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Acupuncture and Pregnancy

New mothers want the very best for their babies, and this care starts long before the baby is born.  Expectant mothers are very careful about nutrition and exercise, and a number of them have started taking regular acupuncture treatments.  Treatments are normally scheduled once a month for about forty-five minutes.  In the ninth month there is a good deal of preparation for the coming of the baby and preparing the mother for labor, and the treatments are scheduled weekly.  The treatments during pregnancy keep the mother in the best health possible, and help quickly disperse any toxins the mother may develop during pregnancy.  This keeps the environment in the womb balanced, so that the baby can grow and flourish without complications.

One of the advantages of having acupuncture treatments during pregnancy is the reduction in morning sickness.  Studies have shown that women using acupuncture have shorter periods of morning sickness, and they occur less frequently.   One of the more common troubles in the second trimester is heartburn, and acupuncture can minimize that symptom also.  Even some of the more serious symptoms such as edema and high blood pressure can be treated with acupuncture, but it is important that a physician is also involved in these determinations, as these could be symptoms of major complications.  The last trimester has the usual symptoms of backache and joint pain, as the joints loosen in preparation for labor.  Acupuncture will address these, and also influence the energy in the mother's body to align the baby properly for delivery. 

Acupuncture can also be used in labor, and can also be used to induce labor for women that are overdue.  When a mother uses acupuncture to induce labor, frequently there is a distinct feeling of warmth and relaxation.  One reason for this is that acupuncture techniques are also able to release stress and anxious feelings, which is a great benefit to the woman facing labor.  Compare this feeling to the feeling when a woman is given an injection of oxytocin to start labor.  Acupuncture can also be used to increase the energy of the mother during labor.

Once the labor has finished, an acupuncture practitioner's job is not done.  Sometimes women bleed after delivery, and insertion of a needle into the proper acupuncture point can stop the blood flow.  Several acupuncture treatments over the course of several weeks after delivery can minimize depression, anxiety, and help the body regain its balance more quickly.

More midwives are getting training in acupuncture techniques.  Most states have a certification program for acupuncturists, and women considering using acupuncture during their pregnancy should look for this certificate.  There is also a certification program nationally for the use of herbs, which is an optional method of treatment in addition to the acupuncture.  Many times they go hand in hand, but neither one require the other in order to be effective.  Acupuncture is a wonderful tool for the expectant mother, and a well-trained and certified acupuncturist and midwife is a wonderful start for both mother and baby.