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Acupuncture to
support
pregnancy and childbirth

A happier nine
months
Ideally each woman
experiences a joyous and glowing pregnancy, and then is able to find
enough energy to cope with being a new mum! A longed-for second
pregnancy should flow freely. To keep pregnancy and
motherhood running as smoothly as possible, acupuncture may be able
to help in a number of areas.
Acupuncture for birth
preparation
Acupuncture in the
last few weeks of pregnancy can be great for promoting a
straightforward labour.
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Research |
A 2006 study in New Zealand
found that women who
received acupuncture weekly, starting in week 36 of their
pregnancies, experienced 35% fewer inductions,
31% fewer epidurals and 32% fewer emergency c-sections, see
article in Medical Acupuncture.
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Case studies |
"Just a note to say a
great big thank you for the magic you worked on me during my
pregnancy. I'm thrilled that it all went so smoothly
(established labour was only four hours). I was back in
normal jeans again two weeks after the birth and I feel
fabulous - I'm sure the acupuncture made a huge difference.
All in all I had the labour and delivery that I wanted and
it was a great experience -
I'll be sure to see you when it's
the turn of number two - if not before. Thanks so
much again not only for the acupuncture but also you're a
great listener and a calming influence which really helped."
A new
mother in her 30s
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Turning breech babies
Acupuncture can be useful to
turn a breech baby, by heating a point on the little toe!
The point is warmed using a herb called moxa, in a process
called moxibustion. If you're confident to do this at
home, after Jessica has done the first treatment and
explained the process, you may be able to continue treatment
at home yourself under her supervision.
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Research |
A
2003 report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) found that
correction of a malpositioned foetus was one of the conditions "for which acupuncture
has been proved - through controlled trials - to be an
effective treatment".
A 1998
study in the Journal of the American Medical Association
assessed the effectiveness of moxa treatment for turning breech
babies. The women were treated at 33 weeks, and received
treatment daily for seven days. At 35 weeks 75% of those
treated with moxa now had cephalic (head-down) presentations,
compared to 48% for the control group. After 35 weeks none of
the remaining babies turned of their own accord, although a number
were turned by medically-administered external cephalic version.
No adverse events were noted in the treatment group, which also
experienced only 9% of premature births or the use of oxytocin,
compared to 31% in the control group. |
Promoting labour
Acupuncture can be used to
help induce labour, if you have gone beyond your due date. Jessica
will use needles and gentle electroacupuncture on your
feet, hands, and lower back. The ideal start point is from the due
date onwards, with treatment daily or every other day.
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Research |
A
2003 report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) found that
induction of labour to be one of the conditions "for which acupuncture
has been proved - through controlled trials - to be an
effective treatment".
In a 2001
study published in Wien Klin Wochenschr the women received
acupuncture every other day from their due date onwards, and any labours
not established by the tenth day were then induced medically. The
women treated with acupuncture had their babies after an average of 5
days compared to 8 days for the control group. Only 20% of them
required a medical induction, compared to 35% in the control group. |
Morning sickness
Acupuncture may be able to help reduce nausea and vomiting
during your pregnancy. The 'sea-sickness' wrist bands
are designed to press on a acupuncture point on the wrist,
which is among those that can often help quell nausea.
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Research |
A
2003 report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) found morning
sickness to be one of the conditions "for which acupuncture
has been proved - through controlled trials - to be an
effective treatment".
Australian research has
confirmed that acupuncture can help
reduce morning sickness, see
BBC article.
The participants in this study received treatment once a week for four
weeks. |
Pelvic pain
Acupuncture
treatment can reduce pelvic pain during your pregnancy.
|
Research |
A 2005 study in Sweden found that acupuncture was
successful in reducing pelvic pain in pregnant women, see
article in British Medical Journal,
in fact more successful than
specialised exercises. See also this
BBC article. |
Also during your pregnancy...
Acupuncture may also be able
to help with:
Constipation and
heartburn, see
digestive problems
Carpal tunnel syndrome: it can reduce
the pain and inflammation
The risk of miscarriage can be a worry for those who
have previously experienced the sad loss of a growing baby. IVF
pregnancies also face a slightly higher risk of miscarriage. Acupuncture
may be able to
improve these risks.
Helping
post-partum
After childbirth if needed acupuncture
may help:
Encourage post-partum
healing
Manage after-pains
Build your energy
Promote lactation
Improve post-natal depression or anxiety
Support your secondary fertility
See Jessica's page on
acupuncture for new mums
Acupuncture safety in pregnancy
There is evidence to
suggest that acupuncture is generally very safe when performed by an
appropriately-qualified practitioner.
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Research |
A
review by the British Medical Journal
described acupuncture as "very safe" when practiced by an
appropriately-qualified practitioner.
Specifically in pregnancy, an Australian study in 2002 which examined
acupuncture treatment for morning sickness found no significant adverse
effects on mother or baby from these treatments compared to their
control group, see
article in Complementary Therapies in Medicine. |
Contact Jessica
Each of us responds differently to
acupuncture. Do
get in touch to discuss whether
acupuncture is likely to be right for you, or to make an appointment.
Other
conditions
Acupuncture can help with a
wide range of health problems, click below to find out more:
© Jessica Kennedy 2008, all rights
reserved |