Pregnancy and Labour
Pregnant women are looking for safe, natural alternatives to the effective and sometimes risky methods of modern obstetrics. Acupuncture is useful because it can treat functional disorders in pregnancy with minimal side effects. It can support women and babies through the process of birth without interfering in their relationship. Acupuncture is best known for its powerful analgesic effects, and mental and emotional relaxing properties, which make it a useful complement to conventional care.
Research has shown that acupuncture may be able to help with the following conditions (Roemer 2000):
During pregnancy
- nausea and vomiting
- bleeding, imminent abortion
- oedema
- hyper/hypotension
- premature labour
- pain, such as backache, carpel tunnel syndrome
- addictions
- positioning of the baby, such as breech
- preparation for birth
During delivery
- lessening complications
- alleviating pain, relaxing
- protracted birth due to functional causes
After the birth
- pain, after pain, episiotomy, soreness
- painful or delayed lactation
- mastitis
- constipation
- urinary disorders
- depression
- insomnia
Moxibustion for Breech presentation.
Breech presentation of babies is common in the mid trimester of pregnancy, and while many babies will turn themselves before the onset of labour, some do not. A baby coming bottom first can have more difficulty being born, and a caesarean section is often suggested.
Moxibustion, a type of Chinese medicine which involves burning a herb close to the skin, may be helpful in turning a breech baby when applied to the little toe. Moxibustion involves burning a herb close to the skin over an acupuncture point Bladder 67 (BL67), located at the tip of the fifth toe, has been used in China for centuries, as a way of correcting breech presentation. This simple technique can be taught to partners and performed at home.
A review of research studies (Coyle et al 2005) found that moxibustion may help to correct breech presentation, but studies were small. More evidence is needed, but the simplicity and low risk of this technique makes it worth trying in order to avoid a caesarean section.
If you are interested in having treatment please contact Harriet.
The use of acupuncture as a routine pre-birth treatment (PDF)
Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (PDF)
Obstetrics (PDF)
References
Roemer A.T. (2000)Medical Acupuncture in Pregnancy: A Textbook. Thieme
Coyle ME, Smith CA, Peat B. (2005) Cephalic version by moxibustion for breech presentation. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2005, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD003928.pub2. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003928.pub2.
Further reading
West Z. Acupuncture in Pregnancy and Childbirth (2004). Churchill Livingstone
Betts D. The Essential Guide to Acupuncture in Pregnancy and Childbirth 2006 Journal of Chinese Medicine.
"Acupuncture helped me with the nausea I had in the first few weeks. I still felt a bit sick, but it was better and I could eat again, which was a relief. Harriet also treated my back ache, and I found the treatments very helpful." Monica, 32
"I was suffering with high blood pressure during my pregnancy and acupuncture helped to keep it under control. I really didn't want to take any pills, so it was the best alternative." Anna, 29
"We saw Harriet to see if she could help to turn a breech presentation. I'd read about moxibustion and wanted to give it a try. She showed us what to do and sent us home with these little sticks of moxa to put on my little toe. We used it three times a day and on the third day the baby turned. Maybe it would have turned anyway, but it seemed to help. The baby seemed to be more active each time we did it, so something was happening!" Sarah, 35