Acupuncture For Pregnancy and Childbirth
January 4th, 2010
Pre-birth acupuncture can aid in the treatment of many pregnancy-related conditions, including: Nausea, high blood pressure and back pain. Pre-birth acupuncture can naturally induce and shorter labor, decrease dependence on epidural pain medication and help to prevent emergency caesarean delivery.
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada claims 20 percent fewer caesarean sections could be performed if doctors and hospitals followed guidelines aimed at lowering unnecessary surgeries and if women had support during labor.
Other traditional Chinese medicine modalities may be used in conjunction with pre-birth acupuncture. Moxibustion, a traditional Chinese medicine therapy that involves heating acupuncture points with the herb mugwort, has been used to turn breech babies for centuries.
A pre-birth acupuncture and moxibustion study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that, at 35 weeks gestation, 75.4 percent of the babies in the group of women receiving moxibustion had changed to a head down position versus 47.7 percent for women not receiving moxibustion.
In addition to acupuncture, acupressure can be an effective pain management modality during labor, according to Debra Betts, an acupuncture physician specializing in pre-birth acupuncture.
“We know that if women can manage their pain there is less drugs, less intervention and far fewer C sections,” says Betts. “What’s important is that these acupressure points are easy to use, can be used at the beginning of labor by the support people and that there are consistent effects. From my own clinical experience, acupressure has been used successfully in labor to significantly reduce pain.”
Pre-birth acupuncture is recommended from week 36 to week 40 to promote a natural and healthy birth. Pre-birth acupuncture nourishes the blood, induces relaxation, boosts energy, and prepares the pelvis and cervix for labor.
Pre-birth acupuncture can:
· Reduce medical intervention (caesarian section, epidural and medical induction)
· Reduce time spent in labor
· Aid in normal vaginal delivery
Pre-birth acupuncture treatment involves a series of four acupuncture treatments, once a week, to prepare for labor. Acupoints are utilized according to a woman’s constitution and pregnancy history.
For information about pre-birth acupuncture for reproductive wellness call Dr. Richard Browne, Acupuncture Physician, at (305) 595-9500.
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