Pregnancy

Before giving birth

On the one hand, you may be over the moon at being pregnant; on the other, pregnancy has symptoms that keep you on your toes.

We can follow your pregnancy month by month and treat symptoms that come and go with each trimester.

In the first trimester, we can address morning sickness and fatigue.

In the second trimester, we often maintain our health and keep our baby happy. Some people experience a worsening of allergies, acid reflux or sleep issues. During the third trimester, structural aches and pains such as symphysis pelvic dysfunction can be worked on as well as oedema. All the while, I support your emotional health. Having acupuncture is peaceful and allows you to connect with your growing baby. You will quite often begin to feel your baby wiggle as you rest.

During the third trimester, the main focus will be on preparing you for labour.

As you approach your pregnancy's end, we ensure the baby is positioned well. Acupuncture is excellent at turning breech presentation. We use acupuncture to soften the cervix, promoting relaxation so that your labour comes on time.

I have trained with Deborah Betts, midwife and acupuncturist in Obstetric acupuncture.

Benefits

• Helping the baby find the best position in the womb in late pregnancy

• Helping the baby engage and move through the pelvis in the most optimal way

• If baby is in a breech position, helping baby to turn

• Balancing the mother to be's hormones, promoting relaxation, allowing Oxytocin to build

• Helping the cervix to physically prepare for labour

Breech Presentation

Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Breech presentation

If you are 32 - 35 weeks pregnant and you find that your baby is in breech presentation, acupuncture with moxibustion is something to consider. Research has found it could be up to “80% effective in helping your baby turn cephalic”. (Coyle ME, Smith CA, Peat B ,2016)

What happens in a treatment?

At your first appointment, I'll find out about how your pregnancy is progressing and how your general health is. You’ll be given acupuncture, and also a moxibustion treatment on Bl67, the point that has been used in studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of moxibustion to turn breech babies. I will apply moxa to the point, 10 minutes on one side, and 10 minutes on the other and instruct you how to treat yourself at home.

How does it work?

It is difficult to say exactly how moxa may affect a baby’s position, but it is known that Moxa emits long wavelength infrared radiation. (Pach D, Brinkhaus B, Willich SN, 2009). Using moxa to stimulate BL67 potentially encourages the production of maternal hormones: prostaglandins and placental oestrogens, which encourage the lining of the uterus to contract. This in turn may stimulate foetal activity. ( Cooperative Research Group of Moxibustion Version of Jangxi Province, 1984).

Are there any risks?

There have been no reported risks to prematurely rupturing membranes or other pregnancy complications between groups receiving moxibustion and those of the control groups receiving usual care. (Coyle ME, Smith CA, Peat B ,2016).

References

Coyle ME, Smith CA, Peat B. Cephalic version by moxibustion for breech presentation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 May 16;(5):CD003928. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD003928.pub3. Update in: Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023 May 9;5:CD003928. PMID: 22592693.

Pach D, Brinkhaus B, Willich SN. Moxa sticks: thermal properties and possible implications for clinical trials. Complementary Therapies in Medicine 2009;17:243-6.

Cooperative Research Group of Moxibustion Version of Jangxi Province. Further studies on the clinical effects and mechanism of version by moxibustion. Abstracts of the Second National Symposium on Acupuncture, Moxibustion, and Acupuncture Anaesthesia; 1984 Aug 7-10; Beijing, China. 1984:150-1.