The First Trimester – Morning Sickness
Acupuncture relieves morning sickness in the first few weeks of pregnancy. Nausea typically begins at 6.5 weeks and tends to peak just before 10 weeks. But for some of my patients it goes on for longer.
Regular acupuncture can also relieve some of the anxiety and fatigue that can be strong at this time.
It can be a shock to feel so fatigued and not know what to eat or drink for the best. The healthy food we often love can be the very last thing you may feel like eating.
Sensitivity to smells can make crossing the kitchen and opening the fridge a major operation. Some find even cooking smells become hard to manage.
Nutritional support can help guide you and keep you on track through the all important first few weeks of your baby’s life. Miscarriage concerns can also be aired and supported until your safely reach your 12 week scan.
I had severe migraines and morning sickness from 7 weeks . After just a few sessions they improved and I’m feeling less tired and nauseous.”
~ Louise
2nd Trimester
Once patients get safely through their 12 week scan they usually feel they can relax and enjoy their pregnancies.
For most women, nausea and fatigue drops off and appetite returns to normal. They can feel like they can focus on work, home, friends and their relationship again.
Some women may need support with heartburn, hormonal headaches or sciatica as the 2nd. Trimester progresses. Aches and pains sometimes can flare up with each growth spurt.
The hormone relaxin helps the progressive loosening and opening of the waist and pelvis as the baby grows. However, sometimes muscles and tendons become strained and inflamed. They might then need extra magnesium or acupuncture to reduce inflammation and strain.
I find this is also a good time to check in on my patients’ diets. It’s important to return to a more balanced diet again. Eating plenty of lean protein, vegetables and fruit as well as healthy sources of dairy is advisable. It’s also wise to keep carbs low and slow. As fibrous and non-refined whole food sources keep sluggish bowels moving smoothly.
I also recommend probiotics and pre-biotic foods to keep the gut microbiome healthy. As its the good bacteria we nature while our babies are in utero which will be passed onto them at birth or during breast-feeding.
Our gut bacteria begin to communicate with the baby’s immune system even in utero – prepping it for life outside the womb.
Breech Turning
From 34 weeks babies you may find your baby is not in an optimal position. If your baby’s head is not engaged or the baby is in a breech, transverse or back-to-back lie then ‘Moxa’ or ‘moxibustion’ is a safe and effective technique for allowing the baby a chance to move into a head-down and more birth-ready position.
If you’d like Hanna to help turn your baby or to would like to discuss how she might be able to help please contact her directly via the clinic or contacts page below.
Birth Preparation
From 36 weeks pre-birth acupuncture follows a set of well researched acupuncture points. Points which have been shown to help women go into labour on or near their due dates.
The points help relieve stress and anxiety, improve energy, deepen sleep and help bring in hormones like oxytocin which help soften the cervix in preparation for giving birth.
3-4 acupuncture sessions in the last few weeks before your due date ease painful hips and back pain and reduces uncomfortable swelling or water retention in the legs, feet and arms.
Research shows that women who receive rebirth acupuncture require less analgesic during labour. Have higher rates of oxytocin and need surgical interventions less often.
Hanna also uses this time to go over your birth wishes and to show you acupressure points your birth partner can use during the birth.
Acupuncture Induction – Getting Labour Going Naturally
Acupuncture can help you go into labour naturally or spontaneously. Once past your due date it’s hard not to feel pressured. Fear at this point jolts you out of the calm state your body needs to be in for labour to start.
Acupuncture ‘induction’ strongly reduces stress and gently but firmly nudges your cervix to soften and open. It allows your hormones and endorphins to flood in so that you naturally tip into labour.
One treatment can often be enough but sometimes two might be needed.
Labour started at 5pm just after leaving you and baby born 6.18 a.m at home. All natural. So thank you! And wow! I didn’t think it’d be that strong an effect.”
Post Natal Acupuncture
‘Mother Warming’ in the first few weeks after the birth is a traditional Chinese treatment. It uses ‘moxa’ and gentle acupuncture to calm the mind. It improves sleep and helps restore strength and vitality to the pelvic floor, abdominal muscles and lower back.
If new mothers are struggling with breast-feeding acupuncture can also help with milk flow and ‘let down.’
I felt I was a bit disconnected and didn’t want to be touched much. So the warmth of the moxa was good. I could feel it reconnecting me and bringing me back to life,”
~ Alinah
