Acupuncture during Pregnancy including Birth Preparation

Acupuncturist Philippa Summers shares how she works with pregnancy and birth preparation and what it can be beneficial for. Philippa has a special interest in women's health including pregnancy and has been supporting women using acupuncture for over 25 years. 

Pregnancy is an extraordinary journey, a milestone and the beginning of one of life’s most exciting transitions. It is such a privilege to treat women at this time of their lives often through enormous change - physical, mental and emotional. Acupuncture offers effective, time honoured treatment which I frequently combine with massage. It is medication-free, very safe and can be used at all stages of pregnancy.

When do women come for treatment?
Over the years I’ve treated women through every stage of pregnancy, including midwives, sometimes starting right from the first positive test after fertility support, up to the onset of labour. I most commonly see women in the first trimester and then leading up to the birth:

• First Trimester: This can be a particularly challenging time, marked by fatigue, often nausea, sometimes with vomiting, and for women with a history of pregnancy loss there may be added concerns.  It is often compounded by wanting to keep the pregnancy under wraps while juggling work and other responsibilities. Many women find acupuncture especially helpful for both physical relief and emotional support.
• Second Trimester: Often described as the “easiest” phase, many women feel well during this time, and it is often an ideal time to start local antenatal exercise classes, like yoga or pilates, and take a break from acupuncture. Other women may start to come for treatment during this time as the aches and pains, particularly in the pelvis and lower back can begin to niggle or may be much more disruptive.
• Third Trimester: With the baby growing, aches and pains can continue to be an issue for some. Then as the birth approaches the whole focus naturally shifts. In the last weeks I tend to see women mainly for birth preparation  but also to encourage breech babies to turn.

What can acupuncture treat
Acupuncture can help with a wide range of pregnancy-related issues, including these well researched issues, which we’ll explore in more detail below:

• Morning sickness and fatigue in early pregnancy
• Pelvic and lower back pain
• Anxiety, depression and emotional overwhelm
• Turning Breech Babies
• Birth preparation

The list is far from exhaustive and women often seek treatment for conditions, unrelated to pregnancy, for which they do not want to take medication. Please do get in touch if you are wondering if acupuncture can help you.

Easing Morning Sickness
Feelings of nausea may follow hot on the heels of the celebratory news of a positive pregnancy.  Some women find that snacking regularly is enough to keep the nausea at bay but at the other extreme some women can barely tolerate water and crackers and may also be vomiting. Staying well hydrated is important but that can be difficult. It can be relentless and a miserable struggle from one day to the next. Acupuncture offers a calming, way to help ease nausea which should also settle naturally as the pregnancy progresses.

Relief for Lower Back and Pelvic Pain
As your baby grows so does the pressure on your body especially the pelvis. Pelvic girdle pain, felt in the lower back, hips, and pubic area, often begins in the second or third trimester and may make it difficult to walk, sleep, or even get comfortable sitting down. Acupuncture helps by improving blood flow, reducing inflammation and can help to relax tight muscles, sometimes alongside some gentle massage. Women typically report improved mobility, reduced pain, and a greater sense of ease after treatment.

Turning Breech Babies (start at around 34 weeks)
For babies in breech position there is a simple treatment that can encourage them to flip round into the head down position.  Timing is important as the baby will have less room to manoeuvre later. It involves warming a point on the little toe (Bladder 67) with a dried herb called moxa. I teach women or their partners to do it themselves and supply enough moxa sticks for them to do it at home daily for 10 days. It is supported by research and is a gentle, non-invasive option, so worth trying as it can help to make the birth more straightforward.
It is not suitable for everyone and there are some important safety caveats so don't try this without professional guidance.

Birth Preparation (start at 36 weeks)
These weekly sessions which I like to start at about 36 weeks aim to soften the cervix, balance hormones, relax the pelvic muscles and ligaments and encourage the baby to descend into the optimal position. Some studies suggest that pre-birth acupuncture may reduce the need for medical interventions, such as inductions, epidurals or c-sections and reduce the time in active labour.

I combine body and ear acupuncture, with warmth and massage along the acupuncture channels, focussing on the legs, hips, lower back and sacrum. Some gentle rhythmic hip rocking can also help to open up the pelvic girdle and relax mind and body. Importantly, it helps calm the mind during those last few busy weeks of maybe finishing work and preparation, and the transition to a peaceful, cosy, nesting state of mind ready to give birth. These are really chilled out sessions.

The birth prep treatments build on one another and the benefits have been shown when started early enough.  Starting treatment at 40+ weeks ahead of a possible induction is unlikely to have the same effectiveness and benefits.

Research and Additional Information
 I am very honoured to be a member of the Acupuncture Childbirth Team (ACT London). We are a group of dedicated, specialist acupuncture practitioners treating male and female fertility and women through pregnancy. We share knowledge, experience and keep our skills up to date with regular meetings and speaker presentations from consultants, midwives and other specialists.
 
If you are interested in reading more about the research into acupuncture during pregnancy then take a look at ACT London’s research page. It covers all the things mentioned above and more besides, including fertility.
 
I am also a Member of the British Acupuncture Council (MBAcC), the UK's largest professional body for traditional acupuncturists, which ensures its members are fully trained and follow high clinical standards.
 
Please do get in touch if you’d like to find out more or have any questions.