84 Burnett St Bundaberg
Have you ever wondered whether acupuncture can be used during pregnancy, and which symptoms it can help with? Whether you’re suffering from pregnancy symptoms or you’re just looking to be your healthiest, happiest self, acupuncture might be an option to consider. Let's answer the question, can acupuncture support me during pregnancy?
The symptoms of morning sickness can range from mild and annoying through to debilitating. Unfortunately, the medical consensus is that the exact cause of morning sickness is unknown, which means that conventional treatments are limited.
One option that could help to relieve symptoms of nausea is acupuncture. Studies suggest that women who undergo acupuncture report less nausea and dry retching compared to controls.
One recent review concluded that acupuncture was an effective option for hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), a severe form of morning sickness that often leads to hospital admission for the mother.
The human body goes under a rapid transformation during the process of pregnancy. Unfortunately, the physical and hormonal shifts that occur can also leave you prone to experiencing more pain in your muscles and joints. Common areas of discomfort include:
However, you could experience pain anywhere in the body, particularly if it’s weakened or previously injured. For example, if you’ve previously dislocated your knee, the increased weight on the joint can flare up the symptoms.
The good news is that acupuncture can be used as a tool to to alleviate your symptoms of musculoskeletal aches and pains.
General aches and pains are not the only source of discomfort during pregnancy. The changes to the body and weight distribution put you at a higher risk of several musculoskeletal conditions, including:
As acupuncture helps to relieve symptoms of pain, it is a handy option to use when pregnancy-related symptoms arise. Research also suggests that acupuncture may have anti-inflammatory properties, which could further help to address conditions that involve inflammation.
Although pregnancy can be a happy time for many, it often comes with increased stress levels. This can be due to a variety of reasons including:
Although it’s natural for stress to be higher during this time, elevated stress can increase the risk of some health issues for both you and your baby. So you do want to start taking steps to actively manage your stress levels.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed and stressed out, acupuncture can be a great addition to your stress management toolkit.
Although it’s not as well-known as postpartum depression, depression during pregnancy occurs in up to 15% of women. This can make it harder for the mother to take care of herself, as well as increasing the risk of issues such as pre-term birth, miscarriage and low birth weight.
Studies suggest that acupuncture may be a viable treatment for depressive symptoms. One found that acupuncture was more effective compared to usual treatment in symptoms of depression, stress and psychological distress.
We strongly recommend seeking psychological help if you do experience symptoms such as depression or anxiety during your pregnancy. However, you may still like to add acupuncture in as a secondary support option for your symptoms.
Last but not least, acupuncture is a great modality to add into your pregnancy care plan because it helps to support your general wellbeing. Pregnancy can be a taxing experience for the body and mind, but taking time out to take care of yourself can help to boost general wellbeing.
Like any health-related treatment, there is a small percentage of people who may experience side effects. Acupuncture is considered a generally safe modality for the general population.
There are some specific acupuncture points and treatments that are best avoided prior to 37 weeks, as they may stimulate uterine contractions. This is why it’s important to work with an acupuncturist who has experience in pregnancy acupuncture treatments.
Are you considering acupuncture as a tool throughout your pregnancy journey? Our acupuncturist Jamie is here to help.
Jamie has extensive experience with pregnancy acupuncture, and he understands the importance of being gentle and compassionate with his clients.
By using acupuncture along with other tools such as dry needling and remedial massage techniques, he can help to alleviate common symptoms experienced throughout pregnancy such as pain and stress.
To book an acupuncture appointment with Jamie at our Bundaberg clinic, book an appointment online here or call us on (07) 41522372
