Acupuncture During Pregnancy
Dr (TCM) Attilio D'Alberto specialises in treating infertility and is a member of the British Fertility Society.
In pregnant women, acupuncture may help to relieve pain (e.g. back pain, labour pain), improve mood and reduce anxiety, alleviate dyspepsia, and turn a fetus who is breech by:
- Increasing relaxation and reducing tension (Samuels 2008). Acupuncture can alter the brain’s mood chemistry, reducing serotonin levels (Zhou 2008), and increasing endorphins (Han, 2004) and neuropeptide Y levels (Lee 2009), which can help to combat negative affective states.
- Stimulating nerves located in muscles and other tissues, which leads to release of endorphins and other neurohumoral factors, and changes the processing of pain in the brain and spinal cord (Pomeranz, 1987; Zhao 2008; Cheng 2009).
- Reducing inflammation, by promoting release of vascular and immunomodulatory factors (Zijlstra 2003; Kavoussi 2007).
- Increasing cortico-adrenal secretion, placental estrogens, and changes in prostaglandin levels, which leads to raised basal tone of the uterus and enhanced movement of the fetus, thus making version more likely (Van den Berg 2008).
Contact Dr (TCM) Attilio D'Alberto to discuss your condition.
Pre-Birth Acupuncture
This is a series of 4 weekly treatments from week 36 to prepare for labour. Points are used according to a woman's individual needs and pregnancy history. They include points to ripen the cervix, help position the baby and to promote optimal energy and stamina for labour.
The protocols used in this treatment are based on the practice and experience of a number of midwives and acupuncturists based in New Zealand who performed a study on 169 women. They found that when comparing all of the pregnant women's caregivers (midwives, GP's, consultants, etc) to those who had received pre-birth acupuncture there was:
- A 35% reduction in the number of inductions (for women having their first baby this was a 43% reduction)
- A 31% reduction in the epidural rate (Betts 2006)
When comparing midwifery only care to women receiving pre-birth acupuncture there was a:
- 32% reduction in emergency caesarean delivery
- A 9% increase in normal vaginal births
- There was no difference in the onset of early labour in those women receiving pre-birth acupuncture(Betts 2006)
Breech Babies
Breech babies are ideally treated between 34 - 36 weeks gestation with moxibustion. This is a one off treatment with women given instructions and being shown how to continue treatment at home with a moxa stick (a herb that has been shaped into a cigar like stick). The moxa stick is lit and held over specific points on the feet for 20 minutes each day for 10 days or until the baby has turned. Dr (TCM) D'Alberto will perform the first treatment and then supply the moxa sticks and instructions for home use.
Induction
Acupuncture can help bring on labour and reduce the need for a medical induction. It can also help with labour pain and enhance a smooth labour.
Contact Dr (TCM) Attilio D'Alberto to discuss your condition.
References
Betts. D, Lennox. S (2006) Acupuncture For Pre-birth Treatment: An Observational Study Of Its Use In Midwifery Practice. Medical Acupuncture Vol. 17, #3. May 2006.
Cheng KJ. Neuroanatomical basis of acupuncture treatment for some common illnesses. Acupunct Med 2009;27: 61-4.
Han JS. Acupuncture and endorphins. Neurosci Lett 2004; 361: 258-61.
Kavoussi B, Ross BE. The neuroimmune basis of antiinflammatory acupuncture. Integr Cancer Ther 2007; 6: 251-7.
Lee B et al. Effects of acupuncture on chronic corticosterone-induced depression-like behavior and expression of neuropeptide Y in the rats. Neuroscience Letters 2009; 453: 151-6.
Samuels N et al. Acupuncture for psychiatric illness: a literature review. Behav Med 2008; 34: 55-64
Pomeranz B. Scientific basis of acupuncture. In: Stux G, Pomeranz B, eds. Acupuncture Textbook and Atlas. Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag; 1987:1-18.
van den Berg I et al. Effectiveness of acupuncture-type interventions versus expectant management to correct breech presentation: a systematic review. Complement Ther Med 2008;16:92-100.
Zhao ZQ. Neural mechanism underlying acupuncture analgesia. Prog Neurobiol 2008; 85: 355-75.
Zhou Q et al. The effect of electroacupuncture on the imbalance between monoamine neurotransmitters and GABA in the CNS of rats with chronic emotional stress-induced anxiety. Int J Clin Acupunct 2008 ;17: 79-84.
Zijlstra FJ et al. Anti-inflammatory actions of acupuncture. Mediators Inflamm 2003;12: 59-69.