Acupuncture During Pregnancy, Labour Preparation and Induction
The body is a process; a wonderous symphony of interactions and reactions, reflections and subtle adjustments; even more so this is reflected in the remarkable changes in pregnancy. As someone who has chosen to be child-free, I am honoured to play a professional role in supporting those who have chosen the path of parenthood. It takes a village, and I am but one of the members who is here to support you through pregnancy and in preparation for labour and birth.
Chinese Medicine has a long history of supporting people through pregnancy…
ANCIENT MEDICINE
The earliest recorded mentions of treatments during pregnancy are from a medical text written by Zhang Zhongjing around 200CE called the Jin Gui Yao Lue (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet), following this, legendary physician Sun Simiao dedicated an unprecedented volume of his writing in the Qianjin Yaofang (Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold) to detailed discussions on gynecology and obstetrics.
Notice the reference to gold in both of these titles? By associating their medical texts with gold, the authors conveyed the purity & enduring nature of their work.
Since then there has been a steady expansion of knowledge and understanding in safely addressing common and complex pregnancy-related conditions.
MODERN PRACTICE
Today, acupuncture is a safe, low-risk treatment option for several common complaints experienced during pregnancy (1). From nausea, constipation, insomnia and anxiety in early pregnancy, through the discomfort of reflux, lower back pain, pubic & hip pain in the later stages, right up to preparing your body (mind & spirit) for giving birth - acupuncture & Chinese medicine combines thousands of years of wisdom with modern empirical evidence to provide relief, support and care to pregnant people at all stages of pregnancy.
Below, we will take a look at the evidence supporting acupuncture for the treatment of several common health complaints during pregnancy, and finally, as you draw near to birthing, how acupuncture can support you in preparing for labour.
ACUPUNCTURE FOR NAUSEA & VOMITING IN PREGNANCY
A very recent, 2024, systematic review & meta-analysis found that acupuncture and moxibustion could effectively alleviate nausea and vomiting and were relatively safe treatment options in pregnancy. Further, they found that acupuncture was effective in managing nausea and vomiting in pregnancy when compared to conventional therapies (medication) (2).
A randomised controlled trial carried out at a maternity teaching hospital in Australia randomised 593 women less than 14 weeks pregnant with symptoms of nausea or vomiting into 4 groups comparing acupuncture interventions to a control group. Results showed less dry retching & less nausea compared to the control group for early pregnancy (3).
Many people report an improvement in nausea immediately during their first treatment, and the results tend to accumulate with each treatment over a course providing longer-lasting relief. We will also show you effective acupressure points to use at home to support you between treatments and help you navigate food choices to remain nourished.
Reflux and heartburn are also common presentations we support people with through pregnancy.
ACUPUNCTURE FOR INSOMNIA IN PREGNANCY
Sleep disturbances are common in pregnancy, and many people experience insomnia during pregnancy. Early interventions are recommended to avoid adverse pregnancy outcomes (4).
The good news? Acupuncture can likely help you to get a good night's sleep.
A small 2020 study found that 10 acupuncture treatments over three weeks significantly improved sleep quality in pregnant people. It was suggested that it achieved this through increasing melatonin secretion. The study concluded that acupuncture could be recommended as a low-cost and low-risk alternative treatment to pharmacological therapies (5).
Further, considering insomnia during pregnancy is often a result of discomfort - be that aches & pains, or digestive problems leading to reflux and heartburn - by relieving these symptoms through acupuncture, many people often report improved sleep as a result.
ACUPUNCTURE FOR LOWER BACK & PELVIC PAIN, HIP PAIN & PUBIC PAIN IN PREGNANCY
A 2022 systematic review and meta-analysis included 10 studies, reporting on a total of 1040 women concluded that overall, acupuncture significantly relieved lower back & pelvic pain during pregnancy, and improved functional status and quality of life during the pregnancy (6).
Pregnancy-style cupping is also a safe and beneficial treatment option for lower back & pelvic pain (7). Cupping assists in muscle function and recovery through vasodilation and enhanced micro-circulation in the area treated.
The beauty of the vast interconnected network of acupuncture channels allows us to use acupuncture points on the arms, wrists, hands, legs, ankles, feet, ears and scalp to relieve pain. This is one notable difference between acupuncture & dry needling (more on that below).
ACUPUNCTURE FOR LABOUR PREPARATION
As you draw near to your due date, we suggest a series of acupuncture treatments, as a routine pre-birth support from 35/36 weeks. During these treatments, we start working intentionally toward reaching an optimal state for the upcoming birth:
Cervical readiness (softening & ripening)
Addressing late pregnancy symptoms (commonly aches & pains, sleep, digestion, headaches)
Mental & emotional care
Lifestyle and home care practices that you can do to prepare for labour, and smooth the way toward post-partum
Guidance on using acupressure points to assist during labour
ACUPUNCTURE AROUND A MEDICAL INDUCTION, OR FOR POST-DATE PREGNANCY
I use this heading with hesitation. I use it because it is often the terminology that patients use when they are looking for support, or that midwives use when they are recommending acupuncture.
Medical labour induction is obtained through prostaglandin application and/or oxytocin infusion; both are related to fetal and maternal side effects (8).
There is some bad information out there, that can scare (or shame) people into refusing necessary medical inductions, and there are also a lot of unnecessary inductions taking place. My role as a member of your team is to help you understand the advice you are receiving from your primary healthcare team and to support you in finding comfort with your choices based on their professional guidance.
That said, acupuncture treatments can become a little more intentional toward encouraging labour when there is a medical induction planned, or the baby needs to be born soon for a medical reason.
In this case, with your primary care team’s agreement that it is safe to do so, we offer a series of 3 treatments in the 72 hours preceding the planned induction. We can work these around the other interventions that you are undertaking like stretch & sweeps.
A small 2018 study (9) investigated the effects of acupuncture applied before planned induction in postdate pregnancy. Those receiving acupuncture experienced a higher rate of spontaneous delivery and delivered earlier than controls. They also showed a lower rate of labour induction indicated for prolonged pregnancy. The study also found that those receiving acupuncture needed less oxytocin. It hypothesized that acupuncture stimulation can activate a biochemical process optimizing uterine contractility.
IDEAL SCHEDULE OF ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENTS DURING PREGNANCY
1st trimester - weekly
2nd trimester - monthly, or as needed
Weekly from 35/36 weeks for pre-birth treatment
When a medical induction is scheduled - a series of 3 treatments in the 72 hours preceding the planned induction, and around the medical interventions like stretch & sweep.
IS ACUPUNCTURE SAFE DURING PREGNANCY?
Acupuncture, when performed by an appropriately trained Acupuncturist provides a low-risk intervention for pregnancy support. Acupuncture can be safely used as an option for drug–free relief for many of the symptoms that can arise through pregnancy (10).
A CAUTIONARY NOTE ON DRY NEEDLING DURING PREGNANCY
I encourage you to be very discerning when choosing a practitioner who offers dry needling. Some dry needlers are highly educated (eg: physiotherapists), and some may have done a weekend course to gain the title (eg: massage therapists), there is no coherent regulation of dry needling across the professions.
Regardless, dry needling does not consider the energetic and physiologic actions of acupuncture points. For example, acupuncture point GB21 Jianjing on the top of the shoulder (a favourite for neck & shoulder tension & headaches) is forbidden during pregnancy due to its strong association with the release of oxytocin (11). Oxytocin encourages uterine contractions, this is not something you want until it’s time for the baby to be born.
So, please, be cautious if seeing a practitioner for needling other than an AHPRA-registered Acupuncturist.
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR PREGNANCY ACUPUNCTURE IN NORTH BRISBANE
If you are interested in experiencing the gentle, informative touch of acupuncture to support you on your path toward parenthood, please either book online or reach out today!
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