From the moment you conceive until your child (or perhaps children) make a grand entrance, your body is essentially taken over by the pregnancy. Though many of the changes are welcome as you anticipate the arrival of your child, some can leave you quite uncomfortable, which is where acupuncture can help.
Our team of certified acupuncturists here at Family Wellness Acupuncture understands the dramatic changes that occur in a woman’s body during pregnancy. More importantly, we understand where we can target our acupuncture treatments to make you more comfortable.
In the following sections, we explore some of the changes your body undergoes during pregnancy and the role that acupuncture can play.
Your musculoskeletal system is designed to accommodate a pregnancy, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t experience some discomfort, especially in your final trimester. Lower backaches, swollen ankles, and pelvic pain are some of the more common complaints.
Acupuncture is a great pain management technique in which we target the acupuncture points that correspond to your pain to be able to activate your nerves and encourage the release of endorphins in your brain, which act as your natural painkillers.
In a study presented in the peer-reviewed American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “ the participants in the acupuncture group reported a significant reduction of pain and improvement” when it came to lower back and posterior pelvic pain.
Nausea and vomiting, aka morning sickness, are common problems among pregnant women, as are other gastrointestinal problems, such as bloating and gas.
Through acupuncture, we use needles along precise points to unblock your meridians to restore your normal energy flow. Once we restore the flow of your qi (energy), your body works quickly to heal itself, including your gastrointestinal upset.
Another unwanted side effect of pregnancy is getting frequent headaches, which are largely fueled by hormonal changes. Through acupuncture, we restore your body’s chemical balance and block the pain by stimulating the production of endorphins.
There’s ample research that confirms that acupuncture is effective for many different types of primary headaches, including migraines and tension headaches.
Although your body transforms itself through your pregnancy, your mental health can also undergo serious changes thanks to fluctuating hormone levels. If you’re experiencing excessive stress or anxiety during your pregnancy, acupuncture works quickly to deactivate your fight-or-flight response, allowing you to relax with your hormonal balance restored.
The role that acupuncture can play in easing your pregnancy is almost limitless as we’re able to ease this tumultuous time, both physically and mentally. To learn more, contact our office in Irvine, California, to set up a consultation.
