Acupuncture: A Safe, All Natural Alternative for any Pregnant Woman

Can acupuncture safely alleviate uncomfortable symptoms for a pregnant woman? In short, yes.

Acupuncture is a safe and highly respected treatment in which small, very thin needles are gently tapped into the skin. In Chinese medicine, it is believed that a kind of energy called chi moves through an intricate system of meridians throughout the body. When this energy gets stuck or cannot move smoothly, disharmony in the body arises.

Does it hurt? Usually not. Many times you won’t know that the needle is even there.

Here’s how acupuncture can help.

Look at your physical symptoms as a sign or teacher that there is a problem in the body, mind, and/or spirit. Your acupuncturist can help you understand under what conditions your symptoms arise, and therefore what can be done to prevent and/or alleviate them.

Many things can cause blockages of chi. Factors that influence diseases in Chinese Medicine include internal causes such as emotions and external causes such as weather, climate, exposure to the elements, etc.

Acupuncture points are small areas where the chi energy moves closer to the surface of the skin and can be accessed with a needle, by burning an herb on the point in a process called moxibustion, or simply by pressing the point with a finger (acupressure).

Acupuncture treatments are safe for a pregnant woman and can be useful to alleviate both pregnancy-related and every day discomforts. Needles are placed into specific points on the body once appropriate points have been determined based on a patient’s presentation.

What makes acupuncture safe during pregnancy? Well, certain acupuncture points are forbidden during pregnancy. Any point whose primary action is to move energy down and out is never used on a pregnant woman. Any licensed acupuncturist will know which points are safe to use during pregnancy.

Acupuncture for Labor and Delivery

During labor and delivery, acupuncture can be used to do many things. It is possible to induce labor and relieve/reduce pain. It has even been shown to turn a breech presentation.

After delivery, acupuncture can assist a mother in milk production if there is insufficient milk. It can also help to enhance the body’s ability to heal from delivery whether c-section or vaginal. In addition, it can help to maintain balance and address post-partum depression.

For specific questions about acupuncture feel free to contact Robin at comments@life-and-the-pregnant-woman.com. I am currently seeing patients as a student practitioner at the Tai Sophia Institute in Laurel, MD, and would be happy to answer acupuncture-related questions.