 Pregnancy is a natural part of life, it is not an illness. The discomforts that accompany pregnancy are the normal physiological responses to the way the body must adapt to accommodate the growing child.
The type of symptoms a woman experiences will have a great deal to do with her pre-existing condition and will also be determined by the stresses and strains she is experiencing during her pregnancy.
The most useful aspect of a Chinese diagnosis is the ability to separate the constitutional condition from the pregnancy, and through this differentiation to apply the appropriate treatment.
Sometimes treating the underlying condition will greatly improve the symptoms, and other times it is the symptoms which need to be treated directly. The good news is that treatment with acupuncture can be very effective and it is a very safe treatment for the unborn child. |
Acupuncture in Pregnancy can treat:
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nausea and/or vomiting
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indigestion, digestive disorders
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haemorroids, constipation
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tiredness, lethargy, fatigue
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aches and pains
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high or low blood pressure
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anaemia
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dizziness, fainting
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tinnitus
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oedema; swollen feet, legs, fingers
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headache, migraine
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back ache, sciatica
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SPD (symphasis pubis disorder)
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mood swings, depression
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poor appetite, food aversions and cravings, bitter taste
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thirst
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rashes
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varicose veins
These symptoms are many and various: different women will experience different symptoms at different times throughout the pregnancy. There are no hard and fast rules, and the best way forward is one day at a time. Some lucky girls will feel well and fit throughout. However you may be experiencing your pregnancy we would encourage you to consider acupuncture as an excellent means of helping you to cope with what it may bring.
No matter how you are experiencing your pregnancy we always recommend that you come for treatment at 12, 24 and 36 weeks as these are the transition times in the course of the pregnancy. It is very beneficial to have acupuncture at this time as it brings an added boost to your energy just at the moment when the body is building up to switch gears.
The first trimester is all about the body building the placenta and about the foetus expanding cell by cell to create the form that becomes the baby. One reason so many women feel tired and nauseous in this time is due to the extraordinary amount of work that the body is going through and all the hormonal changes that are being experienced.
At 12 weeks there is a transition and the focus changes toward the development within the form. The placenta and the complexity of its structure are in place and now the emphasis shifts toward the enhancement of the foetal structure. The baby's organs and all the pathways are refined in this next trimester as the baby develops and grows.
At 24 weeks there is another transition as the emphasis again shifts. By now the foundation of the form is in place and the advancement of the extraordinary complexities of the nervous system are the focus of the baby's development. For the mother this is a time when the baby's growth is most obvious as the belly expands at an astonishing rate: it's during this trimester that you usually lose sight of your feet!
At 36 weeks there is yet another transition, this time into the pre-labour phase. The baby has finished its development, and from 36 wks to term the baby will just grow. From here on it is all about the accommodation between pelvis and foetus , as the mother's body and the baby begin to prepare for the big push….
Having acupuncture at these key transitions in the pregnancy can greatly enhance the health of both mother and baby. The Chinese have been studying pregnancy and childbirth for thousands of years; these transition treatments are understood to have beneficial effect on the development of the foetus, and to help to strengthen the mother at these important moments between the trimesters.
You should always seek an acupuncturist who has experience of treating in pregnancy; it is important that they have had post graduate level training in acupuncture for pregnancy. It is always appropriate to ask any acupuncturist if they have had this sort of training. It is important to have a practitioner who clearly understands the delicacy of treatment at this special time (though it doesn't always feel special when you're hanging over a toilet losing your lunch!!).
Antenatal acupuncture is an effective way to treat the discomforts of pregnancy in the sure knowledge that it is safe and beneficial for the baby. |
