Pregnancy and Postpartum Acupuncture
Pregnancy and Postpartum Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a very safe and supportive way to help ease women through the various physical and emotional changes occurring each trimester. It also helps ensure a comfortable, healthy pregnancy and is very effective in addressing the profound changes women experience postpartum.
Commonly treated pregnancy and postpartum conditions include:
Abdominal pain after childbirth
Anemia
Anxiety & depression
Back, hip, and pelvic pain
Breastfeeding challenges
Breech & posterior positions
Caesarean recovery
Cervical ripening
Cholestasis
Coccyx injury
Constipation
Digestive irregularities
Edema
Fatigue & exhaustion
Frequent urination
Gestational diabetes
Headaches & migraines
Heartburn
Hemorrhoids, varicose veins, vulvar varicosities
Hypertension in pregnancy
Insomnia
Itching
IUGR
Labour preparation
Mastitis
Miscarriage prevention
Muscle cramps
Musculoskeletal pain
Nausea and vomiting
Poly/oligohydramnios
Pre-eclampsia
Pubic symphysis pain
PUPPP rash
Rib pain
Sciatica
Symphysis diastasis
Tears and episiotomy
Threatened miscarriage
Urinary tract infections
Vaginal discharge and itching
Birth Preparation
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Birth preparation acupuncture is relaxing, safe, and wonderfully effective to help reduce rates of medical induction, caesarean section, and interventions such as epidurals; promotes a faster, smoother, less painful labour, and creates feelings of calmness. Women find these treatments very relaxing and beneficial while inspiring faith in their bodies and the birthing process. 💜
Birth preparation acupuncture treatments are recommended weekly from 36 weeks onward. Commonly known as ‘cervical ripening’, these treatments help facilitate a smooth birth process by softening and ripening the cervix, relaxing the pelvic floor muscles to allow more space for baby, increasing blood circulation to the uterus, encouraging baby to descend into the birth canal in the optimal position, promoting the release of oxytocin which helps the uterine muscles effectively contract when needed, and calming the nervous system to ease nervousness, fear, and anxiety.
Any other symptoms a woman might be experiencing in late pregnancy such as heartburn, sleep difficulties, back/hip pain, swollen hands and feet, leg cramps, and headaches can also be addressed and alleviated during birth preparation acupuncture treatments.
Research shows that birth preparation acupuncture treatments:
1) Reduce the time spent in the first stage of the birth process (the period of time between 3cm dilated and full dilation) by an average of 2 hours
2) Reduce the number of inductions in first time Mama’s by 43% and 35% in all others
3) Reduce rates of epidural usage by 31%
4) Reduce emergency C-section rates by 32%
5) Increase vaginal birth rates by 9%
See research here and click 'read full text' on the right hand side.