Acupuncture during pregnancy

Acupuncture has been practiced in the Eastern world for more than 3,000 years with numerous recognized successes, and its use in pregnant women is highly recommended .

It is a therapy that is part of traditional Chinese medicine, by inserting needles into the body, it seeks to restore health and well-being . It is not intended to replace other types of treatments, but it is presented as a good complement. Acupuncture is therefore a good ally for pregnant women , without forgetting that you must follow the instructions of your gynecologist at all times.

WHAT IS ACUPUNCTURE?

Acupuncture was born in China more than 3,000 years ago and is part of its traditional medicine. It is based on a holistic medicine that contemplates the Being as a Whole: body and mind . According to its principles, if both are in balance it is difficult for the disease to establish itself. For Chinese medicine, all disease is a process of energy imbalance that must be restored. In addition to being very useful for relieving pain and reducing anxiety, an acupuncturist can treat ailments of different kinds, in addition to helping to raise vital energy, the immune system and general health, being used as preventive and maintenance medicine. Of the health.

ACUPUNCTURE HELPS RAISE VITAL ENERGY

Its use during pregnancy

Traditional Chinese medicine considers that in a pregnant woman the energy balance of her body undergoes an important change to be able to provide the fetus with the blood and energy necessary for its proper development . Therefore, acupuncture will help restore this balance, adapting to the changes that occur during pregnancy. The most important points to keep in mind during pregnancy are:

Zhubin : located under the calf muscle, just above the inner ankle. By touching this point, you can alleviate discomforts and symptoms of pregnancy, such as hypertension and anxiety.

Zusanli : located on the kneecap, it can help reduce fluid retention and improve digestion in pregnant women.

Good Neiguan : This point is located on the inside of the wrists and its activation helps to relieve annoying morning sickness.

Although acupuncture treatment is suitable for everyone and its application during pregnancy is not contraindicated, there are a number of points whose use is discouraged in pregnant women . Also, if any other point causes bleeding, its use will be discarded. The “prohibited” points during pregnancy are those that are located below the abdomen and the distal points known as R or V, in which the moxibustion technique should not be used, which consists of using the pressed root of the mugwort plant, with The one that forms a cigar or cigar called moxa, this is used indirectly with acupuncture needles or burned near the skin of the woman. Likewise, points B6, H3 and IG4 should not be used as they are eliminating points.

WHAT IS AN ACUPUNCTURE SESSION FOR A PREGNANT WOMAN?

In recent times the use of acupuncture has become an increasingly popular alternative. The insertion of small golden needles in certain points and channels benefits pregnant women all over the world. A good acupuncturist can help you during the different stages of your pregnancy: during the first months, to better cope with the mild discomforts caused by pregnancy, and from the eighth month, to better prepare for childbirth .

You can also use it during childbirth, or even in the puerperium, to help you recover better after the birth of your child . In all cases, an acupuncturist must be in charge of performing the technique. In the first consultation, a complete history will be made with the medical data of the pregnant woman, the type of diet, sleep pattern , family history and symptoms that she presents . The pulse, tongue, and facial coloration are also usually examined . Once the problem has been identified, the acupuncturist will personally adjust the treatment to be performed.

THE INSERTION OF SMALL GOLDEN NEEDLES IN CERTAIN POINTS AND CHANNELS BENEFITS ANY PREGNANT WOMAN

In any case, the intensity of sensitivity varies from person to person, from the point in question, from the stimulation technique and from the experience of the acupuncturist. The number of acupuncture sessions required depends on several factors such as: the severity of the symptom, duration and nature of your treatment . In any case, the improvement is appreciated from the first sessions. It is recommended that at the beginning the sessions be carried out on alternate days and with a frequency of 2 or 3 times a week, and later according to the evolution.

RISKS AND BENEFITS

Today this type of holistic medicine is becoming increasingly popular in different countries of Europe, where acupuncture is available in specialized prenatal care clinics. Also, the advantage of Chinese medicine is that it generally has few side effects, and there are only few reasons why it should not be used in pregnant women. It is a great ally against annoying nausea and vomiting , reduces the severity and incidence of these symptoms during pregnancy. Likewise, doctors advise that women eat lightly and often, focusing on the intake of complex carbohydrates such as bread, cereals, whole grain cookies …

Acupuncture can be used to help lower high blood pressure, especially if treatment is started early . It should not be forgotten that hypertension caused by pregnancy cannot always be treated with acupuncture therapy alone, but requires, in especially delicate and difficult situations, adjuvant drug therapy. On the other hand, the use of traditional medicine will be reflected in the decrease in blood pressure figures, although continuous medical surveillance will be necessary. In the last months of pregnancy, fluid retention is very common in the legs, ankles and feet; Acupuncture techniques are very useful to treat this accumulation of fluids and promote their drainage.

Varicose veins can also appear in the legs or vulva that cause local pain, acupuncture cannot cure them but it can reduce the associated discomfort. In the same way, it helps to control and reduce annoying hemorrhoids. Acupuncture has been shown to help relieve waist pain, anxiety, insomnia, pain in the pelvic area, tiredness and exhaustion, headache, heartburn, musculoskeletal pain, leg cramps, acupuncture in pregnancy. weight control … among others.

The acupuncture can also help you better prepare for childbirth . During the eighth month, the baby is ready for delivery and is usually in a head-down position. However, some babies are presented in a breech position. In this case, it has been shown that the use of the acupuncture point located on the mother’s fifth toe can help the fetus to position itself correctly. Acupuncture can also be used throughout the ninth month to help dilate the cervix.

USE OF THE ACUPUNCTURE POINT ON THE MOTHER’S FIFTH TOE HAS BEEN SHOWN TO HELP THE FETUS TO POSITION ITSELF CORRECTLY.

On the other hand, acupuncture does not cause any negative side effects and can be combined with other medical treatments . However, it is true that patients who are hungry, fatigued and thirsty cannot receive acupuncture; in these cases you must wait. And its use is contraindicated in patients with hemorrhagic syndrome.

In either case, acupuncture should be considered a complementary treatment, offering a safe, effective, and drug-free option during pregnancy.