Perinatal Care and Acupuncture

Moms-to-be want nothing more than their babies to come out as healthy as they can be. For many, taking their supplements, eating healthy, and doing exercises that are safe for pregnant women is one way of achieving a healthy pregnancy. However, many women still experience perinatal depression. This condition starts from the 20th week of pregnancy until 1 to 4 weeks after giving birth.

Acupuncture has been known to offer a lot of health benefits to people, especially to pregnant women, since it was introduced to western medicine. It’s simply the most effective drug-free alternative to contemporary medicine. As the baby develops inside the womb, the mother’s body faces new challenges. As the mother adapts to these changes, acupuncture can provide them with a natural way to cope and address any issues that may come with pregnancy.

Here are some of the benefits of how acupuncture can help women during the perinatal period:

Helps Reduce Pelvic and Lower Back Pain

As the baby grows inside the womb, many structures are pushed back to make room for the growing baby. In a study conducted by the Health of Women and Children found that acupuncture helped in alleviating pelvic and lower back pain caused by pregnancy. They used the LR3 point on the foot which targets the lower back and girdle area of the body. Another research in 2015 done by the Cochrane review revealed that acupuncture was more effective in treating back pain than the usual prenatal care.

Alleviates Nausea and Vomiting

Research from Adelaide University in Australia has also uncovered the benefits of acupuncture in alleviating nausea and vomiting in pregnant women. By stimulating the pericardium-6 point which is located just below the wrist, pregnant women reported less nausea and vomiting associated with morning sickness.

Relieve Headaches

Because of constant fatigue, tiredness, increased hunger, and emotional stress, women are more prone to developing headaches during pregnancy. Women who went for acupuncture reported that there was a decrease in the frequency and intensity of headaches they experience. It also lessened their need to take medications which can affect the developing baby.

Promotes Better Sleep

If a woman is pregnant, she’s bound to experience difficulty in sleeping be it because of the constant movement of her baby or she’s having a hard time finding a comfortable sleeping position. In a study published in Acupuncture Medicine, acupuncture therapy was known to help in promoting better sleep among the subjects. They also found out that it could help in treating insomnia.

Anti-Depressant

One of the most common mood disorders that both peripartum and post-partum women. Researchers from Stanford University School of Medicine conducted a study on pregnant women who experienced a major depressive disorder. Some of them were given acupuncture treatment targeted for treating depression for eight weeks while the subjects under the control group were given normal acupuncture coupled with a massage. The results showed that those who have undergone therapy experienced lesser instances of depression compared to the control group.

Corrects Baby’s Breech Position

Breech pregnancies constitute about 4% of all pregnancies. Usually, women are advised to go into a Cesarean section if the baby is breech. However, a combination of moxibustion protocol and acupuncture has been known to help turn a breech baby so that the head becomes the presenting part during delivery. This method involves warming the little toe of the pregnant woman using a moxa, a combination of herb and mugwort, and placing acupuncture needles on certain points.

This method is believed to help create extra space in the uterus which the baby can use should she want to turn anytime. Women have also reported increased fetal movements in response to the treatment. Be sure to have your baby’s position checked by your OB-Gyne now and then.

If you’re planning to try acupuncture therapy, you might want to consult your doctor first. This should always be your first task if you’re thinking of trying on any alternative medicine to boost your health. Remember, that anything the mother does can affect the child inside her, as well.