1) Fatigue: Your body is going through a lot of changes and using up all the energy and nutrients it can get to grow your baby. Acupuncture, and especially moxibustion, is a gentle and effective way to replenish vital energy stores, promote relaxation, and optimize digestion to ensure adequate nutrient absorption.

2) Morning sickness: In acupuncture theory we look at morning sickness as a disharmony in the energy flow between your stomach and uterus, which can have many causes depending on your individual picture of health. Acupuncture can quell nausea, stop vomiting and even reduce associated heartburn.

3) Emotions: Acupuncture is great at balancing hormones and associated structural imbalances related to the HPA system. Which is a major cause of mood swings, depression and anxiety during pregnancy. Furthermore, in acupuncture theory, we recognize that old emotional wounds and traumas are stored in the meridians that pass through the diaphragm (pericardium) and encircles the hips (dai mai) — As baby grows and starts to put pressure on the tissues and fascia — old pains may emerge to be integrated before entering into the birth space. Acupuncture is great medicine for helping to release the tissues, support the nervous system in emotional processing and integrating energic shifts into the bodies felt sense of safety.

4) Turning a breech baby: There is a growing body of research to support what many have done in China for thousands of years — acupuncture and moxibustion (on the toe!) to turn a breech baby into position for cervical engagement. Optimally this is done around 33 weeks.

5) Labour prep and cervical ripening: For this I recommend starting around 36–37 weeks on, to make sure the body is well adjusted for the birthing process. Acupuncture helps to loosen the ligaments and fascia around the hips and pelvis, and to promote cervical thinning and dilation needed as labour approaches. Starting early with cervical ripening treatments can also help to keep due dates on time and ease the body into induction treatments should one be needed.

6) Induction: Acupuncture is great at helping to induce labour! Acupuncture stimulates the body to produce oxytocin, one of the primary cascade hormones needed for labour onset. Further it helps to relax, calm anxiety and reduce labour pains.

6b) Failure to progress & dilation: This is one way I love to use acupuncture but is often under utilized, as most birth attendants are not trained in acupuncture in Canada. I love to attend births and have seen the efficacy of acupuncture once labour has started (and stopped) in progressing contractions and increasing cervical dilation.

7) Post natal recovery: if you’ve had a baby chances are you are now exhausted. In the classical acupuncture texts we talk about « mother roasting » and « sitting the month » this is pretty much exactly as it sounds. Mama (or birth parent pronoun preferred) stays in bed for 4 weeks and is warmed sufficiently with nourishing meals, heat packs and lots of moxabustion and acupuncture! Rest is the key to recovery.

8) Scarring and tears — While most do not want needles near a torn perineum, c-section wounds and scars can benefit greatly from acupuncture by speeding healing time, breaking up adhesion from scar tissue and reducing the size and appearance of wounds and scars. Take home moxa sticks are helpful for vaginal tears.

9) Milk supply: Insufficient lactation is a common problem, especially if labour was especially intense and prolonged, and/or if there was significant loss of blood. Whatever the reason, acupuncture has a long history of usage with blocked milk supply or insufficient lactation by balancing hormones, releasing tension from the nervous system and increasing circulation to the breasts.

10) Postpartum depression: Where acupuncture can be a literal life saver! Replenishing a depleted system, balancing hormones, nourishing an over stimulated nervous system, integrating emotional patterns triggered by new parenthood. Acupuncture is a safe and compassionate way to take care of yourself during the lows of postpartum depression.

Carmelle LeMaistre is a British-Columbia based acupuncturist practicing a fusion of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Japanese Meridian Therapy acupuncture techniques for a relaxing and pain-free experience.   Her background in social justice work has laid the foundation for a passion in building an accessible healthcare practice.  You can learn more about her at Carmelle Lauren Acupuncture and follow her on Instagram.