Acupuncture For Pregnancy

Acupuncture is perhaps the oldest form of traditional medicine that is still in use today. The practice originated from China with its earliest records dating circa 100BCE. Its applications are mostly in pain management and treating various ailments. Over time, these applications have expanded to managing various conditions that affect the nervous system, as well, discomfort arising due to pregnancy. 

Using acupuncture to manage pregnancy symptoms is fairly new, but there is evidence showing that it is quite effective. It has been a preferred option for pregnant people who wish to avoid using medications to manage their symptoms. So for those who are wondering about or considering taking the acupuncture route to manage their pregnancy symptoms,  we shall be discussing the benefits of this alternative treatment plan.

What Do Acupuncture Practitioners Do?

Acupuncture practitioners, also known as acupuncturists. What they do is to stimulate specific nerve-rich pressure points on the body by inserting specialized needles through the skin, resulting in the relief of pain or discomfort. An acupuncturist usually has a thorough understanding of the nervous system. This knowledge enables them to insert the needles with precision in order not to cause harm. 

There are those who may feel reluctant or generally be averse to the use of needles. For these people,  another thing that an acupuncturist can do is stimulate the same pressure points using their fingers. This process would be similar to massage therapy, but the resulting relief of pain or discomfort would be the same. When an acupuncturist uses their fingers in this way, it is referred to as acupressure.

Acupuncture During Pregnancy

Acupuncture is recommended by obstetricians as a non-drug alternative, to relieve the pain and discomfort that occurs during pregnancy. Although there are medications that can be prescribed, when one is pregnant, there is no telling how serious the side effects of prescription drugs will be. To avoid this, there are those who will prefer doing acupuncture.

Benefits of Acupuncture While Pregnant

There are many benefits of acupuncture when one is pregnant. It has been found to help in relaxation, to improve the quality of sleep, improve blood sugar levels, and regulate blood pressure. In fact, the National Institutes of Health published a study that showed that acupuncture was effective in stress relief for pregnant people. This is important because high stress levels could cause high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and eclampsia, which would have a negative impact on both mother and child.

Safety of Acupuncture While Pregnant

When a person is pregnant, their safety as well as that of their baby is at the center of any medical procedure or treatment plan. With acupuncture, concerns about bruising, injury, pain, infection, and needle hygiene are held by all people, even those who are not pregnant. 

These concerns become more pronounced when a patient is pregnant because the impact is on both mother and child. As well, when a person is pregnant, there are concerns that acupuncture treatments could cause them to go into early labour. Let us address these concerns.

Pain

Many people associate needles with pain from their experiences of having blood drawn, getting vaccinated, or undergoing other medical treatments that require injections. Therefore when they think of acupuncture, they imagine the pain of previous experiences being multiplied, due to the number of needles used for acupuncture therapy. 

However, the needles used in acupuncture are particularly narrow in comparison to the other needles used in medical procedures. The primary reason for this is that the narrow point helps them ‘stick’ to the skin better, but more importantly, painlessly, when properly inserted. 

Needle Hygiene

A professional acupuncturist will use FDA approved, sterilized, disposable, stainless steel needles. That is a mouthful. Is it not? Overall what this means is that a patient undergoing acupuncture treatments can rest assured that they are not likely to contract any infections from having the treatment done. 

To break it down further, FDA approval means that they have been rated as safe for use in the practice of acupuncture. Sterilized means that they come free of any bacteria, germs, fungus, parasites or viruses. Disposable means that they are used only once and not recycled. Stainless steel means that patients are not likely to have any reaction to the metal. 

Bruising or Injury

When it comes to bruising, there are those who tend to bruise more easily than others. If you bruise easily, you ought to tell your acupuncturist ahead of the procedure. They will know how to adjust your treatment to accommodate this. Typically though, the way in which professional acupuncturists insert the acupuncture needles does not cause bruising or injury. 

Preterm Labor

Preterm labor can be induced when certain pressure points are activated, especially in the third trimester when one is close to their due date. Thankfully, professional acupuncturists know the nerve centers to avoid so that they do not induce labor. Be that as it may, acupuncture treatments in the third trimester still carry the risk of inducing preterm labor, no matter how experienced a professional acupuncturist is. Therefore, get your doctor’s approval before continuing with these treatments in your third trimester. 

Conclusion

Acupuncture treatments have been effective in treating various illnesses as well as management of symptoms associated with a variety of diseases. As well, it is effective in managing the sometimes overbearing symptoms that are associated with pregnancy. 

It is important to have a consultation with a professional medicare provider before embarking on acupuncture therapy. As well, it is crucial not to substitute the proper management or treatment of illnesses, or prescribed medicine with acupuncture.

Finally, if you still have queries or concerns about having acupuncture therapy while you are pregnant, contact Los Angeles Reproductive Center today. We have a compassionate team of experts who are ready to walk with you on your family building journey. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What should I look for in an acupuncturist when I am pregnant?

It goes without saying that you should start by looking for a professional practitioner. Typically, each state has a regulatory board that licenses and certifies acupuncture practitioners, and would have a list of registered professionals. Further, you must consider the track record as well as experience doing acupuncture treatments on pregnant people. 

How much does acupuncture cost during pregnancy?

The cost of acupuncture as with any professional service is usually determined by the experience, certification and licensing of the practitioner, in terms of experience. In addition, the number of sessions that a person would require factor into the total cost. It would be helpful to verify with your health insurance provider if your medical plan covers acupuncture treatments.

Is an acupuncturist a medical doctor?

The two are not interchangeable. A medical doctor is a professional who is qualified to diagnose and treat illness using prescription drugs as well as non-drug based therapies such as acupuncture. An acupuncturist is a professional who is qualified to perform acupuncture therapy but not to diagnose, treat, or prescribe medication. However, a professional medical doctor can have the licence and certification to administer acupuncture treatments.