Pregnancy is both an exciting and beautiful experience in a woman’s life. It is also a period of vulnerability for the expectant mother because of the many changes occurring in her body. For over 3,000 years, Classical Chinese Medicine has promoted specialized treatments for women during pregnancy and postpartum recovery. Pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum recovery are windows of opportunity to enhance both mother and child’s state of health. Conversely, if proper care is not taken then problems may arise and continue long after childbirth. Therefore, value is placed on promoting preventative care before, during, and after pregnancy in order to strengthen both mother, baby, and mitigate problems as they occur. Acupuncture, therapeutic bodywork, botanicals, lifestyle and nutritional modifications can be used in a variety of ways to promote fetal and maternal health. The combination of these offers a safe, effective, and drug free treatment option during pregnancy and in the postpartum window.
First Trimester
At this time, resources and energy are diverted to nourish the rapid development of the baby. Weekly acupuncture is recommended during these early months to build a strong foundation, prevent miscarriage, build blood and energy supplies, and manage pregnancy symptoms. Common symptoms addressed are fatigue, nausea, headache, constipation, colds/flu, insomnia, anxiety, dizziness and vaginal bleeding.
Second Trimester
This is a time of great change to the mother’s body and tremendous growth for the baby. Acupuncture can help with structural alignment, body aches and pain, digestive issues, acid reflux, swelling, carpal tunnel, frequent urination, gestational diabetes, among others. For pregnancies without complications, once or twice a month acupuncture treatments, as needed are beneficial.
Third Trimester
During this time, the mother’s body continues to expand to accommodate the growing baby and prepares for birth. Treatment focus is geared to relax the muscles in the uterus and abdomen, help the baby turn, soften the cervix, and calm the mind. Once-a-week treatments are recommended throughout the last trimester to promote a natural labor.
Pre-Birth
It is recommended that you start pre-birth acupuncture during week 36-37 of your pregnancy. Pre-birth acupuncture is shown to be beneficial in tonifying the body in preparation for birth. Pre-birth treatments can reduce labor time and epidural rates, promote a reduction in medical interventions, and increase blood flow to the pelvic organs to maximize oxygen, blood, and nutrient delivery. Aside from promoting a smooth vaginal birth, your acupuncture treatments can also be individually tailored to include points that encourage rotation of a breech-presenting baby, encourage a post-date pregnancy to move forward, and relieve any anxieties associated with your upcoming birth.
Postpartum Care
The postpartum period is a special and delicate time for both the mother and baby. Immediately following birth, a woman’s constitutional resources have been depleted during delivery and throughout her pregnancy by the demands of her growing baby. This depleted constitutional state can potentially throw the body into a pattern of deficiency, which can cause a multitude of mental and physical postpartum symptoms, including:
- Depression and anxiety
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Hot flashes
- Perineal pain
- Backache
- Insufficient lactation or excessive milk production
- Mastitis
- Urinary difficulty
- Incontinence
- Constipation
- Hemorrhoids
