Pregnant women have many therapies they can choose from, sometimes to the point where they can be overwhelmed with options. Aside from all this, they can do various tests, to ensure their good health and that of their baby. Well, there is one kind of treatment, which introduces nothing but relaxation and it involves acupuncture. 

Acupuncture is a Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment, centred around the concept of Qi energy. This is the essence, which contributes to good health and wellbeing in people. When the flow of this energy becomes obstructed, various unpleasant conditions and illnesses may follow. One of the ways to remedy the situation lies with acupuncture. It works on the points of the body, where the Qi energy is concentrated and restores its balance and flow to all of the vital organs. It can be quite beneficial, including pregnant women. There are a few important points to consider in this regard: 

• How does treatment help pregnant women? – acupuncture is all about balancing the hormone levels of the body. To pregnant women, this is particularly important. During their first trimester, they can experience symptoms like nausea, fatigue and heartburn, which are quite common during that time. At a later stage, acupuncture can help with other symptoms of pregnancy – constipation, aches, swelling, etc. Experts believe that acupuncture is ideal for pregnant women in their third trimester. That is when it aids the body in getting ready for labour. Some acupuncture points the experts work on to allow for better relaxation and achieving hormonal balance. 
  
  
• Is acupuncture safe? – this is an important question for every pregnant woman. Unlike many of the medications that women use, this kind of treatment comes with no negative side effects. It is geared towards helping the person achieve a sense of relaxation and calmness. Some women report feeling a little tired after a session, but that is a symptom that only lasts a very short period. To a lot of people, the idea of getting poked with acupuncture needles is scary. The truth is, the needles used in acupuncture are hair-thin. They don’t cause pain, but at most a slight tingling sensation. Inserting them in the skin doesn’t hurt, nor do they cause any damage. Some women with more sensitive skin report slight bruising, but it fades away quickly and should not be a problem. Acupuncture is one of the safest possible treatments that pregnant women can get. 
  
  
• The benefits of acupuncture – according to researchers, pregnant women who underwent acupuncture had better chances of spontaneous labour around their due date and less chance for induction. Thanks to acupuncture, there is less need for other medical interventions, like C-section, epidural, forceps, etc. Also, for women that had regular acupuncture treatments, birth was much easier. 
  
  
• What does acupuncture do? – the main idea behind acupuncture for pregnant women in preparation for labour. It helps the vital organs by nourishing them and increases the person’s overall tonus. Performing acupuncture on specific points leads to softening the uterine ligaments and improving blood flow. In turn, this improves the chance of the baby going out in the right position, all the while softening the area around the cervix. It also promotes contractions in the uterine muscles. 
  
  

For pregnant women, to make the most of acupuncture, it means contacting the right expert for it. The acupuncturist must have experience with this sort of client. Pre-birth acupuncture is a fantastic treatment, especially when it is done right. 

© The Acupuncturist Ltd