Pregnancy

Pregnancy and the Benefits of Acupuncture:

• Morning sickness

• Back pain in pregnancy

• Inducing labour with acupuncture

Morning sickness is experienced to some degree by about half of all pregnant women. It usually starts before the 6th week of pregnancy and usually goes on until about the 12th week.

Morning sickness can range from being unpleasant to being life threatening, with hyper emesis creating the risk of serious dehydration that can be fatal.

Back pain in pregnancy

Back pain is common during pregnancy as the body changes to support the growing baby. Acupuncture offers a safe, gentle way to ease discomfort by improving circulation, relaxing muscles, and supporting better posture. Regular treatments can help reduce pain naturally without medication, promoting greater comfort throughout pregnancy.

Back Pain in pregnancy

Inducing labour with acupuncture is an alternative approach to medical induction.

To talk to Richard about how acupuncture might help you personally and to see his clinic locations, click here for contact and location information.

Case History: Nausea in Pregnancy

A woman in her twenties who was seven weeks pregnant presented with debilitating morning sickness – she was treated twice a week until she was twelve weeks pregnant the effect of the acupuncture was rapid and enabled her to go back to a relatively normal life.

After week twelve she had two more treatments but weekly this time, after which she stopped having acupuncture for nausea and sickness. She later came back for treatment of back pain and sleep difficulties which were also treated effectively with acupuncture.

Case History: Inducing labour with acupuncture

Often women who go past their due date are told they will be ‘medically induced’ on a certain day if they have not gone into labour. Sometimes, if the mother to be is unhappy about that, their midwives send them for acupuncture, which is a much more gentle and natural way of beginning labour.

Richard has been performing this treatment for about 30 years and says it always feels like a privilege.

A woman who came along to see Richard for an ‘acupuncture induced labour’ reported back that her baby was born the following evening, happy and healthy adding ‘The treatment worked – so thank you.’

What will the Acupuncture treatment be like?

For morning sickness, the acupuncture points used are often on the arms and legs, though other areas will also be used.

The needles are incredibly fine and most people are not put off – in fact they are usually pleasantly surprised by how they enjoy the treatment.

The sensation of ‘needling’ is like pulling a hair out of your arm. Try it!

How many Acupuncture treatments?

The number of acupuncture treatments required will depend on a number of factors: how many weeks pregnant you are, the intensity of the symptoms at the time of starting treatment, stress/lifestyle may also play a part and some advice may be given to help further.

Most women will need to come weekly for a little while or more often if symptoms are extreme. Within just a few weeks you should be clear that a real change is occurring – it can be immediate. Symptoms often tail off after week 12 anyway. Sometimes we see delighted mums returning months later for help with back problems later in their pregnancy. Others decide to continue having occasional treatment throughout and after their pregnancy because they feel so much better for it.

Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to combat morning sickness.

Why else to choose Acupuncture? :

• Very Low risk: Acupuncture is very safe when performed by a trained professional.
• Naturally calming: Many people feel deeply relaxed during or after treatment (often falling asleep during treatment).
• Drug-free: It helps the body heal without medication or potentially worrying side effects.
• Minimal discomfort: Needles are hair-thin and usually painless.
  
• Mild effects only: Rare side effects include slight redness or brief bruising.