Acupuncture During Pregnancy – FAQs

There are a number of frequently asked questions brought up by patients on the topic of acupuncture during pregnancy and many non-acupuncture medical professionals give varying responses, this article will aim to provide you with enough information to make an informed decision.

Q: Is it safe to have an acupuncture session when you are pregnant?

A: Absolutely! But there are a few things to consider before jumping in.

The most important thing is to check whether your practitioner is registered, this will ensure that they are properly trained to the high Australian standard and part of that training is to know which acupuncture points and areas to avoid with a pregnant patient. It may also help to check if their clinic deals with a lot of fertility cases since different practitioners have different fields of expertise.

Q: When should I start acupuncture for pregnancy?

A: It is best to start getting acupuncture done three months prior to attempting both naturally or via IVF. Traditionally, a practitioner wanted to ensure that there were three months of smooth cycles and now with modern technology, we understand that an egg takes three months to mature with the quality of the egg depending on the last three months of a woman’s health.

Q: What are the benefits of getting acupuncture done when you are pregnant?

A: This question is more for patients who have no health concerns relating to the pregnancy itself. Acupuncture may assist with the emotional and mental concerns that arise from pregnancy. As we know, high stress can lead to complications and as such, getting acupuncture done may assist in limiting those concerns.

Q: Can acupuncture help with pregnancy related concerns?

A: Yes, it can. This is the opposite to the above question, here a patient has a specific concern relating to the pregnancy. There has been research to show that acupuncture may assist with: threatened miscarriage, morning sickness, lower back pain and a host of other concerns.

Q: Do I need to take herbs while pregnant?

A: Generally, no. Herbs can be more risky when a patient is pregnant however there are some exceptions such as formulas for threatened miscarriage. These are taken short term and discontinued once the situation has stabilized. It is likely your practitioner will give you lifestyle advice most of which will be diet related before, during and after pregnancy.

Q: Is there anything acupuncture can do for breech presentation?

A: Yes, however it is important to get treatment around the 32 week period as your baby still has room to switch positions, this can be achieved up to about 36 weeks however the longer it is left, the more difficult the results.

Q: Can acupuncture induce labour?

A: Yes, acupuncture can help to induce labour. Different practitioners have different approaches but the general idea is to have acupuncture done every second day until labour is achieved. It can (and has happened) where a patient is due to be induced the next day and one acupuncture session triggers labour (not immediately, generally several hours later) but this is rare.

In summary, acupuncture is safe to receive during pregnancy as long as your are seeing a registered practitioner. Remember that an acupuncturist works with you and your body to reach an intended health goal, your acupuncturist will advise you on lifestyle modifications to consider before, during and after the pregnancy to optimize your health.

If you have questions that we did not cover, please contact us.