Is Acupuncture Safe During Pregnancy?

Is acupuncture safe during pregnancy? This is a question for which most future mothers need an answer, and so they try to find out more information about it.

What Is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture has its own main purpose to rebalance the energies in our body and the prevention of specific illnesses. It`s no surprise that there are more and more women who want to go to the acupuncture clinic while expecting a baby and especially near birth. A lot of medications aren`t allowed while expecting a baby, and acupuncture sessions seem to be the best possible way of relieving pain, prepare the future mother for birth as well as for the healthy development of the baby. Additionally, acupuncture is able to treat a few complications which might appear during pregnancy: risk of miscarriage, preeclampsia, urinary infections, toxic pregnancy or respiratory viral infections.

Acupuncture favors the good circulation of the important energies of the organism, detoxifies and purifies it. The chi energy is considered the result of the Yin and Yang interaction, 2 opposing and complementary forces in which Yin represents the night, wet and cold feeling, while Yang is associated with the day, inflammation, warmth and dryness. – Visit this info!

History

The Chinese are those who found acupuncture between 4.000 and 3.000 BC, elaborating this method from noticing inexplicable reminders to those wounded by arrows or tortured with needles. This practice has then spread to France since the 4^th decade.

In a healthy body, Yin and Yang are in a perfect balance; however, if the signs of an illness occur, this specific balance gets broken. Here comes acupuncture into play, which by acting on specific skin points, along various energetic meridians, may restore that particular balance. Every organ corresponds to a specific meridian that consists of distinct acupuncture points, and there`re 365 such specific point totally on the whole surface of the body.

Acupuncture has become more and more well known over the years, especially when it comes to pregnant women. Vomiting, loss of appetite and nausea – all of these are frequent signs during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy. These are all states that can sometimes become embarrassing and occur without a warning at any moment throughout the day. Acupuncture sessions may be recommended only to relieve these pregnancy signs. The activation of specific acupuncture points might stimulate the endorphin secretion, the neurotransmitter with a strong analgesic action, and may balance the energy centers that are responsible for the digestive activity.

Is Acupuncture Safe during Pregnancy?

Acupuncture sessions are mainly advisable in the third trimester of pregnancy, and this is mostly because now affections like pelvic pain, sciatica or back pain are much more accentuated. Additionally, acupuncture (and moxibustion) helps in turning the fetus when it`s in the pelvic position. In order to achieve this, the acupuncturist will intervene in certain points, and especially at a certain point at the extremity of the 5^th toe, which corresponds to the bladder.

Two weeks before childbirth, an acupuncturist may stimulate the points which coordinate cervical dilation, a method which may reduce during labor. Immediately after birth, the stimulation of specific points will facilitate the separation of the placenta. Acupuncture sessions can be recommended after childbirth so that the mother can regain her shape or to help her fight against possible postnatal depression or back pain. It works in specific regions to accelerate the serotonin secretion, which is a neurotransmitter that is involved in the activity of the central nervous system, with a crucial role in maintaining psycho-emotional balance as well as in preventing anxiety and depression. – More like this!

When you`ll first visit an acupuncturist, you should be ready to answer a few questions. This will help the acupuncturist learn more about your situation and about your lifestyle, the food and environment, or the emotional state which will characterize your health.

All the functions of your organism will be checked: sleep quality, digestion as well as a careful investigation of the pulse, iris and tongue. At the end of the examination, a diagnosis will be put out which will outline the meridians which require to be acted upon and what points need to be chosen. – More similar info!

The duration of a session will vary between 15 and 45 minutes, and the number of sessions will be set depending on each pregnancy or whether or not there are any medical complications involved. You`ll feel mild or tingling, followed by a sensation of relaxation. On occasion, it may even happen for the patients to fall asleep during such a session. – More details!

Acupuncture needles are disposable. Patients who are reluctant to needles may exercise a constant pressure for 1 to 3 minutes, with their own thumb, at specific points, the same as the acupuncturist would have done it.

The acupuncture sessions take place once per week.

Unwanted Side Effects

The most severe acupuncture risks may involve the transmission of infections, especially viral hepatitis and AIDS, if this may not be prevented by sterilizing all the instruments according to strict health rules, or even better, using disposable needles. Cases of injuries have been described as well; however, this isn`t one of the reasons for forbidding acupuncture by uncertified personnel, a rule valid in some countries such as France. Actually, acupuncture practiced without discernment may lead to the loss of the benefits of a more efficient modern treatment.