Acupuncture for Pregnancy

Thinking of trying “acupuncture for pregnancy near me”? 

Getting pregnant is amazing but you may face some pregnancy pain. But don’t worry. There is one very effective and drug-free treatment that can help with your go through pregnancy and even after. It’s acupuncture for pregnancy.

Come to our clinic and be treated by the best acupuncturist for pregnancy in Irvine.

acupuncture pregnancy irvine
acupuncture pregnancy irvine

“When the obstetrician understood the treatment that I got, he was amazed. I am very grateful for Dr. Fu’s help and it was an easy delivery and the baby is healthy.” – X.S. (LA, CA.)

Table of Contents

Pregnancy Information

Pregnancy is an amazing moment. You’ll be bringing a new life in this world but you won’t be doing it alone. It was found by the CDC that the fertility rate in the U.S was 59.1 births per 1,000 women aged 15-44 [1].

Why Acupuncture During Pregnancy?

Acupuncture can help before getting pregnant or when struggling with female fertility. Acupuncture during pregnancy can help with the different pregnancy phases and even help with breech babies. 

Considering “acupuncture for pregnancy near me”? Our clinic has the best acupuncture for pregnancy in Irvine. Have some questions? Don’t worry. We can tell you more about it.

What Is Acupuncture For Pregnancy?

Acupuncture for pregnancy is a treatment that involves restoring the flow of body energy called qi using thin needles. Acupuncture targets acupoint to open meridian, pathways that qi runs through, that have been blocked. These blockages are what cause issues in the body. By restoring the natural flow of qi, one will face good health.

Interested more in “acupuncture for pregnancy near me”? Call us now for a complimentary consultation!

acupuncture for female fertility near me
acupuncture for female fertility near me
postpartum baby blues

Benefits of Acupuncture During Each Stage

During the first trimester, the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, one will experience different symptoms of pregnancy. Some include:

  • Fatigue
  • Morning Sickness
  • Constipation
  • Headaches and nausea

Acupuncture was found to be able to treat these symptoms or similar symptoms. In one study, they looked at the effects of acupuncture on hyperemesis gravidarum, severe vomiting, which was found to affect 1-2% of all pregnancies. They broke 33 women experiencing hyperemesis gravidarum into two groups: a treatment group (acupuncture) and a placebo group (superficial acupuncture). In that study, they were able to conclude that acupuncture could make women with hyperemesis gravidarum better faster than the placebo group [2].

During the second trimester, from week 13 to around the end of week 26, one will start to feel different symptoms of pregnancy. Some include:

  • Heartburn
  • Edema (Swelling)
  • Excessive weight gain
  • Hemorrhoids
  • Back pain
  • High or low blood pressure

Acupuncture can be used to treat these symptoms. Acupuncture was found to be able to increase or decrease blood pressure and can also be used to control cravings in hopes of helping with weight loss. But, acupuncture is the most helpful when it comes to treating pain.

In one study, they did a randomized controlled trial where they separated pregnant women who have lower back and posterior pelvic pain into three groups: an acupuncture group, a sham acupuncture group, and a control group. After two weeks of acupuncture treatment, they concluded that one week of continuous auricular acupuncture (ear acupuncture) decreases the pain and disability experienced by women with pregnancy-related low back and posterior pelvic pain [3].

During the third trimester, around week 28 until you give birth, is where you will experience similar symptoms in the second trimester and some new ones. Some symptoms include:

  • Back pain
  • Pelvic pain
  • Breech position
  • Induction of labor

Acupuncture is a great treatment to take especially during this time when you are about to go into labor any time soon. But, during this time, pain is not the only concern you might have. There is a chance of a breech presentation.

In one study, it studied the effect of acupuncture in correcting fetal presentation. They got a total of 240 women at 33-35 weeks of gestation carrying a fetus in breech presentation and randomly separated them into two groups: acupuncture plus moxibustion treatment group or an observation group. They looked at the fetal presentation at delivery.

During that study, they found that the amount of cephalic version (normal fetal presentation) was lower in the control group than the acupuncture plus moxibustion treatment group. Acupuncture also reduce the use of cesarean sections (c-section). At the end of this study, they concluded that acupuncture plus moxibustion is more effective than observation in revolving fetuses in breech presentation. Such a method appears to be a valid option for women willing to experience a natural birth [4].

During postpartum, the time after giving birth, you will have gone through the pains of labor and your body begins to recover from it. Some symptoms you might feel include:

  • Poor milk supply
  • Anxiety
  • Fatigue
  • Depression (“baby blues”)
  • Pelvic and low back pain

Acupuncture is known to be very relaxing and can help with the stress that comes after childbirth. Acupuncture can also help you when you go through “baby blues”, a period when you feel empty and sad. Of course, like in the second and the third trimester, acupuncture can help you alleviate and recover from pains from your pregnancy.

Testimonial

“I was eight months into pregnancy when I took the ultrasound exam. The obstetrician said that the fetal position was not correct. The baby’s head was pointing upwards and caesarean section was considered. I ached all over after every time but it didn’t show any result. Later I met Dr. Fu and told him my condition. He said that there was no need for that much hard work. He did two moxa. treatments for me. One week later, I went back to the hospital to take the exam again and the baby had turned around to correct position."
X.S. (Los Angeles, CA.)

Additional Info

During pregnancy, there are some pains you might experience. Here are some causes why you might experience pain:

  • Muscle strain
  • Round ligament pain
  • Digestive issues
  • Braxton-Hicks contractions (false contractions)
  • Cramping

In some cases, there are some more serious causes of pain during pregnancy. Some causes include:

  • Ectopic pregnancy
  • Miscarriage
  • Appendicitis
  • Gallstones
  • Preeclampsia

In cases that certain pain persists, please seek medical attention right away. It could be due to the serious causes above. You should also seek medical attention if you experience:

  • Pain is constant or severe
  • Pain is worse at night or when you lie down
  • Swelling or redness in the area

In other cases, you should also seek medical attention if you experience these symptoms:

  • Headache pain
  • Blurred vision
  • Bleeding
  • Fever
  • Difficulty breathing

[1] Martin JA, Hamilton BE, Osterman MJK, Driscoll AK. Births: Final data for 2018. National Vital Statistics Reports; vol 68, no 13. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2019.

[2] Carlsson CP, Axemo P, Bodin A, et al. Manual acupuncture reduces hyperemesis gravidarum: a placebo-controlled, randomized, single-blind, crossover studyJ Pain Symptom Manage. 2000;20(4):273-279. doi:10.1016/s0885-3924(00)00185-8

[3] Wang SM, Dezinno P, Lin EC, et al. Auricular acupuncture as a treatment for pregnant women who have low back and posterior pelvic pain: a pilot studyAm J Obstet Gynecol. 2009;201(3):271.e1-271.e2719. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2009.04.028

[4] Neri I, Airola G, Contu G, Allais G, Facchinetti F, Benedetto C. Acupuncture plus moxibustion to resolve breech presentation: a randomized controlled studyJ Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2004;15(4):247-252. doi:10.1080/14767050410001668644

Award-Winning Acupuncturist

best acupuncturist in irvine

Dr. Chun-Ming Fu Ph.D.

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