Yes! Acupuncture in pregnancy is safe!
Pregnancy is an amazing time of life, but can include a variety of new issues as your body changes. Acupuncture successfully treats morning sickness, sciatica, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and acid reflux. At the end of your pregnancy, you may hear about acupuncture for turning breech positioned babies and induction of labor. At Integrative Acupuncture in Montpelier and Williston, we work with your primary care provider or midwife to determine how acupuncture in pregnancy can provide natural solutions.
Breech Positioned Baby
With your primary care provider’s consent, we employ acupuncture and moxibustion therapies to try to turn breech or other non-favorable fetal presentations between weeks 31-37. A landmark study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1998 found that up to 75% of women suffering from breech presentations before childbirth had fetuses that rotated to the normal position after receiving moxibustion at an acupuncture point on the Bladder meridian.
Morning Sickness
Chinese medicine successfully treats morning sickness and has been thoroughly researched and proven. We view morning sickness as a disharmony between the Liver and Stomach, often due to underlying deficiency of the Spleen and Stomach. With acupuncture focusing on directing the Qi downwards and harmonizing the middle(Spleen and Stomach) we achieve quick results to decrease nausea. We also focus on the underlying deficient pattern to prevent the nausea and/or vomiting from continuing. A study from 2004 proved the effect of acupuncture on morning sickness.
Sciatica
Sciatica can effect women often in their third trimester when the excess weight can press on nerves and cause pain. We use gentle acupuncture techniques to relax muscles and increase circulation while women comfortably rest. Often acupuncture creates immediate effects and women will notice a reduction in pain right away. It is recommended to have treatment for sciatica during the end of pregnancy to reduce pain prior to labor.
Labor Preparation
With your primary care provider’s consent we will employ acupuncture techniques to deeply relax a full term pregnant woman. While we do not “induce” labor like pitocin may, we open the gates of Qi and create a movement of Qi and blood that frequently allows women to begin labor. This treatment is gentle and relaxing, but contractions may begin soon after. The providers at IAOM are experienced in treating women in all stages of pregnancy and have safely treated women prior to labor for years.
