Pregnancy Acupuncture Wellington
Acupuncture provides support for physical and emotional changes during pregnancy such as morning sickness, back pain and depression.
Acupuncture for Pregnancy
Pregnancy acupuncture can support you naturally through physical and emotional changes related to pregnancy, labour and post-partum recovery. It's an increasingly popular drug-free treatment option. Along with treating conditions related to the pregnancy, it can be used to treat many ailments you suffered from prior to becoming pregnant. There's a long history of using acupuncture and Chinese Medicine for treating pregnancy related conditions. There's also plenty of modern research on this.
Pregnancy Acupuncture Specialists
Our acupuncturist, Natalie Floyd, has specialist training in pregnancy acupuncture and experience in a pregnancy acupuncture clinic in a New Zealand hospital. Her education included training under a world-known specialist in pregnancy acupuncture.
Pregnancy Conditions Commonly Treated
Treatments have been used for some cases of pregnancy-related back and pelvic pain, morning sickness, fatigue, headaches, hypertension, itching, miscarriage or threatened miscarriage, constipation and hemorrhoids, varicose veins, vulval varicosites, edema, depression, turning breech or posterior babies, pre-birth preparation, preparation for a medical induction and more. There is a point that works towards stopping uterine contractions and another that is used to move towards induction and contractions. Many pregnancy related conditions may be treated during different stages of the pregnancy. For instance, back pain can be treated throughout the pregnancy, while pre-birth treatments start around 36 or 37 weeks. Preparation for a medical induction usually only occurs 3-4 days prior to a scheduled medical induction.
Acupuncture for postpartum care may also be helpful in some cases for insufficient or excessive lactation, mastitis, postnatal depression, fatigue and more.
Limited Time Offer
Save $10 on your first pregnancy acupuncture treatment. Enter Coupon Code Preg10.
Not valid with any other offer. New patients only.
Acupuncture to turn Breech Babies
Preferably treated 34-36 weeks gestation. After treatment you will be shown how to use a moxa stick (charcoal-like stick containing a herb that is burnt) so you can continue treatment at home over a specific acupoint. Please note there is no guaranteed outcome from treatment.
Prebirth Acupuncture Treatment
The purpose of pre-birth treatment is to help prepare your body for an efficient labour. Usually four treatments weekly from 36-37 weeks to encourage optimal fetal positioning, support your energy and stamina, ripen the cervix and prepare you for labour. Treatments also aim to gently promote your baby to move low into the pelvis and to relax the ligaments and tendons so you are able to expand more comfortably later in the pregnancy. Shorter labour times and significantly less medical interventions have been noted in some women who received pre-birth treatments but there is no guarantee of any particular outcome.
Acupressure techniques (applying pressure on specific points on the body) may be shown to your partner or support person if they are available to come in with you and you'll receive an acupressure for pregnancy and labour booklet. Research shows that acupressure use in antenatal care reduces the requirement for epidurals and caesarean sections. You and your support people do not need to be experienced in massage to do the acupressure.
First, your acupuncturist will ask about your health and pregnancy history, examine your tongue’s shape, color, and coating, feel your pulse, and possibly perform additional physical examinations depending on your individual health needs. Using these unique assessment tools, the acupuncturist will be able to recommend a proper treatment plan to address your particular condition.
To begin the acupuncture treatment, you lay comfortably on a treatment table while precise acupoints are stimulated on various areas of your body. Depending on how far into the pregnancy you are you may lie on your side with a pregnancy pillow. Most women feel no or minimal discomfort as the fine, pre-sterilised needles are gently placed. The needles are usually retained between five and 30 minutes. During and after treatments people often report they feel very relaxed. Ear seeds or small press needles may be placed to prolong nausea or pain relief while you're away from the clinic. Your acupuncturist can also provide diet and lifestyle tailored to your specific condition.
Preparation for Medical Induction
Preparation for a medical induction usually only takes place 3-4 days prior to a scheduled medical induction or if your midwife desires to get things moving earlier for some reason. This treatment often involves one to three acupuncture treatment with points to further ripen the cervix and help with contractions. Your midwife may also organize a 'stretch and sweep' to help too.
An important aspect of this preparation includes 'acupressure homework'. You (and a partner if they can attend) are shown specific points on the body to apply pressure to regularly over the days prior to being induced medically and during labour for specific concerns. Research has shown that pressure on these points is beneficial during labour and reduces caesarean sections. Use of the points prior to labour also has been shown to reduce the need for epidurals and caesarean sections.
Acupuncture Postpartum Care
Acupuncture for postpartum care may also be helpful for insufficient or excessive lactation, mastitis, postnatal depression, fatigue and more.
How Do I Choose the Right Acupuncturist?
At Tao Clinic we have highly trained acupuncturists. Our acupuncturist, Natalie Floyd, has specialist training in pregnancy acupuncture and experience in a pregnancy acupuncture clinic in a New Zealand hospital. Her education included training under a world-known specialist in pregnancy acupuncture.
To guarantee the standard of training and competency, we advise that you always verify that your acupuncturist is registered with one of the two regulation body for acupuncturist in New Zealand and the Chinese Medicine Council of New Zealand (now a legal requirement for practice):
https://www.acupuncture.org.nz/
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