Patient Information Handout
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Pregnancy
For over 3000 years Traditional Chinese Medicine has promoted specialised treatment
for women in pregnancy care and postpartum recovery. Today this care is becoming
increasingly popular and used by acupuncturists and specially trained midwives in
countries such as Denmark, England, France, Germany, Holland, Norway, Sweden, and
New Zealand where acupuncture is available in specialised antenatal clinics and
maternity hospitals. Pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal recovery are viewed in
traditional Chinese medicine as a window of opportunity to enhance the woman’s well
being. Conversely if adequate care is not taken the resulting problems may continue
long after the birth. Value is therefore placed on promoting preventive care to
strengthen the mother and baby as well as dealing with problems as they occur during
pregnancy. Acupuncture can be used in a variety of ways to promote foetal and maternal
health.
Nausea during pregnancy
Acupuncture is often very effective in reducing both the severity and incidence
of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Research from Australia (1) highlighted
that women receiving traditional acupuncture (where points where chosen according
to an individual diagnosis) experienced faster relief when compared to those groups
receiving routine prescribed points or “sham” acupuncture. This research also looked
at the successful pregnancy outcomes for the women involved, concluding that “acupuncture
is a safe and effective treatment for women who experience nausea and dry retching
in early pregnancy” (2)
Muscular – Skeletal Pain
Back pain, rib pain, sciatica and symphysis pubis pain are common in pregnancy and
can all be markedly reduced with acupuncture. Research from Sweden (3) concluded
that when compared to physiotherapy, acupuncture was the treatment of choice for
symphysis pubis and sacroiliac pain.
Breech and Posterior Babies
The New Zealand Evidence Based practice guidelines for care of women with Breech
presentation (4) recommends that moxibustion may be offered to women from 33 weeks
gestation. This follows research from Italy (5) that demonstrated moxibustion can
have a significant effect in helping to turn breech babies. Ideally treatment is
at 34 –35 weeks, but can still be useful when used later in the pregnancy. Techniques
can also help babies that are not in the optimal position prior to birth, such as
those in a posterior position
Hypertension
Acupuncture can have an important role in assisting to reduce high blood pressure,
especially if treatment is commenced early when hypertension is first noted. The
effectiveness of acupuncture will be reflected in the improved blood pressure readings
and blood tests used by midwives and specialists to detect possible complications.
As hypertension has the potential to escalate quickly, ongoing medical monitoring
remains essential throughout pregnancy.
Labour Preparation
Three to four weeks prior to the due date a treatment to prepare the pelvis and
cervix can be commenced. This is followed by one treatment per week until labour
begins. Research from Germany (6) indicated the potential for a more efficient active
stage of labour. A New Zealand study with midwives (7) indicated a reduction in
women requiring medical intervention, including medical induction and caesarean
section.
Induction
Acupuncture can provide a gentle inducement to labour if the baby is overdue and
can be an effective alternative to a medical induction. Research from Norway (8)
on the use of acupuncture for women with premature rupture of membranes (PROM) concluded
that “Ideally acupuncture treatment should be offered to all women with PROM and
other women who wish to use this method to facilitate their birth and keep it normal”
Pain relief during Labour
Acupuncture offers drug free alternatives for pain relief during labour (9) Acupressure
provides similar results (10) with the advantage that support people can use it
during labour. A free booklet on using acupressure can be down loaded at http://acupuncture.rhizome.net.nz
Other pregnancy problems
Treatment can be used to relive a variety of conditions including:
• Anaemia • Anxiety • Constipation • Carpal Tunnel syndrome • Heartburn • Haemorrhoids
and Vulval varices • Insomnia • Oedema • Headaches • Sinus problems • Threatened
miscarriage • Tiredness and exhaustion • Thrush
Postnatal care
Acupuncture has techniques to promote recovery; these include “mother warming” treatments
that can be given by a partner, advice on diet and the use of specific strengthening
and blood building herbs. Other conditions that can be helped by acupuncture include;
insufficient lactation, wound healing and scar tissue repair, postnatal depression
and urinary incontinence.
Acupuncture offers a safe, effective and drug free treatment option during pregnancy.
1. Smith C, Crowther C, Beilby J. (2002). “Acupuncture to treat nausea and vomiting
in early pregnancy: a randomized trial”. Birth. 29(1):1-9.
2. Smith C, Crowther C, Beilby J. (2002). “Pregnancy outcome following women’s participation
in a randomised controlled trial of acupuncture to treat nausea and vomiting in
early pregnancy”. Complement Ther Med. 10(2):78-83.
3. Elden H, (2005) Ladfors l, Fagevik Olsen M, Ostaard H, Hagberg H. “Effects of
acupuncture and stabilising exercises as adjunct to standard treatment in pregnant
women with pelvic girdle pain: randomised single blind controlled trail”. British
Medical Journal;330(7494):761
4. http://www.nzgg.org.nz/guidelines/0074/caesarean
5. Cardini F, Weixin H. (1998). “Moxibustion for correction of breech presentation”.
Journal American Medical Association. 280:1580-1584.
6. Kubista E, Kucera H. (1974). On the use of acupuncture in the preparation for
delivery, Geburtshilfe Perinatol; 178(3):224-9.
7. Betts D, Lenox S ( 2006) Acupuncture For Prebirth Treatment: An Observational
Study of its use in Midwifery practice. Medical Acupuncture. Vo 17 No 3
8. Gaudernack L, Forbord S, Hole E. (2007) Acupuncture administered after spontaneous
rupture of membranes at term significantly reduces the length of birth and use of
oxytocin . A randomised controlled trial. Midirs Midwifery Digest. Vol 17, No 2.
9. Hantoushzadeh S. Alhusseini N. Lebaschi A. (2007) The effects of Acupuncture
during Labour on Nulliparous Women: A Randomised Controlled trial. Australian and
New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 47:26-30
10. Chung UL J.( 2003) Effects of LI 4and BL 67 Acupressure on Labour Pain and Uterine
Contractions in the First Stage of Labour. Nurs Res. 11(4):251-60