Are you pregnant and wondering if pregnancy acupuncture benefits will work for you? As a chiropractic physician and certified acupuncturist in Springfield, MO, I love pregnancy acupuncture for a lot of reasons, but there are a few things you should know before you schedule an appointment with a prenatal acupuncturist!
Keep reading to learn more about pregnancy acupuncture benefits.
10 Things You Should Know Before Making a Prenatal Acupuncture Appointment
Prenatal acupuncture is a special type of acupuncture that targets specific points along the meridian line that help to decrease stress, reduce nausea, prevent breech presentation, decrease pain in the body, and more. Before you make an appointment with a pregnancy acupuncturist, make sure you know these things:
- Acupuncture is performed with tiny, sterile needles that cause the body to relax and release oxytocin, the happy hormone
- Acupuncture is safe for pregnancy
- As pregnancy continues, the acupuncture points change. After 37 weeks of pregnancy, we use a specific technique to help with cervical ripening and birth prep
- You don’t have to wait until you’re pregnant to start acupuncture for pregnancy. A 2018 study about acupuncture for infertility concluded “Acupuncture as a treatment for infertility shows great results both in men and women. Acupuncture can be considered as a successful treatment in restoring fertility in the patients, by improving the sperm quality and ovaries function and balancing the endocrine system and hormones.”
- Acupuncture feels more like a dull ache as opposed to a painful procedure
- You may experience sensations such as tingling, warmth, or heaviness around the needle insertion points
- If you are waiting until you become pregnant to start prenatal acupuncture, then please know it can be started as soon as you confirm pregnancy. Acupuncture in early pregnancy can help keep the uterus healthy and increase circulation, which in turn helps to prevent miscarriage.
- Acupuncture in early pregnancy can help to manage nausea, vomiting, and bloating, all the while increasing energy.
- It’s common for women to have trouble sleeping during pregnancy. Prenatal acupuncture can help reduce anxiety and relax the nervous system for a better night’s sleep
- Pregnancy acupuncture is great on its own, but when combined with Webster chiropractic care and Spinning Babies techniques, it can help prepare your body for birth and make labor a breeze
Now that you have the information you need to make a prenatal acupuncture appointment, we’re ready to talk about the immense benefits of prenatal acupuncture!
Benefits of Prenatal Acupuncture
Acupuncture during pregnancy helps your nervous system balance, which means a more comfortable pregnancy! Now let’s get into the benefits of prenatal acupuncture. Pregnancy acupuncture can help…
- Alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression
- Decrease in headaches and migraines
- Reduction in pregnancy insomnia
- Pain in the low back, pelvis, neck, and shoulders
- Severe nausea and vomiting (hyperemesis)
- Indigestion and constipation
- Swelling and preeclampsia
- Breech presentation (cephalic version)
- Decrease pain during labor
- Ripen the cervix
- Balance the nervous system
- Increase blood flow to the uterus
Can Acupuncture Help with Additional Women’s Health Issues?
The beauty of acupuncture is that it works in all seasons of life. Whether you’re looking for help alleviating menstrual pain, trying to increase your chances of getting pregnant, or trying to prepare for birth, acupuncture, and a certified acupuncturist, can help you through it all!
Looking for pregnancy acupuncture in Springfield, MO? I can help! Make an appointment online or call to book!