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Pregnancy & Postpartum with Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture is thousands of years old and uses detailed diagnostic standards to effectively treat many different concerns that can be associated with pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. Pregnancy is an exciting and wonderful time, but with the many physical and hormonal changes that occur, it can also be a time of discomfort. Acupuncture is a safe, gentle and effective way to address common pregnancy related complaints.
Support During Pregnancy & Postpartum
Pregnancy and postpartum is an incredibly transitional and empowering time in a woman’s life and pulls us into finding deeper meaning and love in our lives. All women deserve to be supported, nurtured and taken care of while adjusting to the profound changes motherhood creates.
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Shannon no longer works with breech presentation with moxa and acupuncture.
How Acupuncture Can Support Pregnancy
Miscarriage Prevention Acupuncture can effectively work to support early pregnancy through providing adequate circulation of qi and blood to the uterus. Acupuncture also works to decrease the stress and anxiety associated with the vulnerability that sometimes lies in the first trimester.
Nausea & Vomiting Nausea and vomiting are often the first signs of pregnancy and vary in frequency, intensity, and duration. Acupuncture has been shown to decrease nausea and vomiting during early pregnancy. Acupuncture works by harmonizing the meridians that impact GI function.
Constipation & Heartburn Up to 80% of women have issues with heartburn, indigestion, bloating, constipation, and stomach discomfort during pregnancy. These issues sometimes ebb and flow or can get increase throughout the pregnancy. Research supports acupuncture’s gentle and effective course of treatment for GI issues. Acupuncture works to harmonize the stomach and spleen meridians through the use of specific therapeutic acupuncture points.
Ligament, Joint, & Muscle Pain It is common for women to experience pain and discomfort during their pregnancy. The back, ribs, hips, shoulders and wrists. The symptoms of conditions such as pubic symphysis, carpal tunnel, round ligament pain, and sciatica are commonly supported through the use of acupuncture. Acupuncture is gentle and effective in helping women maintain overall health during pregnancy, facilitating a joyful and active experience during pregnancy.
Stress, Anxiety, Fatigue, & Insomnia Pregnancy provides profound changes in the body, endocrine system, and can provide changes in our emotional state. Anxiety, depression, worry, fear, fatigue, and insomnia are common throughout pregnancy based on various factors. Adjusting to pregnancy, becoming a parent, or adding on to your family poses increased demands on the body and can increase stress levels. All of these factors can contribute to a woman’s mental state during pregnancy. Acupuncture works to restore balance in the body, can be very restorative and help manage symptoms associated with mental health challenges. Through treating the whole person (mind, body, spirit), acupuncture works to treat in an individualized way through getting to the root of the problem from a traditional Chinese Medicine lens.
Edema Subcutaneous edema is common during pregnancy and can create puffy and swollen ankles, hands, and feet. Acupuncture can be effective at treating the sypmtoms associated with edema. Working with the spleen meridian and supporting the yang can help to decrease swelling and discomfort.
Intrauterine Growth Restriction This is a condition where the baby is not growing within a normal range for its gestational age. There are many reasons why this can occur, including: · Pre-existing conditions · Disorders in pregnancy like anemia, severe nausea and vomiting · Preeclampsia · Placenta previa, placenta issues · Pregnancy of multiples · Gestational diabetes Acupuncture has been clinically shown to increase blood flow to the uterus. It can help to increase circulation and nourish the yin in the mother and baby. Acupuncture can also work to reduce symptoms associated with anxiety and stress.
Labor Preparation Labor preparation work can begin at 36 weeks. Appointments are scheduled weekly, until a woman goes into labor. Shannon tailor's treatments to each woman through assessing where their body is within the spectrum of late pregnancy. Generally, the first treatment (at 36 or 37 weeks) focuses on relaxation, stress and anxiety reduction. Treatments continue to work on the mother’s emotional state in conjunction with incrementally focusing on circulating energy in the meridians that run through the uterus and cervix. Studies have shown acupuncture’s ability to reduce the duration of labor and treatments have been shown to lower cesarean and epidural rates. One study included 169 women. Information was gathered by 14 midwives as part of their midwifery practice in New Zealand. It found that when comparing all caregivers (midwives, general practitioners, and specialists) to those women who received pre-birth acupuncture there was: · An overall 35% reduction in the number of inductions (for women having their 1st baby there was a 43% reduction) · A 31% reduction in the epidural rate · A 32% reduction in cesarean delivery · A 9% increase in vaginal birth Acupuncture is a gentle way to nudge and encourage the body as women approach labor. Shannon does not charge a cancellation fee if you go into labor or have had your baby and need to cancel. Please have someone reach out to her via text at 608-347-2554 or email at shannongyles@yahoo.com and let her know as soon as possible.
Postpartum Acupuncture has been treating women post birth and postpartum for thousands of years. Traditional Chinese Medicine has supported women with the "sitting in" or "the sitting month" postpartum period through acupuncture, diet, nurturing the mother, cooking nutritionally dense and warming foods and teas. Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can help with postpartum recovery from birth both physically and emotionally, supporting nourishing the yin to help with breast milk production, help with symptoms associated with anxiety & depression. Acupuncture can also to help provide rest and relaxation to balance the demands associated with motherhood. Women can bring their babies in during their appointments (please schedule accordingly in our schedule system) and receive care or come in solo to get some support and nurturing time away.
