Acupuncture for Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a time of incredible transformation, and while it brings immense joy, it can also come with physical and emotional challenges. Acupuncture is a centuries-old practice rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine that offers a gentle and effective way to support the well-being of both Mother and baby. It can be used safely as soon as you’ve had a positive pregnancy test until you go into labour.

Acupuncture for Pregnancy, as part of your prenatal care, is about nurturing both the body and mind, ensuring you and your baby thrive. Tiny needles will usually be placed on the legs, arms and head. Most clients go into a state of deep rest or even fall asleep.

Here is how Pregnancy Acupuncture can support you at this time.

General Pregnancy Wellness
Even if you are lucky enough to have very few adverse pregnancy symptoms, Acupuncture is fantastic at maintaining equilibrium in the system. Baby is taking a lot from you at this time so we will support your blood, fluids and hormones, which you will reap the benefits when in labour, and after. It also creates a deep rest state, which benefits both you and your baby.

Alleviating Nausea and Sickness
Morning sickness, particularly in the first trimester, can be debilitating for many expectant mothers. Acupuncture has been shown to alleviate nausea and vomiting by calming the digestive system. This includes extreme morning sickness such as Hyperemesis Gravidarum. The Acupuncture points we use are so powerful they are used across the World in Cancer hospitals for patients experiencing nausea from cancer treatment.

Calming Stress and Anxiety
Pregnancy can bring about a range of emotions and it can be an anxious time, particularly if you’ve experienced pregnancy loss, have gone through fertility treatment or had a tricky pregnancy or birth in the past. Acupuncture calms the central nervous system and promotes the release of endorphins, the body's natural feel-good hormones.

Easing Aches and Pains
As your body changes to accommodate your growing baby, it's common to experience discomfort such as back pain, pelvic pain, and sciatica. Acupuncture can target specific points to relieve these aches by improving circulation, reducing inflammation, and promoting the body's natural healing processes.

Improved Sleep Quality
Sleep can become elusive during pregnancy, with factors like hormonal changes and physical discomfort making it difficult to rest. Acupuncture helps regulate sleep patterns by calming the nervous system and encouraging deeper, more restorative sleep.

Support for Digestive Health
Many pregnant women experience issues like heartburn, constipation, and bloating. Acupuncture aids digestion by regulating the energy flow through the stomach and intestines, helping to alleviate these common concerns and promoting overall digestive health.

Preparation for Labour
As you approach your due date, acupuncture is used to prepare your body for labour. It helps to soften the cervix and promote optimal positioning of the baby. Treatment for labour preparation is started from 36 weeks, ideally weekly until your due date. Research studies show this preparation can shorten the length of delivery time. The points used are mostly located on the lower leg as these are where the channels to the Uterus lie.

Encouraging the Natural Onset of Labour
When you reach your due date of 40 weeks, Acupuncture is used to encourage the natural onset of labour. It’s important to note that labour will not come earlier than it naturally should. If the baby is not ready, the baby won’t be coming. This treatment will only be given if you have had a healthy pregnancy, your baby is in the correct position and ideally, it’s good to have approval from your midwife. If all is well, Midwives usually highly encourage Acupuncture treatments to help the natural process along and keep you calm as labour approaches. Sometimes we may need another treatment at 41 weeks, and if you are trying to avoid chemical induction, a couple of treatments in one week can be beneficial.

Postpartum Recovery
The benefits of acupuncture extend beyond pregnancy. After birth, it can assist with recovery by balancing hormones, enhancing milk production, and supporting your emotional well-being as you adjust to life with your newborn.

A Safe and Nurturing Choice
Acupuncture during pregnancy is a safe and gentle therapy when performed by a qualified practitioner trained to degree-level. It offers a natural way to address the physical and emotional challenges of pregnancy, enhancing your overall well-being and helping you connect more deeply with your baby.

Please contact me if you’d like to discuss treatment in pregnancy and labour induction: Hello@theacupuncturepractice.com

“I booked in with Melanie after hearing great things about Acupuncture to encourage labour, and wanting to do whatever I could to avoid induction and have the home birth I’d planned. I started weekly appointments from 36 weeks, and then twice weekly from 40, which wasn’t needed for long as our baby girl arrived safely at home 10 days post due date without any intervention. The Acupuncture helped in a number of ways, rebalancing my body and preparing for a smooth spontaneous labour (I could feel baby moving into the optimum position during the sessions) and, just importantly, giving me space to be calm and rested in the last few days of pregnancy. I would spend the days after the session feeling very still and peaceful. Melanie is super knowledgeable and gentle (I have a needle phobia so I kept my eyes shut and felt very little) and she really listened to my needs, making sure each session targeted the problem areas. I had bad reflux and insomnia which drastically improved after the sessions. My baby is now 6 weeks old and I’ve booked in for a bit of TLC and me-time!”