“The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new.”
– Osho
Acupuncture for Pregnancy
Treat Pregnancy-related Conditions with Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
| Acid reflux | Fatigue | Pain (Back, Hips, Pelvis) |
| Anemia | Headaches | Placenta Previa |
| Anxiety | Heartburn | Pre-Birth Preparation |
| Blood clots | Hemorrhoids | Pre-eclampsia |
| Breech Presentation | Hyperemesis Gravidarum | Post-term pregnancy |
| Constipation | Insomnia | Prevention of Miscarriage |
| Cramping, spotting and bleeding | Migraines | Post-term pregnancy |
| Delayed Labor | Morning Sickness | Sciatica |
| Edema | Nausea and Vomiting | Vericose Veins |
First Trimester
0-12 weeks: The first trimester of pregnancy is both an exciting and delicate time of rapid growth for your baby.
We suggest weekly acupuncture treatments to nourish developing embryos, reduce stress to prevent uterine contractions, and increase blood flow to the pelvis.
Most times, miscarriage occurs in the first trimester. Over thousands of years, TCM has developed protocols unique to individual situations to ‘secure fetus’ or hold the baby where she should be. If you are experiencing worrisome cramping or bleeding, contact us to see what can be done in your case.
First Trimester Concerns:
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Emotional Changes
- Fatigue
- Frequent Urination
- Prevention of Miscarriage
Second Trimester
13-28 weeks: We recommend acupuncture once a month or as needed during the second trimester.
At this time, your body is undergoing physical changes and growth never previously experienced. A mothers growing uterus can offset her center of gravity and put strain on her back. As blood volume almost doubles, woman can experience shortness of breath and dizziness.
Second Trimester Concerns:
- Back Pain and Sciatica
- Heartburn and Constipation
- Shortness of Breath
- Dizziness
- Emotional Changes
- Placenta Previa
- Headaches and Migraines
Third Trimester
29-40 weeks: Birth Preparation Acupuncture Sessions. During this time, we continue to treat any discomfort that may arise, but most importantly we begin to prepare women for birth.
Labor and birth take an enormous amount of physical stamina, mental clarity and emotional strength. We recommend weekly acupuncture sessions beginning at 32 weeks to get your qi in the best possible shape before the big day. Between weeks 35-40, we recommend coming twice a week if possible.
Receiving regular acupuncture before birth can lead to punctual labor, fewer birth complications and interventions, and better health for Mother and baby.
Research indicates that women who receive pre-birth acupuncture have shorter labors. KUBISTA E, KUCERA H, GEBURTSHILFE PERINATOL 1974; 178 224-9.
Breech Presentation
We hope you will consider moxibustion and acupuncture if you learn that your baby is breech. For correcting breech presentation, the Chinese Medicine protocol is to burn moxa close to the skin on the little toes of both feet. Moxibustion is safe and usually very effective. In 1998, study published by the Journal of American Medical Association*, the moxa group had a 75.4% turn rate compared to the control group, which was at 47.7%.
CARDINI F. & WEIXIN H. (1998). MOXIBUSTION FOR CORRECTION OF BREECH PRESENTATION: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL. JAMA 280(18), 1580-1584.
Post Term Acupuncture
41+weeks
Getting things started the natural way
TCM gets women ready for birth in a natural way, unlike the way the phrase ‘induction of labor’ is commonly used now. Western medicine protocols for labor induction include both physical or mechanical means and pharmacological medications, which can often lead to more interventions. If a mother wants to avoid this, we can use acupuncture and other gentle methods to prompt the start of natural labor. Often times, labor is stalled due to emotional stress or fear.
We help women identify their fears in order to create the space for new life to emerge. Acupuncture helps prepare and soften the cervix, balance hormones and encourages the smooth flow of energy needed for birth.
Post Partum
The post partum period in a woman’s life begins the instant her baby is born. We like to refer to this time as the ‘fourth trimester’, and we believe that women need as much support, in some cases even more, than during their pregnancy.
Six weeks post-birth is the recognized time frame for post-partum, however, many physical and emotional issues can persist for months and even a year or more.
Acupuncture for Postpartum Care:
- Engorgement
- Plugged milk ducts
- Insufficient Lactation
- Mastitis
- Stop Bleeding (Extended Lochia)
- Hemorrhoids
- Irregular Sweating
- Abdominal Cramping and Pain
- Pain at Incision Site and Pain Due to Episiotomy
- Constipation
- Hair Loss
- Hormone Balancing
- Depression and Anxiety
Postpartum Depression
Having a baby is an enormous life change and intense emotions can be part of that. Postpartum depression (PPD) is a type of clinical depression that can affect women after giving birth. When you find that your emotions are impacting your life in a negative way, it’s time to reach out for help.
Studies report that 5%-25% of new mothers may experience PPD.
TCM is immensely helpful for calming the mind, reigning in anxiety and balancing hormones that may be causing emotional unrest. Some symptoms of postpartum depression include: sadness, fatigue, crying spells, irritability, anxiety, changes in sleep, decreased or increased appetite, and in few cases, psychosis.
You do not have to live with these symptoms. Help is available.
Women’s Health
We treat all areas of women’s health, not just issues related to fertility. We offer support for menopause, painful periods, pms, uti’s and cystitis. Please contact us for more information.