Acupuncture During Pregnancy

I recently reshared an Instagram post of actress Hilary Duff “gently trying to give baby the eviction notice” with an acupuncture treatment during the likely last few days of her pregnancy. She looks relaxed—and for good reason! Acupuncture offers a long list of benefits during pregnancy, from promoting sleep in the first trimester all the way to nudging baby to make their overdue debut. 

We’re going to take a look by trimester, because just as every stage of pregnancy is different, every stage of acupuncture needs to take into account your body’s needs, current state and even watchouts. 

First trimester
Many of acupuncture’s benefits line up perfectly with the early discomforts of pregnancy. First-trimester acupuncture can be a helpful tool in treating or promoting things like: 

Increased blood flow
Balancing hormones
Heartburn
Insomnia
Headaches
Breast tenderness
Morning sickness
Nausea
Fatigue
Bloating
Anxiety

It’s important to remember that the first trimester is also a delicate time for any pregnancy. If you’re early in your pregnancy or trying to get pregnant, be sure to tell your acupuncturist so they can tailor your treatment to your needs. 

Second trimester
Acupuncture in the second trimester is especially important for balancing your body as it starts to feel and settle into more physical changes. It’s also the trimester when discomfort starts to rear its ugly head. Acupuncture at this stage can help: 

  • Regulate the digestive and nervous systems

  • Address lower back pain and pelvic pain

  • Relieve discomfort from sciatica, ligament and rib pain

  • Manage gestational diabetes

  • Plus all of the things mentioned above!

Third trimester
During the last few months of pregnancy, acupuncture is still beneficial for all of the above, but it’s also a time to start focusing on things like managing stress and preparing both mom and baby. Acupuncture in the third trimester focuses on four important things: 

  • Relief from discomfort and pressure

  • Reducing stress hormones, which can slow down labor contractions

  • Preparing the body for natural labor

  • Helping move the baby into position

Let’s talk about the last one first, because worrying about the baby’s position can, in turn, create stress and interrupt your body’s natural preparations. So all of these things can go hand in hand. Your acupuncturist can use moxibustion between weeks 30 and 37 (ideally around weeks 33 and 34) to encourage fetal activity. But timing is everything—after 37 weeks, there’s less room for movement. 

Other discomforts acupuncture can treat in the third trimester include shortness of breath, palpitations and restlessness, as well as many of the same things experienced during the first and second trimesters. Just now with the pressure of an almost full-grown baby along with them. Acupuncture not only relieves your physical discomfort and pain but helps align your energy for the birth itself. 

Weekly acupuncture during the last month of pregnancy also can help mentally, emotionally and physically prepare your body for labor and delivery by releasing oxytocin, preparing your cervix and encouraging a more natural labor. And acupuncture has gained popularity in the past few years for its ability to naturally induce labor after the mother has reached 40 weeks. But this is important: No acupuncturist should be using points that induce labor before full gestation. 

Your body is doing a lot of hard work! It’s natural to feel all the changes and challenges that come along with it. Here’s a reassuring fact, too: A study by University of Vienna in Austria showed that women who received weekly acupuncture treatments in the month or so before giving birth experienced shorter first stages of labor and produced more oxytocin during both the first and second stages of labor. 

After birth
Many people call the 12 weeks after birth the “fourth trimester.” That makes sense, because your body is still adjusting, healing and even preparing for what comes next. Acupuncture can help ease the post-pregnancy transition in several ways: 

  • Improve blood circulation, which promotes breast milk supply

  • Address common post-natal issues, like fatigue, anxiety, cramps/bleeding, constipation, fever and depression 

  • Promote healing following a cesarean birth

I know there’s a lot of information here, but pregnancy is a lot! Acupuncture is a helpful tool to feel your best and find some relief (and some energy) during every trimester. 

In health and wellness,
Julie

Julie Grogan