Acupuncture is the ancient Chinese method where tiny needles are used to stimulate particular areas or body “meridians” to rebalance the energy of your body. Can Acupuncture help with Pregnancy? Due to the effects of acupuncture for chronic conditions, most pregnant women are now going for acupuncture in providing drug-free relief from many of the unpleasant symptoms of pregnancy.
In all the purported uses of acupuncture, it is not a surprise, that it is effective in pregnant women treatment. Most women are looking for drug-free treatment for some conditions related to pregnancy. Hence, acupuncture without any contraindications, has highly been sought after since women will learn that it is both beneficial and safe for the baby and mother.
Scheduling a balanced treatment regularly throughout your pregnancy will enhance the mother’s health. This influences your baby’s development, and assist in preventing complications at childbirth. The acupuncture treatments will be given once a month until the final month. Then weekly sessions help prepare for your labor.
An Australian study shows that women who have been regularly given acupuncture treatments before the 14th week of their pregnancy had shorter bouts and less nausea of morning sickness compared to those who were not given the treatment. Acupuncture has also been used to treat more serious condition hyperemesis gravidarum. This can cause serious vomiting which persists during the course of pregnancy.
During the second trimester, acupuncture can be used successfully to treat hemorrhoids and heartburn. In your third trimester, acupuncture will provide relief from joint pain, sciatica as well as carpal tunnel syndrome, which you will develop late during your pregnancy. The Acupuncture can be used in relieving pain during delivery and labor.
Pregnant women looking for the use of acupuncture for treating conditions that developed in the course of pregnancy need to visit an experienced and licensed acupuncturist. For instance, even though acupuncture is used in treating swelling of the ankles or edema, this will be a sign of a serious problem. An acupuncturist who is experienced in handling pregnant women treatment will recognize the problem and refer the patient back to her obstetrician. Acupuncturists are expected to be well informed and always be learning, so acupuncture continuing education resources should be leveraged frequently.
Risks
There is a serious risk for the use of acupuncture at pregnancy. It will stimulate labor when it is not applied properly. You should choose a practitioner who is experienced to reduce this risk to nearly negligible levels. Most women have turned to acupuncture usage to stimulate labor purposefully when their babies are overdue.
Some women have found that labor induced through acupuncture is gentler compared to labor induced through drugs like Pitocin. Besides the benefits of acupuncture during pregnancy, labor as well as delivery, it can be used in promoting fertility and in treating infertility.
Conclusion
Can Acupuncture help with Pregnancy? Acupuncture can assist with your pregnancy. You should find a certified acupuncture practitioner who is experienced in treating women who are pregnant. Acupuncturists with adequate training in the care for pregnant women can recognize the potentially serious nature of certain symptoms and only offer care that coincides with your primary care doctor or obstetrician.