The Benefits of Acupuncture During Pregnancy
Are you struggling with morning sickness, insomnia, or pregnancy-related aches and pain? Acupuncture offers a safe, natural way to manage these and other pregnancy-related symptoms.
What Is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture uses hair-thin needles inserted into the skin to break up blocked Qi. Qi is a type of energy that keeps your mind and body healthy. If Qi becomes blocked, you may experience pain or other symptoms. Eliminating blockages with acupuncture restores your body's natural balance, which may improve physical and mental health.
Treatments aren't painful, thanks to the thin needles acupuncturists use. In fact, you may only notice a mild ache or twinge when needles are inserted in your skin. Depending on your symptoms and your acupuncture treatment plan, the needles may remain in place for 10 to 30 minutes or longer.
Although you might associate acupuncture treatment solely with pain relief, the ancient medical practice is used to treat conditions and symptoms ranging from carpal tunnel syndrome to stress to digestive disorders. Wondering if acupuncture is safe during pregnancy? A retrospective cohort study published in BJOG in 2020 found no significant differences in delivery outcomes, such as stillbirth or pre-term labor, in women who received acupuncture.
5 Benefits of Acupuncture
Acupuncture offers these benefits during pregnancy:
- Morning Sickness Relief. Nausea and vomiting are common pregnancy complaints, particularly during the first trimester. Acupuncture targets the vomiting center of the brain and mutes the vomiting reflex. Treatments also regulate stomach rhythms and decrease stomach acid production. A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis published in Heliyon noted the positive benefits of acupuncture and moxibustion in women experiencing morning sickness during early pregnancy. Moxibustion is a Chinese medicine treatment that involves burning the herb mugwort to stimulate Qi flow and enhance acupuncture effects.
- Fewer Aches and Pain. Back, hip and pelvic pain can make pregnancy feel a little less joyful, especially during the third trimester. Acupuncture treatments help loosen tight muscles and reduce inflammation and stiffness. Treatments also activate the body's natural pain relief system by increasing the production of endorphins and serotonin, hormones that have pain-relieving properties. Acupuncture may be more helpful than standard treatments in treating pelvic girdle pain, according a literature review published in Obstetrics & Gynecology in 2022.
- A Natural Solution for Insomnia. Discomfort and frequent bathroom trips make it difficult to sleep well during pregnancy. Acupuncture improves sleep by easing pain, reducing stress, and regulating melatonin, a hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle.
- Less Anxiety. Worries about your baby's health, labor and delivery, or parenthood can cause stress and anxiety during pregnancy. Acupuncture calms the mind and reduces stress and anxiety. Endorphins and serotonin released during treatments don't just relieve pain but also improve mood and enhance relaxation.
- Reduced Risk of Induction. Induction is a possibility when your baby is reluctant to enter the world. Acupuncture might decrease the need for induction, according to a 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology Maternal-Fetal Medicine. The researchers reported that women who received acupuncture treatment had a significant increase in spontaneous labor onset compared to women who didn't undergo acupuncture treatment. They noted that more studies are needed to confirm this effect.
Ready to find out how acupuncture can help you manage your pregnancy symptoms? Contact our office to schedule an acupuncture appointment.
Sources:
NCBI: BJOG: Safety of Acupuncture During Pregnancy: A Retrospective Cohort Study in Korea, 1/2020
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31483927/
PubMed: Heliyon: The Efficacy and Safety of Acupuncture and Moxibustion for the Management of Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnant Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, 1/11/2024
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38298660/
ACOG: Obstetrics & Gynecology: Acupuncture as Treatment for Pelvic Girdle Pain in Pregnancy: A Literature Review [A282], 5/2022
American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology Maternal-Fetal Medicine: The Role of Acupuncture in the Present Approach to Labor Induction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, 2/2024
https://www.ajogmfm.org/article/S2589-9333(23)00414-7/fulltext
What to Expect: Should You Try Acupuncture During Pregnancy, 2/22/2024