Pregnancy
Pregnancy care and support
Securing Early Pregnancy
Acupuncture provides a safe, drug-free treatment that can help to secure early pregnancy and help to prevent early miscarriages. This is also a valuable treatment for women who have had difficulty conceiving in the first place, either naturally or through IUI, IVF, ICSI and would like further support to secure the precious early phase of their pregnancy. Some women who feel anxious because it is their first pregnancy or for other reasons also appreciate physical and emotional support through regular acupuncture sessions.
This form of treatment helps to secure a viable pregnancy by enhancing the physical aspects of the woman and her growing baby as well as the woman’s mental-emotional state , as both play important parts in producing a healthy full-term pregnancy.
Acupuncture may help to secure an early viable pregnancy for:
- First time mothers to be
- Previous normal pregnancy
- Previous miscarriage
- Multiple miscarriages
- Difficulty conceiving naturally
- IUI, IVF, ICSI
- Anxiety
General Conditions During Pregnancy
Acupuncture provides a safe, gentle and natural way to treat various difficulties that may arise during pregnancy, without unwanted side-effects for you or your baby.
We would like to offer an integrated approach to enhance the care of midwives and obstetricians for women to have a natural, healthy pregnancy and birth.
Conditions acupuncture may help with during pregnancy are:
- Anaemia
- Anxiety & depression
- Constipation
- Fatigue
- Haemorrhoids, Varicose veins, Vulval varicosities
- Headaches
- Heart burn
- Insomnia
- Intrauterine growth delay/ small for date babies
- Itching
- Hypertension (pregnancy induced)
- Malposition/malpresentation:
- Posterior, Breech positions- using Moxa (*most effective if carried out around week 34 but may be successful later)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Oedema/ Swollen ankles
- Musculoskeletal conditions- pain of: ribs, symphysis pubis, neck & upper back, lower back, carpal tunnel syndrome, leg cramps
- Sinusitis
- Threatened miscarriage
- Urinary tract infections
- Vaginal discharge and itching
- Varicose veins
- Vulval varicosities
Pre-Birth Preparation for Labour
For women who are fortunate enough to not suffer with any discomfort during their pregnancy, a short course of pre-birth acupuncture treatment may be all they need to help promote their chances of an uneventful labour and delivery.
Weekly treatments from 35/36 weeks leading up to the due date can help to prepare the body for active and effective labour and help to develop optimal positioning of the baby in the womb. This programme is so effective that it is often carried out as routine practice in countries such as Germany and New Zealand.
A practical and therefore popular choice is also for pregnant women and a partner to be taught acupressure for pain relief during labour.
Moxibustion for Breech
Should your baby present in breech position, it is highly recommended that you try moxibustion treatment to turn your baby. This treatment method is now gaining popularity in the West as it is non-invasive and economical compared to the financial, physical, and emotional costs of more invasive contemporary methods.
Moxibustion treatment is simple and is taught during the initial treatment in the clinic. The expectant mother (or a partner) can then continue the treatment at home.
The optimal time to undertake moxibustion for breech presentation is at 33 weeks gestation, but of course slightly beyond this time may often result in a successful outcome also.
More information here.
Labour induction
Acupuncture can safely promote labour when a woman is post-term.
Acupuncture may help:
- Promote cervical dilatation
- Stimulate uterine contractions
- Reduce stress and anxiety
- Promote relaxation
* Christine provides a course of three closely scheduled sessions to help promote the desired outcome
Post Childbirth Care
Following childbirth, many women struggle physically and emotionally with the overwhelming alterations to hormone levels and the immediate changes in their lives. TCM may help to overcome some of the difficulties that many women experience during this very joyous, yet overwhelming time.
TCM may help:
- Abdominal cramps
- Breast discomfort
- Headaches
- Fatigue, increase energy levels
- Insomnia
- Insufficient Lactation
- Mastitis
- Night sweats
- Perineal discomfort
- Post natal depression and anxiety
- Uterine Bleeding
- Weight management