Pregnancy is for most women one of the happiest and most exciting times of their lives. Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine are ideal choices of treatment during pregnancy and childbirth as they offer women a drug-free alternative for many problems that arise at this time. For over 3000 years Traditional Chinese Medicine has promoted specialized treatment in caring for pregnant women and postpartum recovery. Today this care has become increasingly popular and used by acupuncturists and specially trained midwives and doctors around the world. Pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal recovery are viewed in Traditional Chinese Medicine as a window of opportunity to enhance a woman’s well being. Conversely, if adequate care is not taken, the resulting problems may continue long after the birth. Value is therefore placed on promoting preventive care to strengthen the mother and baby as well as dealing with problems as they arise during pregnancy.
Many conditions that Western medicine finds difficult to treat and are considered “normal” during pregnancy like morning sickness, sciatic pain and symphysis pubis pain, are often successfully treated with acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Nausea usually occurs in the first trimester and can be quite debilitating. Acupuncture has proven very effective in reducing both the severity and incidence of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Back pain, rib pain, sciatica and symphysis pubis pain are common in pregnancy and can all be markedly reduced with acupuncture. Acupuncture also offers a drug free alternative for pain relief during labor by stimulating natural endorphins.
One of the more difficult and upsetting conditions some women discover later in their pregnancy is that their baby is either breech or posterior. Moxibustion is an externally applied treatment using a Chinese herb called Moxa (Artemisia argyi), commonly known as ‘Mugwort’. Moxa sticks are lit and held over specific acupuncture points. Moxibustion is an extremely effective tool in helping reposition babies.
Research has shown that women who receive pre-birth acupuncture treatments three to four weeks prior to their due date have more efficient active stage labor and a reduction of medical interventions. Acupuncture can provide a gentle inducement of labor if the baby is overdue. It is very effective when a women’s water has broken but she is not showing signs of labor or her labor is not progressing.
Other conditions commonly treated with acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine during pregnancy include: anemia, anxiety, constipation, carpal tunnel, depression, digestive discomfort, exhaustion, heartburn, hemorrhoids, headaches, insomnia, sinus problems and threatened miscarriage.
In the weeks following delivery a mother’s body is recovering from labor and delivery, as well as bonding with her new baby and growing family. However, some symptoms may persist from her pregnancy or may develop in the weeks after delivery. Acupuncture can help to restore balance in a woman’s body and can effectively treat the following post-natal conditions: post partum depression, insufficient lactation, scar tissue repair, low back pain and urinary incontinence. Acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and “mother warming” with moxibustion are all effective tools in supporting women in the post partum period.
Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine are extremely safe and effective tools that can be used during pregnancy, childbirth and post partum.