Pregnancy Acupuncture
Pregnancy and Postpartum Care with Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs
Pregnancy and Acupuncture
During pregnancy, assistance in a wide range of symptoms can be targeted with acupuncture and herbs for the changes occurring in your body.
Our passion is to assist you to achieve a natural childbirth.
Monthly acupuncture treatments over the course of the pregnancy prepares you for these changes during your pregnancy.
Houng collaborates with numerous obstetricians mainly in the Eastern Suburbs to provide the best of care for you whilst you are pregnant. Some of the obstetricians that Houng recommends and works with in the Eastern Suburbs are Dr Bobby Teoh, Dr Rahul Sen, Dr. Matthew Peres, Dr Dhara Lette and Dr Siobhan Lee.
Preparation for Labor
In order to prepare for labor, our aim is to ripen and soften the cervix with acupuncture treatments. It is recommended that you commence treatments at 36- 37 weeks of conception. This will prepare the pelvis and cervix for labor and assist you to go into labor close to your due date. Acupuncture points used can assist the baby to descend in order to engage and it prepares the cervix to soften in order to dilate. Research shows that acupuncture can reduce your labor time.
Miscarriage
Firstly after a miscarriage acupuncture is recommended. It is important for women, especially those who have previously miscarried, to be very careful in the first trimester in order to protect the new baby. Acupuncture treatments are given prior to your next pregnancy in order to strengthen your body. Once pregnant, acupuncture and herbs are recommended to downside the risk of miscarriage.
Morning Sickness
Treatments can be used to alleviate symptoms of morning sickness, for a more comfortable first trimester. If severe, short treatments up to 3 times per week are recommended.
Breech Babies and Posterior Babies
To assist with a breech baby, it is recommended that the mother undergoes treatment at 34 or 35 weeks after conception for best results and to ensure there is adequate space in which the baby can turn.
Combined with a home treatment program for 10 days, research has shown that this technique has a success rate of 80%. Treatment can also help to correctly position posterior babies.
Induction Treatments
It is beneficial to start acupuncture prior to your due date to avoid being overdue. However if you are overdue we can provide induction treatments with acupuncture.
Usually 1-3 treatments are required and the maximum, about 6 treatments.
VBAC – Vaginal birth after Cesarian
Treatments in the last 3 weeks of your pregnancy can facilitate your wish to achieve a VBAC.
Pre-eclampsia
This is a very serious condition. In our practice we have assisted the patients that had this condition to stabilize their blood pressure as well as carry their pregnancy to term.
Pelvic Symphysitis
When you suffer from this condition, it can be debilitating. Acupuncture for pelvic symphysitis is very successful, studies show the pain can be reduced by 90% or more.
During pregnancy
- acid reflux
- back pain
- carpal tunnel syndrome
- constipation
- fluid retention in the extremities
- fatigue
- hip pain
- high blood pressure
- insomnia
- inductions
- morning sickness
- miscarriage
- sciatica
Post-Partum issues
- back pain
- caesarean scar pain
- fatigue
- fluid retention
- insufficient lactation
- mastitis
- night sweats
- postpartum bleeding
- stiff shoulders
- weight loss
Postpartum Acupuncture Treatments
It is recommended that treatments continue after the birth, because postpartum health is very important for you and your baby. Acupuncture can help new mothers recover their energy to pre-pregnancy levels while helping to treat conditions such as:
Mastitis
This condition is very painful, and will cause a lot of discomfort. Even though you may be on antibiotics for this problem, we can speed up the process of recovery with just a couple of acupuncture treatments. Acupuncture can relieve the pain and inflammation and deflate your engorged breast from the very first treatment.
Insufficient lactation
I have assisted women to double their milk supply from acupuncture and herbs. Usually we free all the tension in your shoulders to assist with the milk let down as well as work internally on your organs to assist milk production.