July 28th, 2010
Jen L. sent this photo to me with the message, “Use this to promote your “happy baby” pressure point if you like!” Jen received acupuncture in pregnancy, including the happy baby point. She is not the only happy mother who has said to me, “the point must have worked”. Of course, there are multiple conditions that come together to make a baby happy – I don’t think the point is the magic – but it seems to help (and sure doesn’t hurt). Ask your acupuncturist about the Happy Baby Point (Kidney 9). Chinese medicine classics promise that if you needle the happy baby point in pregnancy, the woman will have a happy baby that sleeps through the night.
May 31st, 2010
The entire body is mapped onto the ear.
“Thank you for your listening ear” a patient just said as she was leaving her appointment. So often, a great part of the therapeutic work I do involves listening.
And then there is the LABOURING EAR. The most effective point I have found in my practice for labour support and pain relief is on the ear. Known as auricular acupuncture, the entire body is mapped onto the ear and stimulating the ear can treat conditions all over the body.
In the case of labour, I have been told by patients that stimulation of a point on the ear cuts their labour pains in half. I have attended numberous births at which I set up a tiny needle in both the women’s ears. The needles are covered with adhesive tape (much like a bandaid). During contractions, one ear is pressed, with thumb on the needle, and counterpressure with the index finger on the back on the ear at the same level. Sometimes I stay for the labour. More often I teach the woman’s partner how to apply the pressure. I also have one patient that preferred pressing the point by herself.
On a couple occasions I have wondered if this pressure is making a significant difference and have decided to try a contraction without pressing. In both cases, the labouring women have called out, “ear, ear”. They did not want to withstand any contractions without this support.
This auricular stimulation does not interfere with the woman’s mobility or positioning and needles are easy to remove if they are not wanted.
In my experience, auricular acupuncture is a low cost, non-evasive, and miraculously effective support for labour.
January 7th, 2010
People often are surprised that I use acupuncture to assist pregnant women. They ask me, “What can acupuncture do?”
Acupuncture gives information to the body that helps the body to balance itself. In Chinese Medicine theory, symptoms are a sign of imbalance. When the imbalance is addressed, the symptoms disappear.
The childbearing year is an exciting time full of changes. “Balance” during pregnancy and post-partum is always relative, adaptive and constantly shifting. Acupuncture successfully relieves discomforts and stress.
In pregnancy, the most common reasons that women come for a treatment include nausea and vomiting (NVP) commonly referred to as morning sickness, aches and pains – especially repetitive strain disorders such as carpel tunnel and tennis elbow, and pains related to weight bearing adjustments, such as back, hip and pelvic pains. Sciatica is a common concern. Women also come with digestive concerns, heartburn and constipation. Often women feel exhausted and are looking for energy and a place to discuss their fears, anxieties and insecurities. Many women find that they sleep better after acupuncture. In some cases, women are referred for acupuncture to lower high blood pressure and avoid pre-eclampsia. I have also successfully treated women with pregnancy related skin conditions. In late pregnancy, acupuncture and moxibustion can help encourage the fetus turn from a breech position, and is also used to encourage labour to start post dates.
Research supports the use of acupuncture for labour preparation (also called “cervical ripening”). This is usually performed as a series of 4 weekly treatments beginning at 37 weeks gestation.
Most women find acupuncture in pregnancy to be a very positive experience. Once the needles are in place, many women experience a deep sense of relaxation and often nap.
The uses of acupuncture in pregnancy are varied, just as women’s experience of pregnancy often is.
