Acupuncture for Birth Preparation

Acupuncture has been a treatment for support in all stages of pregnancy, in many countries, for so, so many years.

It is now being recommend by midwives, by well informed and patient-centred Obstetricians, by doulas, by pelvic floor physiotherapists, and of course friends and family who have had positive experiences with this ancient medicine for birth and ‘birth preparation’ treatments.

Your body’s preparation for birth starts many weeks before you feel your first contraction.

Acupuncture, regardless of what it’s treating is always about bringing the body back to balance in supporting it’s natural way of being. I can’t force the body to do anything, but I can treat the reasons why labour could be delayed for you and prepare your body for labour.

Clinically, I see the effectiveness of these treatments almost daily.

However, a common misconception regarding birth preparation treatments for a spontaneous vaginal delivery is that there are 6 acupuncture points which increase oxytocin in the body and the best way to help a hopeful mum, is to add as much stimulation to these points as possible after their due date. 

Where I’ve seen these treatments go wrong is in my own birth preparation experience. I didn’t have just manual acupuncture, but electro acupuncture to these points every day for 14 days before I was medically induced.

I was exhausted. The treatments weren’t specific for me and also, my beautiful daughter was not ready. I will say though, that I had the best induction outcome – and whilst I didn’t go into labour on my own for that birth, I did have a really good experience with no cascade of interventions, no injuries and a really smooth post partum recovery and breastfeeding experience. All of which are important outcomes too.

So I have since (the last 7 years!) worked more at individual diagnosis and treatments for birth preparation. Using just those points isn’t enough. TCM has a really unique way of seeing the body and treating it and labour preparation is no different. If we don’t use this medicine to it’s best capacity, what is the point?

When I see you for your first Birth Preparation Treatment, these are the things I’m assessing…

• • How relaxed are your ligaments around your hip and legs
  • The quality and movement of your blood especially to your cervix – if you have other blood deficiency signs like extreme fatigue, headaches, low iron, cold hands and feet, this is more likely
  • Baby’s position and how we can optimise it
  • Your energy – you need warm energy to start and maintain labour, does your body need more?
  • How is stress and lack of rest contributing to movement of blood and energy
  • How diet is impacting blood and energy
  • Your breathing and how energy is moving around your body
  • Previous birth and health history
  • Family history of birth outcomes

The answers to these questions shape your treatment.

I’ve recently audited the clinic and clinic outcomes related to number of acupuncture treatments needed to go into labour – and for my clinic, the magic number is 6 – some women needed less and some needed more of course.

But the interesting thing I found is that that number was the same whether you started treatments at 32 weeks or 40 weeks. At 32 weeks, I would see you fortnightly until 38 weeks and then weekly until delivery. At 36 weeks, I would see you weekly until 39 weeks and then twice per week until delivery. At 40 weeks, I would see you 2-3 times per week for the same outcomes.

So your treatment plan will depend on your unique Chinese Medicine diagnosis, how far along you are at your first appointment, your treatment goals and your other post partum health and breastfeeding goals.

The other aspect of my birth preparation treatments is my self care advice. Not everyone should be drinking raspberry leaf tea, walking 5km a day, doing curb walking or eating dates. Knowing if this is right for you and your baby can be really helpful as part of your Birth Preparation.

And not to leave the planned c-section families out – there is so much that can be done to prepare your body for a c-section. Baby’s position is important and so is your nervous system and mental health. 

Keep in mind, Birth Preparation is slow. It’s calm. It’s consistent effort from early in the third trimester. It’s supportive. It comes from love, not fear or urgency.

I would love to be apart of your Birth Story.

Please get in touch if you have any questions – hello@paigewatersacupuncture.com.au