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TCM and acupuncture during pregnancy and childbirth
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Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture During Pregnancy and Childbirth
Pregnancy is a wonderful time in a woman’s life, but also a very physically and emotionally demanding time.
Many pregnant women suffer from fatigue, nausea, backache and other conditions that are considered to be a "normal" part of pregnancy.
Acupuncture is a safe, gentle and effective way to address these issues and others since pregnant women are quite limited with western medical treatments.
Pregnancy is a time when many women look for natural remedies and non-invasive, drug-free treatments so as to not cause any harm or risk to the baby.
Acupuncture treatment during pregnancy benefits both mother and baby, and treatments are based on the stage of pregnancy to ensure a healthy birth, a healthy baby and indeed to maintain a healthy mum-to-be.
Most commonly seen conditions that acupuncture can help with during pregnancy include:
Morning sickness, nausea
Heartburn
Migraines / headaches
Constipation
Lower back pain
Anxiety
Oedema / swelling
Exhaustion
Depression
Lack of libido
Food cravings
Stress
Insomnia
Is acupuncture safe during pregnancy?
Yes, acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to help women support a healthy pregnancy and uncomplicated delivery.
When used by a professional acupuncturist, the treatment during pregnancy has no adverse effects and is completely safe for both the mum-to-be and the baby.
There are, however some acupuncture points which use is contraindicated during pregnancy - certain points should not be needled nor stimulated (like for example with acupressure or massage) during pregnancy as they may stimulate uterine contractions.
A fully qualified TCM practitioner will know which points can safely be used and which should be avoided and should discuss this with the mum-to-be.
Is Chinese herbal medicine safe during pregnancy?
Many Chinese herbs are safe to use during pregnancy - some herbs are very beneficial, such as herbs used to prevent a threatened miscarriage, for example.
However, like some acupuncture points are contraindicated so is the use of some herbs during pregnancy. A fully qualified TCM practitioner will know which herbs are safe to use and which are to be avoided.
The need for Chinese herbs during pregnancy is evaluated on an individual basis - herbs are prescribed only when absolutely necessary.
Recommended reading
Debra Betts
NZ Reg. Nurse, Lic Acupuncture British College,
Dip Ac, BHSc (Acupuncture)
With a background in nursing Debra graduated with a Diploma in Acupuncture from the London College of Acupuncture in 1989. Returning to New Zealand in 1991 she established a private practice specialising in pregnancy and women’s health care.
She began specifically developing and teaching acupuncture courses to midwives in 1997. This led to the publication of articles on the subject of the use of acupuncture in obstetric practice in 1999, the publication of her book "The Essential Guide to Acupuncture in Pregnancy & Childbirth" in 2006 and the oppertuntiy to lecture internationally on the use of obstetric acupuncture.
She currently acts as a supervisor for the New Zealand School of Acupuncture at the Lower Hutt hospital antenatal acupuncture clinic, while undertaking her PhD examining the effect of acupuncture on threatened miscarrige.
Debra offers a huge amount of information on her website: http://acupuncture.rhizome.net.nz/ but for further reading, please consider buying her book "Essential Guide to Acupuncture in Pregnancy Childbirth"
Published by
The Journal of Chinese Medicine
First published May 2006
Edited by
Peter Deadman and Inga Heese
Description
Hardback, 320 pages
8 pages of colour photographs with 40 illustrations
Twenty-Four chapters on the treatment of women through pregnancy, labour and the postnatal period, including:
Miscarriage, nausea & vomiting, heartburn, constipation, varicose veins, haemorrhoids, vulval varicosities, urinary tract infections, fatigue & exhaustion, musculoskeletal conditions, anaemia, insomnia, anxiety & depression, vaginal discharge & itching, itching of the skin, sinusitis, hypertension (PIH), oedema, small-for-dates babies, breech & posterior positions, prebirth treatments, induction, intrauterine death, labour & delivery, acupressure in labour and postnatal treatment.
There are also chapters that detail published research for pregnancy related conditions and in depth Western & Chinese dietary advice.
Appendices include:
Glossaries of Western and Chinese medicine terminology
A pictorial representation of pregnancy and birth
Medical tests carried out through pregnancy
Fully illustrated guide to location and needling of all points discussed in the text.
To buy the book, please visit the Journal of Chinese Medicine Bookshop at www.jcm.co.uk