Pregnancy and Labour

Pregnancy is a time to nurture and prepare for your bouncing bundle of joy arriving in nine months.

To make your pregnancy a little easier, Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine may help to provide a safe natural alternative to alleviating common pregnancy concerns such as:

Nausea and Vomiting

Acupuncture may help to decrease mild to moderate cases of nausea and vomiting due to pregnancy.  Approximately 50% of pregnancies will experience some form of nausea and or vomiting.  Most pregnancies have an increased occurrence during the first trimester with symptoms peaking at 8-10 weeks and subsiding by 12-14 weeks. These symptoms can be debilitating and exhausting, acupuncture may be a natural non-invasive means of managing these symptoms. Note individual reactions to treatment will vary, depending on unique health histories. 

Fatigue

Fatigue is part for the course during pregnancy.  As our bodies change to feed and grow this new little being, our bodies resources are taxed.  Staying healthy is key during pregnancy, while fatigue is a normal side effect during pregnancy. Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine can be a safe method to improve your body’s resources to help build more nutrients and better support your own body and baby.  We strive to ensure that you and your baby have a healthy happy pregnancy by helping your body remain balanced while managing your symptoms of fatigue.

Pain

The two most common forms of pain experienced during pregnancy are low back pain and pelvic girdle pain, both of which can be excruciating and debilitating.  The pain of stretching muscles, increased weight and the complete change in your body structure can cause discomfort, our treatments can help decrease inflammation to help manage pain better.  

Here is how we can try and help:

• Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine can be used safely prior to pregnancy and all the way throughout your pregnancy. 
• Provided by a Registered Massage Therapist, Massage Therapy is the manipulation of the soft tissues of the body including muscles, connective tissue, tendons, ligaments and joints. Massage therapy helps alleviate the soft tissue discomfort associated with physical stress of a pregnancy, muscular over-use and many chronic pain conditions.
• Pregnancy massage is beneficial throughout the entire nine months of pregnancy; however, if you are having a high risk pregnancy it is best to discuss your condition with your midwife or physician before seeking a therapist.

Pre-Labour and Labour Induction Acupuncture

What happens to your body prior to labour?

During pregnancy your cervix is closed and elongated. As you approach labour, the cervix becomes thinner (effacement) as the cervix contracts, and prior to birth the cervix begins to open (dilate), beginning the process of labour, eventually opening to about 10 centemetres allowing for the passage of the baby.

How can Labour Induction Acupuncture Help?

The key concept and treatment philosophy is catered to promoting blood flow throughout the body, decrease emotional anxieties and helping to trigger uterine contractions which can help the baby to descend further into the pelvis and soften the cervix.

A study conducted by Harper TC and Others, published in The Journal of Maternal Fetal and Neonatal Medicine (2006) found “70% of women who received acupuncture went into labor on their own, compared to 50% who received standard care.

Expectation of Treatment

Treatment is given while you are comfortably resting on your side or in a seated position with lots of pillows. Needles are placed in specific acupuncture points and remain in for 20-30 minutes. During this time you will probably feel your baby kicking up a storm from the stimulation of the acupuncture. This is normal and a very good sign. After treatment, typical reactions will include more consistent uterine contractions and the gradual progression of the baby moving down.

Treatment success rates vary, and some individuals require just one treatment while others may require several treatments. Treatments are generally spaced out 48 hours apart to observe progression.

 Acupuncture Prior to Labour may be helpful for: