Acupuncture and Pregnancy

♥ 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 & 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.