Pregnancy & Labor Preparation

Pregnancy Acupuncture Benefits: Prenatal and Postpartum Care

With the news of a baby on its way, it’s natural to have both excitement and anxiety. As you plan for the months ahead, make sure to promote your health and well-being with acupuncture during pregnancy or post partum.

Acupuncture has been proven to be a safe treatment as a prenatal option or post partum – women throughout history have used this natural form of healthcare in their pregnancy journeys with positive results! Are you interested in other perspectives on traditional Chinese medicine and pregnancy? Check out this article from Very Well Family to see what they have to say! Don’t miss out on the many benefits that acupuncture can provide during such an exciting time; consult with a certified practitioner so that you can focus on nourishing yourself for the journey ahead. That way you will approach childbirth feeling prepared and supported no matter what exciting moments are yet to come! A healthy mama is a happy mama!

Practicing this ancient art of healthcare can help treat common ailments that expectant mamas may face including;

• nausea and vomiting,
• low back/shoulder pain
• headaches,
• round ligament pain
• even recurrent miscarriages
• ensuring adequate milk supply for new nursing moms 
• Providing emotional/ mental support when you need it most.

Acupuncture During Pregnancy For Nausea & Vomiting

Acupuncture and herbal medicine have been used safely and effectively to treat nausea and vomiting during the first and second trimester of pregnancy. Studies have shown acupuncture to be an effective approach for treating morning sickness, with a significant reduction in symptoms reported by pregnant women who received acupuncture treatments. Herbal medicine can also provide relief from mild to moderate nausea without the risk of side effects. When used in combination, acupuncture and herbal medicine can be an effective treatment for relieving symptoms associated with morning sickness and other pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting. With acupuncture, licensed practitioners use needles to stimulate certain acupuncture points on the body that help to regulate qi (blood flow) in the body, while herbal medicines work to provide nourishment and support for the body during pregnancy. 

After a few treatments, nausea is reduced or eliminated due to the relaxation response acupuncture provides, while herbal medicines help to balance the digestive system and reduce symptoms of vomiting. Both treatments can be used safely and effectively together in order to create a holistic approach that helps women manage their morning sickness in a safe, gentle way. With acupuncture and herbal medicine, pregnant women can find relief from their discomfort and maintain a healthy pregnancy. Give our office a call to schedule your consultation and learn about how acupuncture and herbal medicine can help you manage morning sickness during your first and second trimester of pregnancy.

Acupuncture to Relieve Aches and Pains

Pregnancy is an exciting time, but it can also bring unexpected aches and pains in your low back, mid back, and hips. Fortunately, there are noninvasive therapies such as acupuncture and cupping that provide safe relief from pregnancy-related pain. At Hawthorne Acupuncture, we understand the importance of finding safe solutions for pregnancy-related pain. Our office provides personalized care to help ease your pregnancy aches and pains by using both acupuncture and cupping treatments. We also offer helpful exercises and stretches that you can do at home to manage your discomfort. Say goodbye to pregnancy pain! Get in touch with us today to learn how our acupuncture and cupping treatments can provide you with safe noninvasive relief during pregnancy. We look forward to helping you enjoy your pregnancy with more comfort and less aches and pains.

Pregnancy Acupuncture and Stress Relief

Acupuncture can be a powerful tool for stress relief during pregnancy. It can help prevent burn out, reduce anxiety, promote better sleep, and alleviate fatigue due to hormonal changes. By calming down the sympathetic nervous system and decreasing stress hormones like cortisol, acupuncture helps soothe the fight or flight response that is often triggered by stressors in life. Acupuncture treatments also support improved circulation of blood and oxygen throughout your body which can lead to enhanced energy levels and improved overall well-being. With stress relief, acupuncture can help make pregnancy a more enjoyable and comfortable experience. This systematic review shows that there is “high level of evidence” that acupuncture can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression during pregnancy.

Acupuncture and Labor Preparation

If you’re looking for a natural way to prepare for labor and delivery, acupuncture is an excellent option. During acupuncture sessions for labor preparation, acupuncture needles are placed in specific points around the body with the goal of stimulating the uterus and promoting relaxation in the pelvis, while shunting oxygenated blood and hormones towards the uterus and cervix. Many patients report increased Braxton-Hicks contractions, uterine contractions, baby engaging and dropping into position, as well as feeling relaxed and at ease. Acupuncture can be an invaluable tool in helping ease anxiety associated with childbirth and making labor easier on both mother and baby. At our office, we specialize in acupuncture for labor preparation starting as early as 36 weeks of pregnancy. Contact us today for acupuncture for labor preparation starting in your 36th week of pregnancy. Let us help you get ready for the big day and happy birthing!

Acupuncturists who work with pregnant or lactating women will be knowledgeable about herbal formulas that are safe to take during pregnancy and when breastfeeding. It is important to seek out an experienced pregnancy acupuncturist to ensure the highest levels of safety and effectiveness for you and your baby. Knowing this, you can confidently choose an acupuncturist who specializes in fertility and pregnancy for optimal health and comfort throughout pregnancy. If you enjoy research, here is a systematic review on adverse events while doing acupuncture on pregnant women. In this review, the rate of serious events, such as miscarriage is actually lower than the average rates of miscarriage without acupuncture. 

Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine for Lactation Issues

Our team of acupuncture and herbal medicine professionals will create a personalized treatment plan to help you increase your milk supply. Our acupuncture treatments are combined with electroacupuncture, where low-voltage electricity is added to acupuncture needles to make the experience more comfortable.

Don’t worry if you’re struggling to breastfeed — we can help! Contact us today to learn how acupuncture, electroacupuncture, and herbal medicine may be able to safely increase your milk supply. We look forward to helping you enjoy breastfeeding with more confidence.

Acupuncture Herbal Medicine for Stress and Insomnia

Having a new baby can be an exciting and joyous time, but it can also bring with it some difficult challenges. One of the most common struggles during this time is postpartum insomnia – difficulty sleeping even when your newborn is sound asleep. Postpartum stress can also take a toll on moms who are trying to balance parenting, caring for the baby, and managing their own life. Finally, postpartum depression is a very real issue that can further complicate the situation.

The good news is that acupuncture and herbal medicine can be an effective remedy to help with postpartum insomnia, stress relief, and even postpartum depression. Acupuncture treatment can calm the nervous system and make it easier to get a good night’s sleep. It can also help with postpartum stress and depression, allowing moms to feel more like themselves. If you’re struggling with postpartum issues, don’t hesitate to reach out for professional help. Acupuncture and herbal medicine might just be the remedy you need to get a good night’s sleep and start feeling like yourself again.

Acupuncture To Balance Hormones While Weaning Or For Fertility After Childbirth

Postpartum hormone balancing is an important step in ensuring that a woman’s hormones and overall health remain balanced when transitioning to motherhood. Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can be used to regulate and balance hormones, especially during the weaning process from breastfeeding.

Through acupuncture treatment combined with Chinese herbal medicine, the body’s natural ability to regulate itself can be supported. This helps correct irregular periods or PMS symptoms while also aiding in restoring fertility if trying for another baby after weaning off of breastfeeding.

Acupuncture treatments regulate hormones by stimulating endocrine cells in the uterus, ovaries, and other locations throughout the body including glands such as the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Chinese herbal medicine helps regulate hormones by nourishing the body and addressing symptoms such as stress, fatigue, or anxiety that may be contributing to an imbalance.

With postpartum hormone balancing using acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, women can rest assured that their bodies are returned to balance in a natural and safe way. This will ensure fertility later on when looking to conceive another child.