Acupuncture and Pregnancy

How could Acupuncture help me throughout my Pregnancy?

For over 2000 years Traditional Chinese Medicine has promoted specialised treatment for pregnant women and after birth. In more recent years acupuncture is becoming more widely used in pregnancy and recommended by midwives and antenatal clinics as it can be used in a variety of ways to promote foetal and maternal health.

Pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal recovery are viewed in Traditional Chinese Medicine a window of opportunity to enhance the woman’s health and well being.

According to some research studies acupuncture during pregnancy can help with:

• Nausea
• Musculoskeletal Pain
• Pelvic pain
• To promote general wellbeing

Nausea during Pregnancy

One of the most well known uses of acupuncture in pregnancy is for reducing both the severity and incidence of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.
Research undertaken in 2002 has shown that:

“Acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment for women who experience nausea and dry retching in early pregnancy.” Smith C, Crowther C, Beilby J. (2002)
“Pregnancy outcome following women’s participation in a randomised controlled trial of acupuncture to treat nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy”. Complement. Ther Med. 10:78-83

Pre-Birth Acupuncture

Independant research indicates that acupuncture treatments can be used pre-birth to help with: