medications
♥ Women who receive pre-birth acupuncture and do not go into labour spontaneously usually respond very well and quickly to induction either by acupuncture or medication.

Induction of Labour

Acupuncture may provide a gentle inducement of labour when the baby is overdue. It may be an effective alternative to Syntocinon drip or prostaglandin gel induction. Acupuncture may encourage the body to release hormones such as oxytocin and prostaglandins that instigate labour as well as encouraging the baby downward in the birth canal.

Pain Relief and Support in Labour

Acupuncture may used during during labour.Acupuncture in Labour may help with:

♥ Promoting efficient contractions
♥ Encourage baby into optimal positioning
♥ Aid cervical ripening and dilation
♥ Pain relief
♥ Promote endorphin release (primal state)
♥ Smoothing transition
♥ Promote delivery of placenta

Post Natal Care

♥ Restore energy levels
♥ Stop abdominal bleeding
♥ Relieve lower backache
♥ Urinary Incontinence
♥ Insufficient lactation
♥ Mastitis
♥ Postnatal Depression
♥ Post operative healing

 

Research
Breech presentation: 1. Neri, I., Airola, G., Contu, G., Allais, G., Facchinetti, F., & Benedetto, C. (2004). Acupuncture plus moxibustion to resolve breech presentation: a randomised controlled study. Journal of Maternal, Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, 15, (4), 247-252. 2. Cardini, F. & Weixin, H. (1998). Moxibustion for correction of breech presentation. Journal of the American Medical Association, 280, 942-946. Labour and pre labour: 1. Rabl, M., Ahner, R., Bitschnau, M., Zeisler, H. & Husslein, P. (2001). Acupuncture for cervical ripening and induction of labour at term – a randomised controlled trail. Wien Klin Wochenschr, 113, (23-24), 942-946. 2. Levett, K.M, Smith, C.A, Bensoussan, A., & Dahlan, H.G. (2016). Complementary therapies for labour and birth study: a randomised controlled trial of antenatal integrative medicine for pain management in labour. BMJ Open 2016;6:e010691. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010691 3. Tempfer, C., Zeisler, H., Mayerhofe, K.R., Barrada, M. & Husslein, P. (1998). Influence of acupuncture on duration of labour. Gynecologic & Obstetric Investigation, 46, 22-5
Depression in pregnancy: Manber, R., Schnyer, R., Lyell, D., Chambers, A., Caughey, A. & Druzin, M. (2010). Acupuncture for depression during pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial.Obstetrics and Gynecology, 115, 511–520.
Labour and Birth: Complementary therapies for labour and birth study: a randomised controlled trial of antenatal integrative medicine for pain management in labour, 2017  Kate M Levett1, C A Smith1, A Bensoussan1,H G Dahlen2