Acupuncture during Pregnancy

A common question that is always asked, is acupuncture safe for pregnancy? The short answer is yes. By trained acupuncturist it is very safe to get acupuncture through all stages of pregnancy and it is best to start getting treatments when you begin planning to grow your family. Acupuncture can be very effective at helping you regulate your menstrual cycle, balance out your hormones, reduce stress and prepare your body for pregnancy and child birth. 

In Chinese Medicine we focus a lot of attention on your menstrual cycle and what it means for the rest of your body. You go through 4 stages during your period, menstrual stage, follicular phase, ovulation, luteal phase. Each phase has different effects on your Qi (energy), blood, yin and yang. The menstrual stage is your period where you shed the endometrial lining and bleed this usually lasts about 5 days and this is where you lose most of your Qi and blood, Day 1 of your cycle is the day you start bleeding. The next phase is the follicular phase that releases follicles in the ovaries and produces oestrogen which thickens the uterine lining getting you prepared for pregnancy. During this phase it is important to nourish the body replenishing Qi and blood, you then ovulate around day 14 of your cycle, a surge in luteinising hormone causes the follicle to release an egg and this is the most fertile time of your cycle. During ovulation, acupuncture is focused on Qi, Yin and warming the uterus getting you prepared and ready for a healthy pregnancy. After ovulation, you enter the luteal phase where the empty follicle produces progesterone which helps support early pregnancy. Acupuncture is then focused on balancing out hormones, producing good Qi and blood and supporting your body. 

If you have a fertilised egg and fall pregnant, firstly, congratulations, you enter the first trimester of pregnancy and treatments are focused on supporting the body and helping you nourish the growing baby. During your first trimester you can experience morning sickness, headaches, tiredness, mood swings, or spotting/light bleeding. Acupuncture is very safe and can be very beneficial during this time to help reduce your stress and balance out your hormones and help reduce nausea and vomiting. There are a select number of acupuncture points that can be harmful during pregnancy. It is very important that you see a AHPRA registered Chinese Medicine practitioner. There can be a lot of anxiety and questions during this time, be sure to ask them and understand what your body is going through. 

The second trimester is usually less stressful. Your baby and belly are growing, you start to gain a pregnancy glow and hopefully, most of your first trimester symptoms are gone. Especially the morning sickness. Acupuncture during this stage is more focused on keeping you comfortable, addressing anything else that might arise such as carpal tunnel, insomnia, hip and lower back pain, or acid reflux. Treatment can be very beneficial in ensuring you have a very smooth pregnancy into your final trimester. 

The third and final trimester, time to get this baby out of you and into the world. Most commonly, you have a lot of lower back pain and struggle to sleep due to not being able to get comfortable. Acupuncture and cupping is very safe and very effective at managing those symptoms. Depending on your birth plan, from around 35-36 weeks we begin focusing our treatments on preparing you for labour and childbirth, regulating the necessary hormones in order to start labour. It is also important during this time to ensure that the baby is not in breech position, if it is, acupuncture and moxibustion has been known to be able to help your body turn the baby. 

Fertility and pregnancy can be a very stressful time on your body however, acupuncture can be greatly beneficial and help you through this process. Find an acupuncturist you trust, that is trained and has experience treating pregnancy. Relax, be comfortable and enjoy your pregnancy journey by booking an appointment at Craigieburn Acupuncture today.