Pregnancy

For over 3000 years traditional Chinese medicine has promoted specialised treatment for women in promoting fertility pregnancy care and post Patron recovery. Today this care is being increasingly valued in New Zealand as it is in England Germany and France where acupuncture is available in specialised antenatal clinics and maternity hospitals.

Pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal recovery are viewed in traditional Chinese Medicine as a window of opportunity to enhance the women's well-being. Conversely if adequate care is not taken the resulting problems may continue long after birth.

Value is there for placed on promoting preventative care to strengthen the mother and baby as well as dealing with problems as they occur during pregnancy.

Acupuncture can be used in a variety of ways to promote foetal and maternal health.

Nausea during pregnancy.

Acupuncture is often very effective in reducing both the severity and incidence of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Research from Australia, birth 29:1 March 2002, highlighted that women receiving traditional acupuncture, were points chosen according to an individual traditional Chinese Medicine diagnosis experienced faster nausea relief when compared to those groups receiving routinely prescribed points.

Promoting baby development.

There are treatments at 3 and 6 months specifically promoted as being useful to optimise foetal development. Treatment can also be applied if a baby is considered to be small for gestational age.

Muscular - Skeletal pain.

Back pain, rib pain, sciatica and symphysis pubis pain are common in the later stages of pregnancy and can all be markedly reduced with acupuncture.

Back pain in early pregnancy can be due to other causes and should be thoroughly checked out by a midwife or GP before commencing with acupuncture treatment.

Hypertension.

Acupuncture can have an important role in assisting to reduce high blood pressure, especially if treatment is commenced early when hypertension is first noted. The effectiveness of acupuncture will be reflected in the improved blood pressure readings and blood test used by midwives and GPS to detect possible complications.

As hypertension has the potential to escalate quickly ongoing monitoring with a midwife or GP remains essential throughout pregnancy.

Breech babies.

Research from Italy Cardidni F 1998 Journal of the American Medical Association 280(18):1580-1584 has shown that at 34 weeks the use of moxibustion can have a significant effect in helping to turn breech babies. Ideally treatment is at 34 to 35 weeks, but can still be useful when used later in the pregnancy. Techniques can also be used to help babies that are not in the optimal position prior to birth such as those in a posterior position.

Labour preparation.

Three weeks prior to the due date a treatment to prepare the pelvis and cervix is advised. This is followed by one treatment per week until labour commences. Research from Germany, Kubista E, Kucera H Geburtshilfe Perinatol 1974; 178 224-9 and reports from New Zealand midwives indicate the potential for a more efficient active stage of labour and a reduction in women requiring medical intervention.

Induction.

Acupuncture can provide a gentle inducement to labour if the baby is overdue and can be an effective alternative to a Syntocinon drip or prostaglandin gel induction.

Pain relief during labour.

Acupuncture offers drug free alternatives for pain relief during labour. In studies women also report greater feelings of control and satisfaction with their birth experience. Acupressure provides similar results with the advantage that support people can use it during labour. A free booklet on using acupressure can be downloaded at www.acupuncture.org.nz.

Other pregnancy problems.

Treatments can be used to relieve a variety of conditions including:

  • Anaemia

  • Anxiety

  • Constipation

  • Carpal tunnel syndrome

  • Heartburn

  • Hemorrhoids and Vulval varices

  • Insomnia

  • Oedema

  • Headaches and sinus problems

  • Threatened miscarriage

  • Tiredness and exhaustion

  • Thrush

Postnatal care.

Acupuncture has techniques to promote recovery these include mother warming treatments that can be given by her partner, advice on diet and the use of specific strengthening and blood building herbs.

Other conditions that can be helped by acupuncture include insufficient lactation, wound healing and Scar Tissue repair, postnatal depression and urinary incontinence.

Acupuncture offers a safe effective and drug-free treatment during pregnancy.