Acupuncture During Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be a wonderful time for many, but it can also present certain difficulties, such as aches, discomfort, and morning sickness. While some seek support from contemporary or conventional care, others turn to alternative medicine.

One alternative to medical treatments is acupuncture. This practice has been important in Asian cultures for many years and has spread to Western cultures, where it is now a popular method for managing pain.

It can help with these pregnancy-related problems, particularly the alleviation of pelvic and back pain. Is it a safe option, though? In this talk, we'll examine the advantages, dangers, and security of acupuncture.

Key Takeaways

• Acupuncture is a medical technique with a centuries-old history, originating in China sometime before 100 BCE.
• The practice has been shown to reduce stress, morning sickness, aches, and pains.

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a key element of the ancient traditional Chinese medicine practice based on the realignment and balancing of one’s qi (pronounced as chi). This practice involves penetrating the skin using ultra-thin metallic needles and specific gentle movements. 

Needle placement in acupuncture isn’t done randomly but is done on specific parts of the body and is dependent on the ailment. Acupuncturists believe there are over 2000 acupuncture points linked through different meridians, which are ​​passageways that allow energy to flow in the body.  However, the World Health Organization (WHO) proposes a standard 361 organized in 14 meridians. 

What does acupuncture while pregnant feel like?

When done correctly, an acupuncture session has little pain as the needle penetrates the skin at the point where there’s pressure or an ache. Sometimes the needles are heated or passed through a mild electric current.

The FDA regulates acupuncture needles but the acupuncturist must ensure the needles are sterilized to prevent infection. The process must be done gently to avoid pain reiterating the importance of finding a well-trained and experienced acupuncturist. 

Acupuncturists employ a variety of techniques to stimulate the acupuncture points in addition to needles, such as:

• Acupressure: Applying pressure on the acupuncture points using fingers.
• Cupping: Placing special cups on the skin as suction to draw blood to or away from a specific area on the body. 
• Moxibustion: Burning the herb “moxa” on or above the skin to warm and stimulate specific points on the body. 
• Dermal friction: Using short brisk strokes on the surface of the skin on the acupuncture channels.  

Acupuncture is a highly effective practice and when pressure is applied on certain points meridians are unblocked and movement of qi is restored, resulting in improvement of health. This results in one feeling relaxed or energized. 

Benefits of Acupuncture During Pregnancy

Pregnancy can come with stress, tiredness, aches, and inability to sleep, among many other conditions. These can have a negative effect on one’s pregnancy journey and lead to or worsen other complications like:

• Preeclampsia and eclampsia
• High blood pressure
• Longer labor
• An elevated perception of pain and discomfort during labor
• Higher cesarean rates
• Preterm labor
• Gestational diabetes

As acupuncture during pregnancy becomes a great alternative for many, healthcare providers are encouraging pregnant patients to try it. In fact, one study showed how three weeks of acupuncture in pregnant women tremendously reduced tiredness. 

Pregnancy limits the medication you can take and acupuncture can be used to gain relief from:

General discomfort

Pregnancy can come with general discomfort, particularly as it progresses. Getting acupuncture while pregnant is a great way to minimize this discomfort. 

Lower back and pelvic pain

Low back pain and pelvic pain are quite common during pregnancy, and they can continue even after delivery. Acupuncture during pregnancy can significantly improve pain and functional status in women with lower back or pelvic pain and has no observable adverse effects on the newborns. 

Morning sickness

Morning sickness affects about 75% of pregnant women in their first trimester and about 50% suffer from both vomiting and nausea. Some studies have shown that acupuncture can be an effective solution to treat nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy, especially that which targets the wrist.  

Heartburn

Heartburn is a common gut issue in pregnant women and is caused by pregnancy hormones affecting the muscle that keeps food in the stomach and letting acid in the stomach come back up the throat. The symptoms can be severe and distressing and acupuncture helps to alleviate these symptoms when pressure is applied on the acupuncture point Stomach 44 (on the web between the 2nd and 3rd toes).  

Water retention

Water retention in pregnancy affects many pregnant women and comes about when the extra water in your body moves to the lowest parts of the body, especially if it's hot or you have been standing a lot. The pressure of your growing womb can also affect blood flow and cause fluid to build up in your legs, ankles, and feet.

Acupuncture helps to re-balance and strengthen kidney function reducing the need to use pharmaceutical products such as diuretics which can be harmful to the mother and baby.

Stress

Pregnancy can be a stressful time, especially when lack of sleep is added to the mix. Acupuncture in pregnancy health has been used to promote stress management. 

Sleep problems 

Getting a good night’s sleep can get trickier with pregnancy due to the growing belly, the aches, the pains, and the heartburn. Some research shows that getting acupuncture while pregnant can improve sleep quality through increasing melatonin secretion. 

Is Acupuncture During Pregnancy Safe?

When done professionally and correctly, acupuncture during pregnancy can be a great alternative, and medical bodies such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) say that non-conventional therapies like acupuncture are considered safe.  

However, like anything else during pregnancy, it’s important to consult with your healthcare provider before beginning acupuncture. Not only that, the acupuncture practitioner should be knowledgeable and adhere to the best practices like:

• Avoiding certain puncture points like the Hegu (L14) that can cause uterine contractions or lower abdominal points (CV3-CV7), which can stimulate the uterus. 
• Using sterilized and disposable needles to prevent infections.
• Avoiding skin injuries from broken needles.
• Sealing acupuncture points with clean swabs.
• Clearly marking acupuncture points.
• Safely disposing of needles in a clinical waste bin.
• Maintaining a clean environment.

In Summary

Acupuncture during pregnancy has several benefits including reducing nausea and stress, relieving pain, and improving the quality of the pregnant mother’s journey. Though studies have shown its great benefits, acupuncture is still not for everyone. If you choose to see an acupuncturist, talk with your healthcare provider first and get a licensed and well-trained acupuncturist.