Good points in pregnancy Pregnancy is an exciting and life-changing event. During those 40 weeks amazing changes take place within the body. Of course, a woman is designed for this and many pregnancies cause few or no symptoms to the mother-to-be. However, some women suffer ‘niggles’ that can affect general well-being.

This article explains a little about acupuncture and how an acupuncturist can help ease pregnancy-related symptoms. I have treated many pregnant women over the years and consider it a pleasure and an honour. Because it’s the only time where my treatment has an effect on two people at once: mother and baby.

Acupuncture in healthy pregnancy

Before I talk about problems in pregnancy it is worth mentioning that acupuncture can be given to promote health in the mother and baby before and after pregnancy, also. In China, it was traditionally used as a treatment to keep a person healthy rather than to correct ill health. The Chinese use acupuncture along with herbs, dietary advice and exercise such as Tai Chi in order to strengthen the body and promote good health.

If the mother is healthy treatment is kept to a minimum and she may only have three treatments throughout the entire pregnancy: at three, six and nine months. There is a lovely acupuncture point that can be used at these three stages which is said to promote a healthy baby.

Morning sickness

Experienced by up to 70% of women during pregnancy, symptoms range from mild to severe and it commonly subsides at around three months, although it can go on for longer.

An acupuncturist will usually treat the stomach meridian to increase the mother’s stomach energy. Sometimes it is also necessary to treat the liver meridian. Treatment commonly consists of inserting approximately five needles into the body. The mother lies down and relaxes during this treatment as the needles are left in place for 20 minutes.

Acupuncture is excellent for alleviating morning sickness, working in almost all cases. In mild cases two treatments a week are sufficient whereas in severe cases it can be necessary to treat more regularly until the symptoms subside.

Back pain

This is a common symptom caused by increased curvature of the spine and also the additional weight carried in pregnancy. The Chinese believe that back pain can be associated with tiredness, indicating that mother’s energy reserves are low.
To treat, an acupuncturist will normally position the woman lying on her side supported by pillows. Needles are inserted into the back and left for 20 minutes. If there is sciatica, needles can also be inserted into points down the leg. Treatment will often incorporate the use of pressure points to increase the woman’s energy levels.

Breech babies
By the time labour starts the baby should be head-down inside the mother’s abdomen. A breech baby is facing the wrong way, which adds to the risks of labour and increases the chance that the mother will need a caesarean section.

Acupuncturists can carry out a very gentle treatment that encourages a baby to turn by itself. Timing the treatment is important: around the 34th week of pregnancy is ideal and it is not recommended after 38 weeks, as there is limited space for the baby to move by this stage.

The mother sits or lies comfortably with the legs raised. The Acupuncturist lights two sticks of a herb called moxa. These are then held a short distance away from an acupuncture point on the woman’s feet. The treatment is carried out for 15 minutes. The sticks do not touch the woman and so all she feels is pleasant warmth.

The mother then goes home with the sticks and repeats this treatment twice a day for up to ten days. The treatment works by stimulating and increasing the movements of the baby, making it more likely to turn. Studies show a 60% success rate.

One NHS hospital in Plymouth is using this treatment in their maternity unit. They have significantly reduced the number of caesareans performed at the hospital, and hopefully other NHS trusts will follow suit.

There are other common symptoms in pregnancy such as insomnia, migraine and constipation, and acupuncture can help with all of these.

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Chinese complementary advice

Eat foods that are nourishing and easily digestible and avoid too much spicy and pungent food.

Increase consumption of fruit as pregnancy tends to heat a woman’s body and fruit has a generally cooling effect.

Avoid extremes of emotion as the emotional state can affect maternal health, and also that of the baby.

Get rest, eat small regular meals, drink peppermint tea and eat small amounts of ginger to combat sickness. something without doing your research.