Pregnancy Care

Acupuncture

Acupuncture has been used to safely treat conditions of pregnancy for the past 3000 years. As modern research continues to expand in support of acupuncture for pregnancy, more people are turning to acupuncture to help with various conditions including morning sickness, hypertension during pregnancy, muscular-skeletal conditions such as sciatica, heart burn, and prevention of miscarriage. Postnatal care with acupuncture can help insufficient lactation; wound healing and scar tissue repair, postnatal depression and urinary incontinence.

Breech and posterior babies can be helped with acupuncture. The New Zealand evidence based practice guideline for care of women with breech (1) recommends moxibustion, (a needle free technique used by acupuncturist) from 33 weeks. Research show that moxibustion can have a significant effect helping to turn breech babies at 34-35 weeks but can also be useful later in the pregnancy.

Pre labour preparation is a gentle weekly acupuncture treatment done from 37 weeks, it helps prepare the pelvis and cervix for the coming labour. Research from a new Zealand study with midwives (2) shows that women that have pre labour treatments have less medical intervention including medical induction and caesarean section, as well as helping to promote a more efficient active stage of labour (less complications less pain).

Acupuncture Induction done 3 days prior to medical induction can help to naturally induce the baby, research from Norway (3) concluded that "Ideally acupuncture treatment should be offered to all women with premature rupture of membranes and other women who wish to use this method to facilitate their birth and keep it normal."

Pain relief during labour is popular for obvious reasons. Acupuncturist help with pain relief during labour by teaching you and your support people how to do acupressure prior to labour. Acupressure is a needle free technique using pressure on acupuncture points to relieve pain, research (4) shows that acupressure in the case of reducing pain is as effective if not more effective than standard acupuncture.

1.http://www.nzff.org.nz/guidelines/0074/caesarean

2. Betts D Lenox s (2006) Acupuncture for prebirth treatments: An observational study of its use in midwifery practice. Medical acupuncture vol 17 No3.

3.Gaudernack L, Forbord S, Hole e. (2007) Acupuncture administered after spontaneous rupture of membranes at term significantly reduces the length of birth and use of oxytocin. A randomised controlled trial. Midirs Midwifery Digest. Vol 17, No 2

4. Chung ULJ. (2003) Effects of LI4 and BL67 Acupressure on labour pain and uterine contractions in the first stage of labour. Nurs Res. 11(4):251-60.

Acupuncture has been used to safely treat conditions of pregnancy for the past 3000 years. As modern research continues to expand in support of acupuncture for pregnancy, more people are turning to acupuncture to help with various conditions including morning sickness, hypertension during pregnancy, muscular-skeletal conditions such as sciatica, heart burn, and prevention of miscarriage. Postnatal care with acupuncture can help insufficient lactation; wound healing and scar tissue repair, postnatal depression and urinary incontinence.

Breech and posterior babies can be helped with acupuncture. The New Zealand evidence based practice guideline for care of women with breech (1) recommends moxibustion, (a needle free technique used by acupuncturist) from 33 weeks. Research show that moxibustion can have a significant effect helping to turn breech babies at 34-35 weeks but can also be useful later in the pregnancy.

Pre labour preparation is a gentle weekly acupuncture treatment done from 37 weeks, it helps prepare the pelvis and cervix for the coming labour. Research from a new Zealand study with midwives (2) shows that women that have pre labour treatments have less medical intervention including medical induction and caesarean section, as well as helping to promote a more efficient active stage of labour (less complications less pain).

Acupuncture Induction done 3 days prior to medical induction can help to naturally induce the baby, research from Norway (3) concluded that "Ideally acupuncture treatment should be offered to all women with premature rupture of membranes and other women who wish to use this method to facilitate their birth and keep it normal.

Pain relief during labour is popular for obvious reasons. Acupuncturist help with pain relief during labour by teaching you and your support people how to do acupressure prior to labour. Acupressure is a needle free technique using pressure on acupuncture points to relieve pain, research (4) shows that acupressure in the case of reducing pain is as effective if not more effective than standard acupuncture.

1.http://www.nzff.org.nz/guidelines/0074/caesarean

2. Betts D Lenox s (2006) Acupuncture for prebirth treatments: An observational study of its use in midwifery practice. Medical acupuncture vol 17 No3.

3.Gaudernack L, Forbord S, Hole e. (2007) Acupuncture administered after spontaneous rupture of membranes at term significantly reduces the length of birth and use of oxytocin. A randomised controlled trial. Midirs Midwifery Digest. Vol 17, No 2

4. Chung ULJ. (2003) Effects of LI4 and BL67 Acupressure on labour pain and uterine contractions in the first stage of labour. Nurs Res. 11(4):251-60.

Massage Therapy

Pregnancy care : With Relaxation or Swedish Massage, it is helpful when dealing with the stresses of changes in the body and the emotional preparation needed for an expecting parent. With Remedial Massage, we help with relieving that soreness and tightness that may arise in muscles from the physical changes during pregnancy. We use Trigger Point Therapy with treat tight muscles and pain referral, lymphatic drainage to reduce swelling in hands, ankles and feet and light stretching to keep your body mobile so you can enjoy this special stage of your life. Even after birth, massage helps with caring for your body and mind so you can care for your newborn better.