Although the first trimester can be an exciting time for many expecting mothers, it doesn’t come without its fair share of difficulties. These difficulties include morning sickness (which up to 90% of newly expecting mothers experience), fatigue, heartburn, headaches, and a lowered immune system.
As acupuncture is a non-invasive therapy it can be used to manage these symptoms, as a result, more and more women are opting because it helps to overcome these problems.
There are different symptoms and concerns for which acupuncture can be helpful for expectant mother. These symptoms include:
- Morning Sickness
- Hyperemesis Gravidarum (a condition very similar to severe morning sickness)
- Helping to stop bleeding and spotting in your first few months of pregnancy
- Swelling in the legs
- Migraine headaches
- Heartburn
- Constipation
- Depression and anxiety
- Lower back, hip, pelvic, and leg pain
A Closer Look at Some of These Pregnancy Symptoms
Lower Back and Pelvic Pain: Two separate studies found that acupuncture can help pelvic pain. A 2015 Cochrane Review found that acupuncture was more effective in improving pelvic pain compared to your usual prenatal care. The second study published the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology shows research how acupuncture can reduce pain in both your lower back and your pelvic region during pregnancy.
Depression and Anxious behavior: Approximately one out of every four women complaint about depression during their pregnancy, it is important to discuss about this symptom. A study conducted in 2010 published in the Obstetrics & Gynecology journal shows that the severity of depression symptoms had been decreased for most of the women that received acupuncture to treat depression during an eighth week of clinical trial..
Migraines and Headaches: Research on this topic shows that acupuncture also helps in managing headaches during pregnancy, also reducing dependence on medicines women take to control them.
Sleep Issues: : Trouble falling asleep and STAYING awake can be a problematic, but it becomes troublesome once you’re pregnant. Studies report that pregnant women having regular acupuncture sessions can sleep better during their pregnancies.
Are There Any Risks Involved?
Even though acupuncture is generally considered a safe and low-risk treatment option, it is always best to run it by your doctor before you proceed.
Mostly, doctors recommend their patients to try acupuncture as a natural remedy prior to using any medication for different health concerns. Since patients get constrained with treatments they can take once they are pregnant. The adverse effects of acupuncture are same for all patients (whether you’re pregnant or not). Some of these include inflammation, swelling or bruising in the area where a needle was placed.
In a nutshell, acupuncture is a safe and natural remedy to ease your concerns during pregnancy, especially during first and second trimesters. And as mentioned previously, due to the low risks involved with acupuncture treatments, it is becoming more popular among pregnant women. So, if you’re curious and seeking a natural alternative, feel free to contact us (once you have consulted a doctor) to book an appointment!
This article originally appeared here and has been re-published with the author's permission.
Deanna Carell is a licensed acupuncturist and owner of Deanna Carell Acupuncture located in Nutley, NJ. She is also the co-owner of Microessence, LLC a company specializing in microneedling courses, devices and natural skin care. Deanna most recently received her Doctorate in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (DAOM) from the Pacific College of Health and Science in San Diego and she received a Master’s degree from the Eastern School of Acupuncture and Traditional Medicine where she studied TCM and Kiiko style Japanese acupuncture.
