harmonizing body, mind and spirit, acupuncture helps women engender a more positive experience of pregnancy while minimizing their use of pharmaceuticals. Regular treatment provides both physical and emotional support to the expecting mother, in a safe and compassionate environment for expression and healing.
Virginia Mims, MS, LAc
Expecting Wellness
Pregnancy is an experience of exquisite transformation, both joyful and challenging. For more than 2,500 years, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has advocated specialized care during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum recovery, viewing this as a pivotal window of time for enhancing health and wellbeing.
While not replacing standard prenatal care from your OBGYN or midwife, many women today choose acupuncture to treat pregnancy-related problems safely and holistically. By
The best time to begin treatment is prior to conception, whether or not you are experiencing fertility challenges. To optimize your chances both for conception and for a healthy, full-term pregnancy, our goal is to engender within you the greatest state of health, balance, and vitality. In addition to nutritional and lifestyle recommendations, this work will focus on improving the circulation to your uterus and ovaries, optimizing the endometrial lining, regulating your period, and decreasing your overall stress levels.
"When the soil is well prepared,
the harvest will be bountiful."
Allergies
Anemia
Anxiety and Depression
Back Pain
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Constipation
Diarrhea
Edema
Fatigue and Exhaustion
Headaches
Heartburn
Hemorrhoids
Hypertension
Insufficient lactation
Labor Preparation
Mastitis
Sacroiliitis
Sciatica
Sinusitis
Symphysis pubis pain
Threatened miscarriage
Urinary incontinence
Wound healing and scar tissue repair
Morning Sickness
Morning sickness often defies its own name, lasting well beyond morning and sometimes persisting past the first trimester, significantly impacting quality of life. Acupuncture is renowned for its efficacy in reducing both the severity and frequency of nausea and vomiting.
The Research
Validated by evidence-based research(1), studies conclude that "acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment for women who experience nausea and dry retching in early pregnancy."(2)
Musculo-Skeletal Pain
A wide range of pain conditions ~ such as back pain, sciatica, and symphysis pubis pain ~ are commonly experienced in pregnancy, and can be significantly reduced with acupuncture.
The Research
Recently published research in the British Medical Journal concluded that acupuncture was the treatment of choice for symphysis pubis and sacroiliac pain, when compared to
standard physiotherapy.(3)
Hypertension & Preeclampsia
Acupuncture can play a significant role in the reduction of high blood pressure, particularly when treatment is started early on.
Breech & Posteriorly Positioned Babies
Moxibustion is a simple technique you can do at home to help turn a breech baby, or to reposition a posterior baby. Once the baby has turned, continuing moxibustion (at a decreased frequency) may help encourage the baby to remain in the optimal position.
The Research
The effectivenes of moxibustion for turning breech babies was recently demonstrated in a study published in JAMA(4), and moxibustion is now recommended in the evidence-based practice guidelines of countries such as New Zealand(5).
CAUTION
As hypertension can quickly escalate to a dangerous level, ongoing medical monitoring by your OBGYN or midwife remains essential.
Labor Preparation
To help gently prepare your pelvis and cervix for labor, weekly pre-birth treatments are recommended starting Week 36 or 37.
The Research
Recently substantiated by international research, labor preparation treatments have the potential to make the active stage of labor more efficient(6), and may help reduce rates of medical interventions, such as inductions
and caesarean sections(7).
"Virginia has helped tremendously during my pregnancy by alleviating my back pain, anusea, allergies and anxiety. I can't take medicine for any of the previous ailments and none have really afflicted me during this time.
I can't recommend her enough!" ~JSC
When infertility is a concern, or if you have had frequent miscarriages, Chinese medicine is a powerful therapy in and of itself, as well as in conjunction with Western medical Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ART), such as IVF. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are used both to improve success rates, as well as to decrease side-effects from the drug regimens. Click here to read more about recent research on acupuncture for infertility.
Conditions Treated
Acupuncture can safely and effectively help to relieve a wide variety of conditions during pregnancy and postpartum recovery, such as:
Postpartum Recovery
Once the blessed event occurs and the baby is born, it is natural for everyone’s attention to focus on the newborn. But it is vital that mom not be forgotten! The postpartum period is crucial to the mother’s health… and mom’s wellbeing is, of course, essential for the baby’s wellbeing. While you are spending so much energy nurturing your newborn, it is no less important that your own health and wellbeing be nurtured.
During the postpartum phase, we will work together to restore the physical and energetic resources that were spent in pregnancy and childbirth, and to rebalance any developing problems. Chinese medicine is traditionally used postpartum to address lactation issues, breast pain, constipation, insomnia, depression, and a variety of other complaints.
No matter where you are in your fertility journey, I invite you to learn more about how acupuncture and Chinese medicine can support you in this process.
1) Smith C, Crowther C, Beilby J (2002). "Acupuncture to treat nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy: a randomized trial". Birth. 29(1):1-9.
2) Smith C, Crowther C, Beilby J (2002). "Pregnancy outcome following women's participation in a randomised controlled trial of acupuncture to treat nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy". Complement Ther Med. 10(2):78-83.
3) Elden H, Ladfors I, Fagevik Olsen M, Ostaard H, Hagberg H (2005). "Effects of acupuncture and stabilising exercises as adjunct to standard treatment in pregnant women with pelvic girdle pain: a randomised single blind controlled trial". BMJ;330(7494):761.
4) Cardini F, Weixin H (1998). "Moxibustion for correction of breech presentation". JAMA. 280:1580-1584.
6) Kubista E, Kucera H (1974). [On the use of acupuncture in the preparation for delivery], Geburtshilfe Perinatol; 178(3):224-9.
7) Betts D, Lenox S (2006). “Acupuncture for prebirth treatment: An observational study of its use in midwifery practice”. Medical Acupuncture. Vol 17(3).
Additional Resource: Betts D. The Essential Guide to Acupuncture in Pregnancy & Childbirth (and associated materials). East Sussex: The Journal of Chinese Medicine Ltd., 2006.
Acupuncture ~ The Safe & Natural Way
to Enhance Your Health in Pregnancy
~ House calls available ~
"Blending ancient medicine with modern science"
Photos: Guy Salvadore (c) 2008.
Complimentary
Consultation
Virginia is pleased to
offer a 20 minute
complimentary
phone consultation
to all new and
prospective patients.
Speak with Virginia, discuss your condition, and get all your questions about acupuncture answered.
