Acupuncture While Pregnant

It is no secret that pregnancy comes with various aches and pains and your body is going through a lot carrying the baby inside. In many cases, over-the-counter painkillers can work, but to protect the mother and baby, some pregnant women choose to go the acupuncture route. 

Acupuncture is an age-old treatment that has been used to manage pain, and can particularly help pregnant people with pregnancy-related pelvic and back pain. 

Key Takeaways

• Acupuncture is a medical technique with a centuries-old history, originating in China sometime before 100 BCE.
• The practice has been shown to reduce stress, morning sickness, aches, and pains.
• Acupuncture is a safe treatment for pregnant women

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture has been around for a thousand years as part of traditional Chinese medicine. The practice is based on the realignment of energy within an individual’s body using skin penetration with needles.  These needles are placed within meridians or channels that carry a vital energy called qi (spelled ch-i). These channels are interconnected in the body. 

To standardize the industry, the World Health Organization (WHO) has proposed a standard of 14 meridians with 361 acupuncture points. However, this number is higher with some acupuncturists believing there are over 2000 points.  

It is difficult to understand how acupuncture works but some experts believe that acupuncture triggers the release of several chemicals such as endorphins, which help to block pain signals. Acupuncture points correspond to deep-seated nerves and acupuncture methods like electroacupuncture help to activate the nerves. 

Acupuncture in Pregnancy

Many pregnant people are hesitant to start acupuncture out of fear that the needles are painful. However, an expertly done session of acupuncture at best has some discomfort and little pain. The needles penetrate the skin at specific pressure points where the individual feels the pain. In some instances, the acupuncturist heats the needles to ensure maximum impact. 

To ensure there’s some form of regulation, the FDA controls acupuncture needles. Acupuncturists employ a variety of techniques to stimulate the acupuncture points. They include:

• Moxibustion: The acupuncturist burns the herb “moxa” on or above the skin to warm and stimulate the pain points. 
• Dermal friction: The acupuncturist uses short brisk strokes on the surface of the skin
• Acupressure: Here, pressure is applied to the acupuncture points using fingers.
• Cupping: The acupuncturist places special cups on the skin as suction to draw blood to or away from a pain area on the body. 

When done correctly, acupuncture can be highly effective, resulting in improvement of health, and relaxation. 

Benefits of Acupuncture During Pregnancy

When you are pregnant, you usually feel tired, and stressed and your body can go through periodic aches or pains. And because of the nature of pregnancy, you are limited on the medication you can take. For this reason, acupuncture has become an option for many pregnant people. Some studies have shown that acupuncture is a great intervention for perceived stress in pregnant women, reducing tiredness significantly. 

Additionally, acupuncture can help with:

Morning sickness

75% of pregnant women in their first trimester suffer from morning sickness and about 50% suffer from both vomiting and nausea. Studies have shown the benefits of acupuncture that targets the wrist in treating nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy.  

General discomfort

Pregnancy can come with general discomfort, particularly as it progresses. Getting acupuncture while pregnant is a great way to minimize this discomfort. 

Water retention

During pregnancy, any extra water moves toward the lower parts of your body leading to water retention. The pressure in your womb can also lead to fluid build-up. This affects many women and acupuncture can be used to re-balance and strengthen kidney function reducing the need to use pharmaceutical products such as diuretics which can be harmful to the mother and baby.

Sleep problems 

A good night’s sleep can be elusive during pregnancy, especially once you move toward the third trimester. It may be difficult to sleep well with the growing belly. Some research shows that getting acupuncture while pregnant can improve sleep quality through increasing melatonin secretion. 

Lower back and pelvic pain

Low back pain and pelvic pain are quite common during pregnancy, and they can continue even after delivery. Acupuncture during pregnancy can significantly improve pain and functional status in women with lower back or pelvic pain and has no observable adverse effects on the newborns. 

Heartburn

Heartburn is a common gut issue in pregnant women and is caused by pregnancy hormones affecting the muscle that keeps food in the stomach and letting acid in the stomach come back up the throat. The symptoms can be severe and distressing and acupuncture helps to alleviate these symptoms when pressure is applied on the acupuncture point Stomach 44 (on the web between the 2nd and 3rd toes).  

Stress

Pregnancy can be a stressful time, especially when lack of sleep is added to the mix. Acupuncture in pregnancy health has been used to promote stress management. 

Is Acupuncture Risky?

Many pregnant people are afraid of trying acupuncture out of fear that it can cause miscarriages. Nevertheless, acupuncture done by a well-trained professional is perfectly safe and can be a fantastic alternative to conventional medicine. 

Before going to an acupuncturist, it’s important to consult with your healthcare provider. You must perform your due diligence when looking for an acupuncturist to ensure they are licensed and knowledgeable. 

When choosing the acupuncturist, ensure they:

• Avoid certain puncture points like the Hegu (L14) that can cause uterine contractions or lower abdominal points (CV3-CV7), which can stimulate the uterus. 
• Use sterilized and disposable needles to prevent infections.
• Avoid skin injuries from broken needles.
• Can seal acupuncture points with clean swabs.
• Clearly mark acupuncture points.
• Safely dispose of needles in a clinical waste bin.
• Maintain a clean environment.

Any risks associated with acupuncture are minor and can include:

• Soreness, redness, or infection on insertion points. These can be caused when the needles are placed too deeply or when the acupuncturist is not gentle. 
• Infections from the use of non-sterile needles
• Induced labor from working on pressure points like those in the ankle.  

In Summary

Though acupuncture has been used for thousands of years, there is still more research that needs to be done particularly in pregnant women. But, the few studies done show that acupuncture can be beneficial during pregnancy, helping to ease pain and other pregnancy-related symptoms. Nonetheless, always watch out for negative signs after an acupuncture session. You shouldn’t feel any unusual contractions during or after a session and if you do, consult your doctor immediately.