Acupuncture During Pregnancy

Acupuncture to support you through your pregnancy to promote good health and prepare you for the birth of your baby.

Acupuncture during pregnancy is a safe way to support the body during this time of change.

Why consider acupuncture during pregnancy?

Acupuncture has a calming effect on the nervous system which can help reduce the impact of stress hormones on the body and mind. There also are a number of conditions commonly experienced during pregnancy, which can be safely managed or treated with acupuncture.

Headaches and body pain

Headaches can a problem especially in early pregnancy, and the use of over the counter pain killers is not advised at this time . The National institute for health and clinical care excellence (NICE) recommends a using course of acupuncture for the treatment of tension headaches and migraines.

Body pains are common in pregnancy, particularly in the later stages. In our experience, acupuncture can make a real difference in the management of pregnancy related back and groin pain, leg cramps and carpal tunnel syndrome. We use a combination of massage and acupuncture and lots of pillows to keep our clients comfortable.

Nausea and vomiting

We have found acupuncture to be most useful for women experiencing mild to moderate nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy. Acupuncture can help reduce both the intensity and frequency of symptoms. It requires regular treatments for best results. There are positive research findings for the use of acupuncture for pregnancy related nausea and vomiting, and it is offered in some NHS settings.

Digestive problems

It’s common for women to experience digestive changes, particularly constipation and haemorrhoids during pregnancy. Acupuncture and dietary recommendations can be effective for alleviating many gastro intestinal problems.

Preparation for labour and pre-birth acupuncture

Pre-birth acupuncture offers a safe treatment with the aim of promoting natural labour. Specific acupuncture protocols developed by midwives to help prepare the body for birth. The emphasis of these treatments is to help the pelvis to release and to create space for the cervix to soften.

Each member of the team at Islington Acupuncture is skilled at helping clients relax and manage the physical and mental stress that can be associated with this stage of pregnancy. We recommend that women approaching labour come to see us from week 36 or 37 in order to help release tension and reduce counterproductive feelings of anxiety. Other pregnancy related conditions can be addressed, such as back and leg pain, and insomnia.

• Pre-birth acupuncture is generally carried out weekly from week 36 or 37.
• Acupuncture with the aim of helping to induce natural labour is used when women are post 40 weeks. In these cases higher frequency treatments are advised: three conducted over consecutive days, or every other day.

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