Acupuncture in pregnancy: how it helps

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a widely used treatment in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is assumed that an even flow of life energy (Chi) is a prerequisite for health and well-being. Blockages lead to cramps, pain and, in the long run, illness. Targeted punctures with needles at precisely defined points in the skin can eliminate or alleviate disorders inside the body. Since the acupuncture needles are very thin, you don’t have to be afraid of the punctures.

Why is acupuncture used during pregnancy?

• Against pregnancy discomfort : Physical discomfort often occurs during pregnancy. Unfortunately, however, your baby also absorbs all the medicines that you take. Therefore, it must be carefully considered whether and how you can treat the symptoms with medication. Pregnant women are therefore not allowed to take many medications at all. This is where acupuncture can help. It is mainly used during pregnancy to treat symptoms such as eating disorders, various types of pain, nausea and vomiting . Also for smoking cessation during pregnancy, against high blood pressure , anxiety, restlessness and sleep disordersit is used. If towards the end of the pregnancy the child is in an incorrect position, for example a breech position , acupuncture can in some cases still be used to turn the child.
• Facilitate childbirth : acupuncture for childbirth preparationhas become increasingly established in Germany. In addition to the emotionally balancing acupuncture points, those points that influence the pain and duration of childbirth are stimulated in particular. Are you afraid of a long and painful birth like many pregnant women? Acupuncture can reduce these fears and help you relax. The Chinese needle method has been shown to promote cervical maturation and lead to more targeted labor during the dilatation phase, i.e. the time until the cervix is ​​fully dilated. According to a study by the Mannheim Women’s Clinic, this can reduce the length of delivery by an average of 20 percent. A 20-30 minute session once a week in the last month of pregnancy is recommended.
• Against pain during childbirth : Acupuncture during childbirth is intended to relieve pain and mental relaxation. It relieves cramps that can arise, for example, from fear of the birth process, and thus reduces the pain. Women who give birth who have acupuncture hope that they will need less or, ideally, no painkillers. However, acupuncture cannot be compared with pain -relieving agents such as PDA (epidural anesthesia) . According to experts, acupuncture can prevent complications during childbirth. Acupuncture is also often used when a baby does not want to roll out of the breech position and will therefore very likely have to be born by caesarean section .
• Postpartum : You can continue to be treated with acupuncture after the birth of your child. For example, it is used for painful aftermath, disorders in the involution of the uterus, constipation and mood swings. Acupuncture can also be used during breastfeeding to treat painful milk ingress , sore nipples , breast infections and lack of milk. It represents an alternative to medication that you would otherwise pass on to your baby via breast milk while breastfeeding.

What happens during acupuncture during pregnancy?

If you are treated with acupuncture for complaints during pregnancy or in childbirth, the acupuncture points and the course of the session depend on the respective complaints.

However, prenatal acupuncture is similar for almost every pregnant woman. You lie or sit in a calm and relaxed position. Before inserting a needle, the site and the immediate area are lightly massaged. The location of the acupuncture points for childbirth preparation is precisely defined: points below the knee, in the area of ​​the inner malleolus of the foot, on the upper lateral calf and on the outer side of the little toe are treated. The midwife feels in the appropriate area until she has found a pressure-sensitive point. Here she quickly and painlessly sticks the needle about 0.5 cm deep into the skin. The needle is then advanced with a rapid rotational movement until the so-called De Chi feeling is triggered. The feeling can present itself differently. you feel warmth Numbness, pressure, heaviness, tingling, or a tiny, painless electric shock. Depending on the patient, the needle is only inserted a few millimeters or even a few centimeters deep into the skin. With the help of the punctures, your chi will flow evenly again, blockages will be released and you will feel more relaxed.

Acupuncture treatment should be carried out in consultation with your doctor. Only midwives, gynecologists and naturopaths with additional training are allowed to use acupuncture. Often, several pregnant women are treated at the same time during prenatal acupuncture.

When and where is acupuncture offered during pregnancy?

• Suitable for : especially for women in the last trimester of pregnancy to prepare for childbirth
• Time : 30 to 60 minutes per session (recommendation: 1 session per week in the last 4 weeks of your pregnancy; sessions during labor and postpartum as needed)
• Providers : mainly midwives and non-medical practitioners
• Cost : 10 to 20 euros per session