Acupuncture is a holistic medicine dating back thousands of years ago to China. It is a treatment that inserts very thin needles into various points of the body to treat medical conditions. It is often used therapeutically. Acupuncture is based on the belief that there is energy - "qi" - flowing through the body in certain paths or "meridians". Acupuncture points fall along these paths. It is not based on scientific method, but is rooted in tradition.
Acupuncture can be beneficial to healthy pregnant women. It is used to ensure the optimal health of the mother as well as the fetus during different stages of growth. This acupuncture claims to stimulate transmission of toxins between mother and child, as well as strengthen the mother's qi. Acupuncture for the healthy mother should be done once a month for the first eight months of pregnancy. During the last month of pregnancy a healthy expectant mother should receive acupuncture weekly.
Pregnant women can experience a variety of physical ailments, many of which they cannot take medication for without harming the child. Acupuncture treatment, however, allows women to undergo treatment without any risk of harming their unborn child. Women who experience back pain and sciatica have found that acupuncture soothes the pain without medication. Women experiencing fatigue have turned to acupuncture to remove blockages in the flow of their qi. Imbalances in the qi that cause morning sickness can also be rectified with acupuncture.
Acupuncture can be used in all stages of pregnancy, including the very end. Women who have past their due date can use acupuncture to induce labor. The acupuncturist has avoided certain point on the body during pregnancy, and can freely apply needles to those points to move energy through the body. During labor, acupuncture is used to strengthen weak contractions as well as diminish pain. Women who deliver while using acupuncture have found it shorter, less painful and less stressful.
New mothers are encouraged to continue getting acupuncture treatment following delivery. Acupuncture can restore a mother's health following pregnancy. Among others, acupuncture can treat fatigue, postpartum vaginal discharge, postpartum depression, mastitis, and insufficient or excessive lactation. It can also help with the postoperative healing for mothers who have had caesarian sections. When a new mother is in the best of health, she can be present for her child. New mothers should take care using Chinese herbs while breastfeeding as they could potentially harm the baby.
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