Not quite sure about using acupuncture in pregnancy?
Trying to get pregnant, and not wanting to go down the IVF route?
Going down the IVF route and wanting to maximise your chances of success?
Pregnant and wanting to help minimise some of the side effects?Let’s talk!
When you are pregnant your body is going through a number of huge changes, sometimes as well as getting a nice belly bump, you can also experience some of the not so nice “side effects” of pregnancy.
Pre-Conception Care
It is up to you how much care you want in the lead up to preparing for pregnancy. Usually I recommend three full cycles, this allows time for changes made to impact the body, and helps see any changes in your menstrual cycle.
Some of the reasons I see patients for pre-conception care include:
- Pre-conception care –
Infertility (male and female),poor sperm quality, primary ovarian insufficiency, general wellbeing, regulating menstruation, stress - Menstruation regulation-
PMS, painful periods, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, endometriosis, abnormal bleeding, menopausal hot flushes, uterine fibroids, irregular periods, fibroids - IVF Support
- Infertility (Male and female)
Assisted conception combined with Artificial Reproductive Technology, poor sperm quality, primary ovarian insufficiency
Using Acupuncture in Pregnancy
Care during pregnancy can take many forms! When I am providing acupuncture in pregnancy to patients who have minimal symptoms/issues I will generally recommend they come in:
First Trimester- Weekly
Second Trimester until 35wks- every 4-6 weeks
Third Trimester- Weekly until birth
If there is pain, complications, position issues, or any other area you want extra support with, then I may recommend a few weeks of weekly sessions until things are feeling more in balance again.
People come to see me for a range of different issues during pregnancy, some of the reasons I see people may include symptoms associated with (but are not limited to):
- Acupuncture and Pregnancy-
Labour induction, urinary tract infection, morning sickness, hyperemesis gravidarum, sciatica, insomnia, restless leg syndrome, reflux, headaches, adult urinary incontinence, babies position, heartburn/reflux - Emotional support-
Postnatal depression, anxiety, depression, panic attacks, insomnia, stress
Acupuncture for Pain
It can be quite common to get a number of different pains through pregnancy. This can be a from a number of reasons including the increased amount of relaxin in the body (which can cause joints to be looser), as well as changing body shape/centre of gravity!
- Musculoskeletal/ Pain
Low back pain, neck and shoulder pain, knee pain, RSI, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, sprains, acute and chronic pain, cartilage problems, restless leg syndrome, chronic pain, plantar fasciitis, numbness, arthralgia (joint pain), migraine prevention, TMJ pain, peripheral neuropathy, sciatica, chronic pelvic pain syndrome, lumbar spinal stenosis.
If you are one of the lucky women who has not experienced any of the above symptoms then the below treatments may be of interest to you.
Acupuncture for Labour Preparation
Read more about Birth Preparation Vs Induction here.
This is primarily by giving you some down time, allowing you to connect with your body and your baby, but also to help with any anxiety, stress or worries that you may be experiencing (stress and anxiety can stop your body from going into labour). With my experience of being a doula as well I am more than happy to help you work through any of these.
**Induction
Although acupuncture can be a much gentler way to encourage your body to start labour, it is still potentially interfering with the natural course of your pregnancy, and any interference has the possibility of changing your experience- which can lead to a cascade of other interventions. If you are keen to try and encourage your baby to come out earlier than they choose then it is recommended that you think about having labour preparation treatments as discussed above in the weeks leading up to your estimated due date.