 From 36 weeks the body makes a transition out of the 3rd trimester into the pre-labour phase. This is an excellent time to have acupuncture treatment. In the weeks leading up to labour it is very important to be well rested and to develop a reserve of energy that will help to sustain a labour.
The reality for so many women is that they do work through most of their pregnancy, which more often than not creates a deficit of energy. Most women feel that they want to work as long as possible to utilise their maternity leave to have more time with their baby on the other side of labour.
I strongly advocate the importance of having enough rest time prior to labour. An extra few weeks may make all the difference to having a stronger labour, needing less intervention and having the capacity to recover more easily post partum.
When I first started this work I would have stood on the highest rooftop and shouted with all my might against the overuse of intervention protocols (there is a lot to say about this!), but as I have spent more and more time with labouring women I have come to realise that one of the reasons interventions become necessary is due to the fact that many women do not have the strength to sustain a strong labour.
Many women ask about having acupuncture in labour, and my answer is always to invest in pre-labour treatment first. The way that acupuncture can build up our reserves of energy is unique in complementary medicine, and allopathic medicine has no equivalent treatment.. The capacity of Chinese medicine to make a differential diagnosis means that we are able to attend to the unique needs of each individual.
Minor discomforts that women may be experiencing at this time, and which are considered normal, include heartburn, constipation, varicose veins, haemorrhoids, leg cramps, bleeding gums, nasal congestion, nosebleeds, backache, swelling of hands and feet, difficulty in sleeping, and increased anxiety and tiredness (why do we WANT to be pregnant!!). It is also normal to have profuse leucorrhoea, and to experience frequent urination as the baby drops, placing further pressure on the bladder.
Acupuncture treatment at this time is excellent for supporting the whole of the bodies systems and functions, helping to bring some relief from any of these potential symptoms. It is also an excellent time to spend with your practitioner thinking about your labour options, considering your birth plan, and mentally preparing for the task of labour. This is an excellent adjunct to any NCT or NHS antenatal classes you may be doing.
A recent study in NZ of women who had treatment in the final weeks to prepare for childbirth (as yet unpublished, this will be posted when available) has shown that the women in the control group who received pre-birth acupuncture experienced reduced time in labour, and had reduced intervention rates, including medical inductions and caesarean sections.
It was also noted by the midwives involved in the study that they observed a trend in the women who received pre-birth treatment to either go into spontaneous labour around their due dates, or if an induction was required to respond well to acupuncture induction and progress efficiently into a natural labour.
The pre-birth protocol consists of a treatment at 36 weeks, then weekly for week 37, 38 and 39. The protocol is designed to enhance optimal foetal position, and to help build the energy reserves of the mother. Depending on the mothers condition a 40 week treatment may be recommended, and acupuncture induction can be done from week 41.
Of all the work I do, I consider the opportunity to do pre-birth and post-partum treatment the most beneficial aspect of my obstetric practice. I highly recommend this treatment. |
