Acupuncture in Pregnancy, Labour Preparation & 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 help 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 200 CE 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 to detailed discussions of gynecology and obstetrics in the Qianjin Yaofang (Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold).
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 of how to safely address 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 to the discomfort of reflux, lower back pain, and pubic and hip pain in the later stages, right up to preparing your body (mind and spirit) for giving birth, acupuncture and Chinese medicine combine 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 help you in preparing for labour.
ACUPUNCTURE FOR NAUSEA & VOMITING IN PREGNANCY
A 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 four 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 sleep.
A small 2020 study found that 10 acupuncture treatments over three weeks significantly improved sleep quality in pregnant people. The study concluded that acupuncture could be recommended as a low-risk alternative 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, which included 10 studies reporting on 1040 women, concluded that acupuncture significantly relieved lower back and pelvic pain during pregnancy and improved functional status and quality of life (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 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 hesitate to use this heading. I use it because it is often the terminology patients use when they are looking for support or that midwives use when they recommend acupuncture.
Medical labour induction is facilitated with prostaglandin application and/or oxytocin infusion; both are related to fetal and maternal side effects (8).
There is some poor information out there that can scare (or shame) people into refusing necessary medical inductions, and there are also some 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 three treatments in the 72 hours before the planned induction. We can schedule these around the other interventions you are undertaking, such as stretch and sweeps.
A small 2018 study (9) investigated the effects of acupuncture applied before planned induction in post-date 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 three treatments in the 72 hours preceding the planned induction and around the medical interventions like stretch & sweep.
IS ACUPUNCTURE SAFE DURING PREGNANCY?
When performed by an appropriately trained Acupuncturist, acupuncture provides a low-risk intervention for pregnancy support. It can be safely used as a drug–free option for many of the symptoms that can arise during 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 (e.g., physiotherapists), and some may have completed a weekend course to gain the title (e.g., massage therapists); there is no coherent regulation of dry needling across the professions.
Regardless, dry needling does not consider the energetic and physiologic actions. For example, acupuncture point GB21 Jianjing on the top of the shoulder (a favourite for neck and shoulder tension and headaches) is forbidden during pregnancy due to its strong association with the release of oxytocin (11). Oxytocin encourages uterine contractions, which is not something you want until the baby is born.
So, please be cautious if you see a practitioner for needling anything 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 your path toward parenthood, please book online or contact us today!
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