Pregnancy Acupuncture - Your Thoughts?

[Deutschette]

Tomorrow morning, I will speak to a specialist for acupuncture. I've never had acupuncture and will have the choice between the traditional variety (needles) and the newer "electro-acupuncture." I have hypermobility and the pain often affects my moods, so I'm hoping that acupuncture will help me.

I was wondering if anyone here has had acupuncture during pregnancy? If so, did it help your general aches and pains?

 

[bumpy_j]

i haven't used it during pregnancy but my mum has an electro-acupuncture set which she's taking to the hospital for me - she claims it worked well for her when she had severe hip problems

 

[Deutschette]

I really do wonder if it will help or not. I'm hoping that it will help me loads, but I can't help but wonder what the risks of having it done during pregnancy are... Would love to hear more personal input from those who have had it done or know someone who has had it done.

Also: would you go for the traditional method or the new electro method?

 

[lisaf]

I did acupuncture while TTC.... then when pregnant I kept going but have only been a few times.
I haven't used it for pain relief exactly, just really like my acupuncturist and like the relaxation, lol. I only had the electro-stim while TTC and even then only a few times. There was no need to use it since then so I don't know if its normally used during pregnancy or not.

As long as you are seeing someone who is used to treating pregnant women, there shouldn't be much of a risk at all. Many pregnant women use acupunture to relieve nausea, sciatica etc.
There are SOME spots that are thought to induce labor... they stay away from those if they know what they're doing. And even then they are unlikely to trigger labor unless your body is ready. I had this discussion with my acupuncturist at my last appointment... she warns people that she doesn't see the point in doing deliberate labor-triggering acupuncture until you're overdue, but some people insist and it hasn't worked for her even once unless the person was already overdue.

I stupidly didn't go see my acupuncturist when I was having really bad pelvic pain and sciatica so I can't report back if it helps with that, lol!

 

[lisaf]

oh yeah, but the needles do hurt a bit more when pregnant... its the hormones in your body. It was extremely noticable for me from 4 weeks pregnant even when normally I didn't even know when the needles were going in. Thats normal according to my acupuncturist though and she says women on their periods are more likely to feel the needles etc from those hormones too.
(its not a bad pain at all.. just like a hair getting plucked)

 

[Deutschette]

The doctor I'm seeing has been doing it for a very long time and has also treated pregnant patients. He is also a pain specialist. My husband goes to see him every once in a while for electro-acupuncture, which has helped his chronic headaches a bit.

I always figured that the needles would hurt a bit like having a hair plucked. Just so I also know, where are these locations that need to be avoided during pregnancy??

 

[lisaf]

I'm not sure what they are, lol... I think they are very specific though... Like some of them may be on the feet, but not all of the feet spots are bad and some are necessary for what you may want help with.
I know you have to be careful with massage too since there are pressure points that can trigger labor etc.

I don't think its something you need to find out yourself, you just need someone who knows what they're doing if that makes sense?

 

[lisaf]

and like I said... my acupuncturist hasn't had much success triggering labor before the due date/before the body is ready.
She told me she had one patient who was in from out of town and due in a few weeks... her grandmother was dying and she wanted her to meet her baby before she went. She did 3-4 sessions a week for 2 weeks trying to trigger labor and it didn't work.
(yet when my acupuncturist does sessions to trigger labor after a due date, labor often starts within 24 hours... my friend had been having infrequent transactions, did acupuncture and within a hour was contracting regularly and was at the hospital ready to deliver within 4 hours... obviously a fast labor, but that friend is convinced it got her body going since she was 7 days late at that point and was still only 1cm dialated etc).

 

[ummar]

Acupuncture has been a God-send for me in this pregnancy because it is the only thing that rids me of the severe back and sciatica nerve pain that I get.

I get the needle treatment from a Korean practitioner in East London (she is a former NHS nurse) and she knows what points to avoid in pregnancy (mainly not to trigger pre-term labour).

I cannot recommend it enough! Since we cant take strong meds during pregnancy, I don't know what I'd do without her acupuncture treatments.

My cousin had blinding migrane attacks throughout her pregnancy and again, unable to take strong meds, the only thing that helped her was acupuncture.

Finally, there is a local midwife/acupuncturist in East London that I've been recommended. She has helped many women bring on labour (after EDD) - she's so good, one of her patients had to go directly to hospital from her clinic!

I'll definitely try her if I go overdue but this means starting treatment around once a week from 38 weeks so she can prepare the body for full-on induction after the EDD.

 

[VanaAK]

I used accupunture to help get all my systems back in balance after coming off the pill.

I just started going back to the accuputurist this week. It helps soooooooooooo much with my back pain. I had a session yesterday and felt like a new woman after the fact.

I would highly recommend!

 

[Deutschette]

Thanks so much, ladies. I'm now definitely looking forward to the session tomorrow and hope to receive positive results from it.

My general practitioner flat out refused to give me any type of medication before I even mentioned it, and just about a week ago, my husband's doctor told him that there has been a new study on the effects of Paracetamol on unborn babies. Apparently, it has some effects on the baby's liver and kidneys, even when small doses are taken, so hubby has hidden the Paracetamol from me. Looks like acupuncture is my only choice now.

 

[winegums]

I'm thinking of doing this if I don't go into labour within a week or so. I'm not allowed to be induced so if I don't go into labour by myself I will be given a c section which i will do anything to avoid!

 

[ummar]

Thanks so much, ladies. I'm now definitely looking forward to the session tomorrow and hope to receive positive results from it.

My general practitioner flat out refused to give me any type of medication before I even mentioned it, and just about a week ago, my husband's doctor told him that there has been a new study on the effects of Paracetamol on unborn babies. Apparently, it has some effects on the baby's liver and kidneys, even when small doses are taken, so hubby has hidden the Paracetamol from me. Looks like acupuncture is my only choice now.

Good luck - hope it helps!

My acupuncturist also applies infra-red heat on my back while the needles are in so that might be part of the reason why her treatments help me so much. Might be an idea to ask if your acupuncturist would recommend the same.

I honestly stumble into the clinic hardly able to move and about 15 minutes after treatment, I feel like a different person.

 

[winegums]

ummar where in london do you live?

I'm trying to find an accupuncturist someone can recomend rather than just find one online or something

xx

 

[ummar]

Happy to help! I live in East London. My acupuncturist is a Korean lady called Sam. Her clinic, Equilibrium, is near Whitechapel tube station. The number is 020 7780 1888.

She charges £35 for a consultation and session of acupuncture with infra-red heat. In total it usually takes about 45-60 minutes altogether.

And this is the info I was sent about the midwife/acupuncturist:

Alison Courtney, (https://www.alisoncourtney.net/) who works at Holistic
Health on Broadway Market, is a midwife and acupuncturist. She runs an
inexpensive pregnancy clinic weekly (I think it's £25) and then does private
sessions for around £40 I think. Most acupuncturists prefer to work with
women before they are overdue and 'need' to be in labour asap. If you are
thinking you might be interested it might be work going to a couple of her
pregnancy clinics at 38 and 39 weeks (or before) so that's she's already
getting things moving in the right direction.

It would be worth checking the prices with Hoistic Health:
https://holistichealthhackney.co.uk/files/

 

[winegums]

Thank you hun! really appreciate the info - i'm 40 weeks though already it's sort of a last resort.. thanks again xxx