Pregnancy Acupuncture
The practice of acupuncture has been around for over 5,000 years. The Chinese, Egyptians, South African Bantu tribe, the Arabs and Eskimos all used acupuncture to cure diseases and wounds.
Many people believe that acupuncture received during pregnancy has the potential to harm an unborn baby. The truth is many pregnant women can receive the benefits of acupuncture while they’re pregnant as long as they have a practitioner who is a licensed acupuncturist, and who has gone through a 3-4 year training program tailored to focus on pregnancy acupuncture points.
Acupuncture can be used during pregnancy to relieve nausea, anxiety, migraines, mood swings, bladder discomfort and more pregnancy symptoms. Licensed practitioners are trained to avoid specific points while a woman is pregnant. These points can release toxins back into the mother’s system that has the potential to harm the baby. Plus, certain points are known to move energy and blood through the pelvis and lower abdomen. Unfortunately, these points are also known to induce abortion. The Chinese used these pressure points when the one child per family law was heavily enforced.
Why is Acupuncture Used During Pregnancy?
There are numerous different reasons why acupuncture is used while a woman is pregnant, including:
Psychological problems – Acupuncture is known to help women suffering from depression, anxiety and other psychological disorders that are generally associated with pregnancy and hormones.
Physical problems - Many pregnancy symptoms such as fatigue, morning sickness, heartburn, constipation, back pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome can be relieved or reduced if acupuncture is received.
Baby is in breech position – If done early enough (between 28-34 weeks pregnant) acupuncture can be effective in turning the baby around if breech. If the gestation period is beyond the 36th week, there is usually not enough room to turn the baby around.
Induce labor - The licensed practitioner can now utilize those forbidden pressure points if the intention is to induce labor when a pregnancy is overdue. Uterine contractions usually result from this.
Pain control during labor and delivery – It is highly suggested to pregnant women they use acupuncture while in the hospital instead of medications to sustain and control the pain associated with labor and delivery.
Postpartum problems - Acupuncture that is received relatively close to the time the baby was born can help with problems such as postpartum depression, fatigue, excessive lactation, mastitis, and vaginal discharge.
Pregnancy Acupuncture Points
Here’s a brief description of a few different acupuncture points that are beneficial and can be used while a woman is pregnant:
Zhubin - This point is located just below the calf muscle and above the inner ankle bone. Acupuncturists use this point to relieve fear, anxiety, hypertension, nightmares and other psychological problems.
Zusanli – This point is located four fingers above the kneecap and outer edge of the tibia. Acupuncturists use this point to strengthen the body, build blood and to promote qi. This point is also known to help with digestive issues such as diarrhea, indigestion, constipation and stomach pain.
Good Neiguan - This point is located two fingers above the inner wrist and is used to relieve morning sickness, upset stomachs, nausea, vomiting, insomnia and anxiety.
To pressure points that should be avoided are:
Hegu - This point is located on top of the hand, in the web between the index finger and thumb. This point is known to cause uterine contractions.
Sanyinjiao - This point is located three fingers above the inner ankle bones. This point is known to cause uterine contractions.
Other points that should be avoided are located mainly on the lower back, lower abdomen and on the sacrum. All of these points are known to cause contractions and the risk of the needle entering too deep is also a problem that should be avoided.
