PREGNANCY ACUPUNCTURE at EPSOM PROHEALTH

PREGNANCY ACUPUNCTURE

As Traditional Chinese Medicine’s emphasis is on prevention and the maintenance of long-term health, this modality has so very much to offer women before, during and after pregnancy. Pregnant women may seek out acupuncture treatment for both preventive and remedial purposes.

Pregnancy Acupuncture treatments also provide you the opportunity to chill-out and get in tune with your body. According to Chinese classics, a good acupuncture treatment is “like the sun coming out from behind the clouds”.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM A TREATMENT

At Epsom Prohealth Acupuncture you can enjoy individually tailored acupuncture treatments throughout every stage of your pregnancy, starting from pre-conception all the way through to post-natal care.

Combined with Chinese herbs, our treatments provide natural, drug-free and safe support for you and your baby throughout your pregnancy. Pregnancy Acupuncture can help to relieve many of the common discomforts experienced during pregnancy when these conditions are often difficult to alleviate using western medicine or you are reluctant to take pharmaceutical drugs unless it is absolutely essential.

Having a baby is not only a physical process but also an immensely emotional and spiritual journey, acupuncture can help to alleviate anxiety and stress by helping to balance your emotions. This treatment complements the care you are receiving from your Obstetrician or Midwife.

Please bring your hospital card with you to your Acupuncture appointments. This enables us to keep up to date with your recent western medical checkups.

SOME OF THE CONDITIONS ACUPUNCTURE EPSOM PROHEALTH CAN HELP WITH:

  • Morning sickness
  • Miscarriage prevention
  • Emotional and physical exhaustion
  • Constipation
  • Heartburn
  • Colds & flu
  • Back pain & sciatica
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Insomnia
  • Anxiety & fear
  • Varicose veins
  • Headaches
  • Hypertension
  • Pubic Symphisitis
  • Fluid retention
  • Sinus congestion
  • Breech, posterior & transverse presentation
  • Induction; facilitation of labour
  • Labour failing to progress
  • Pre-labour preparation
  • Postpartum recovery
  • Breastfeeding problems/Mastitis

MISCARRIAGE SUPPORTIVE CARE

Early pregnancy can be a delicate time. We regularly see women who have suffered a miscarriage previously. Acupuncture enhances circulation to the developing placenta, reduces uterine cramping, assists with spotting or bleeding, and calms stress and anxiety. Our gentle treatments help strengthen and support your pregnancy and reduce any potential risk of miscarriage occurring.

BREECH /TISSUE TRANSVERSE AND POSTERIOR PRESENTATION

Usually only one or two Acupuncture treatments are necessary and in addition, patients will be directed towards specific daily home Moxibustion therapy to facilitate the process. This is a very comfortable procedure and success rates are around 70-75%.

Most babies will correct their own position independently, however we recommend addressing malposition from between 34 to 36 weeks, closer to 34 weeks is best particularly if bub has been in the wrong position for an extended period of time already.

The following articles provide evidence of the effectiveness of Moxibustion therapy:

  • Using moxibustion in primary healthcare to correct non-vertex presentation
  • Cost-effectiveness of breech version by acupuncture-type interventions on BL 67, including moxibustion, for women with a breech fetus at 33 weeks gestation: a modelling approach.

HOW OFTEN WOULD TREATMENT BE NEEDED?

Weekly treatments are appropriate in most cases for a specific condition, or more frequently if your condition is acute. If you have no ongoing health issues, then monthly pregnancy acupuncture treatments are good to help prepare for an efficient delivery and recovery.

PRE-LABOUR PREPARATION

We strongly recommend weekly Labour-preparation treatments from 36 weeks help to facilitate a faster and more efficient labour when the time comes. These are not Labour Induction treatments, they ‘prepare’ your body, helping to balance the pelvis, encourage your baby into a more ideal position, clearing energetic blockages and ripening the cervix.

This is also the time to learn Acupressure techniques you can use at home to help prep your body. Using these techniques during these last weeks mean that by the time you do go into labour these Acupressure techniques will be like old friends helping you through the process.

MASTITIS

The sooner you receive Acupuncture after noticing the first symptom of mastitis, the more effective the treatment will be. If you see a red patch, go to your Acupuncturist! Very few of our clients end up requiring antibiotics because they move so quickly on this. Most breastfeeding Mums prefer not to take strong drugs such as antibiotics and this is one highly successful way to avoid them. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can help with decreased milk supply too.

INDUCING OVERDUE LABOUR

Here at Epsom Prohealth Acupuncture,  we provide acupuncture treatments to assist with labour preparation and labour induction for post-term babies, as well as help you learn about acupressure which can be applied by your birth partner during your labour.

Please bring your hospital card with you to your Acupuncture appointments. This enables us to keep up to date with your recent western medical checkups.

LABOUR PREPARATION

We strongly recommend weekly treatment from 35-36 weeks to ripen your cervix, to encourage your baby to engage, to prepare you and your baby for an efficient and stress free labour and to strengthen your body, mind and spirit for an easy post-partum recovery.

These treatments also help with any niggling conditions that may have arisen. We cannot emphasize enough how important these preparatory treatments are!!!

ACUPUNCTURE INDUCTION OF ‘OVERDUE’ LABOUR

This works best when your body is ripe, and bub is in a good position. If your body is not prepared, the chances of Acupuncture bringing on labour are slimmer. It might still work but the results are less predictable.

It is important to start with your preparatory treatments from around 36 weeks. Try not to leave it to the eleventh hour to arrive on our doorstep!

If your baby is overdue, our acupuncture treatments can be used to gently promote your labour. This can be a very effective alternative to being medically induced. It may take up to 36 hours to go into labour after an acupuncture induction, assuming your body is ripe and ready to go.

PAIN RELIEF DURING LABOUR

We teach simple, safe and effective pain relief techniques to support you during pre-labour and labour. Designed for you and your birth partner, these techniques can provide pain relief, regulate contractions, ease anxiety, make your birth experience more comfortable and assist you in your recovery.

PHONE

09 281 8585

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