Many scientific studies have been conducted to verify the benefits of acupuncture during pregnancy.
They have found that acupuncture can be a safe and worthwhile complementary treatment during pregnancy.
For pregnancy, acupuncture helps to relieve a host of symptoms, assists with labor, and even aids in correcting a breech presentation.
Acupuncture And Pregnancy
- Fertility – Acupuncture is helpful even before you are pregnant. Whether alone or with assisted reproductive technologies, it can improve the chances of you becoming pregnant.
- Gastrointestinal upsets – Most women prefer acupuncture over medication, with vomiting and nausea related to morning sickness showing improvements from the first session. It also alleviates heartburn and constipation.
- Pain and swelling – Acupuncture can help significantly to ease pain in the lower back, pelvic pain, swelling in the legs and carpal tunnel syndrome, all common during the second and third trimesters.
- Breech position – Acupuncture (in conjunction with moxibustion) relaxes the muscles in the uterus and abdomen, as it controls the movements of the uterus. This creates the ideal conditions for the baby to turn.
- Sleep problems and fatigue – Getting sufficient sleep is one of the biggest challenges in pregnancy. Acupuncture can help pregnant women get more restful and rejuvenating sleep. It also increases fuel production and energy levels, helping women cope with the physical toll of pregnancy.
- Stress, mild to moderate depression, and headaches – Here, acupuncture provides a safe alternative to medication. It significantly reduces stress and anxiety during pregnancy, labor and delivery. Depression, which affects nearly a quarter of pregnant women, can also be alleviated with acupuncture, as can the occurrence of pregnancy-induced headaches.
- Labor induction and shortening the length of labor – Acupuncture can be used to prepare the mother’s body for labor and delivery. It is also effective at reducing the length of labor and lessening the need for medical interventions.
- Postnatal – Acupuncture assists physical and mental recovery after delivery, preventing fatigue and mood swings. It can improve blood circulation, leading to improved breast milk supply. Other postpartum issues commonly treated with acupuncture are urination difficulty, abdominal cramps, bleeding, hair loss, fever, night sweats and mastitis.
While acupuncture is not a substitute for Western prenatal medical care, it offers many benefits as a complementary treatment.
Related link: Research Studies of Acupuncture on Pregnancy Related Issues