Acupuncture in Ipswich

Pregnancy,Childbirth and the Post-natal period

Pregnancy is a time when your body is undergoing many different changes, and it can be particularly responsive to acupuncture at this time. Treatment can help you to maintain optimal health during pregnancy or  can help relieve many problems including some which western medicine finds hard to treat. These include

  • Morning sickness and nausea
  • Varicose veins (of the legs and of the vulva)
  • Tiredness and exhaustion.
  • Heartburn.
  • Constipation.
  • Haemorrhoids.
  • Itching in pregnancy.
  • Backache
  • Pelvic pain and pain of the symphysis pubis.
  • Anaemia.
  • Babies that are small for their gestational age.
  • Anxiety and emotional problems.
  • Insomnia.

BREECH BABIES and BABIES IN POSTERIOR POSITIONS

Moxa is a herb which is commonly used in acupuncture to gently warm specific points. It  can be used in the latter part of  pregnancy to help the baby reach an optimal position for labour, such as turning  breech babies and babies who are in the posterior position ( with their backs aligned with yours and their limbs towards the front of your abdomen). Turning the baby reduces the chances of medical intervention and increases the chances of  natural, efficient labour.

The process is gentle on both mother and baby and research has shown that up 70-80% of breech babies will turn in response to this treatment.

PRE-BIRTH TREATMENTS

These weekly treatments are usually given for the three consecutive weeks before full-term. Clinical observation and research has indicated that these treatments consistently:

  • Reduce the average length of time in labour.
  • Reduce the rate of medical intervention in labour (including medical induction, epidural and emergency caesarean section)
  • Increase the chances of women experiencing a natural efficient labour.
  • Encourage women to go into spantaneous labour around their due date.
  • Increases the number of normal vaginal deliveries.
  • Increases the response to medical or acupuncture induction if the baby does go over due.

INDUCTION

Acupuncture can be used to encourage induction of labour provided permission is given from your Midwife or Consultant.

LABOUR

Ann teaches the highly effective and non-invasive technique of acupressure to partners and birth attendants who want to support mothers in labour. These techniques are taught to the couple on either a one to one basis, or in small groups. The session includes a fully illustrated booklet describing the location and usage of the points.

Once the acupressure points are learnt  they help:

  • To encourage regular and effective contractions.
  • Pain management.
  • To ease the delivery of baby and placenta.
  • To encourage natural birth.
  • To create closer partner involvement.

Acupressure is as effective as acupuncture during labour as the woman's body is highly receptive during this time. It also has the advantage of allowing the mother to use the birthing pool or to adopt positions which may be difficult for acupuncture.

Mothers who have experienced this technique report a high level of satisfaction with their birth experience.

POST-NATAL PERIOD

Pregnancy and childbirth can deplete the Mother, as well as the sleepless nights and hormonal changes in the post-natal period. Acupuncture can help to support the mothers recovery in both the short term and the long term.

It can help with :

  • Milk production.
  • Mastitis.
  • Haemmorrhoids and perineal pain.
  • Symphysis pubis pain.
  • Muscle pain.
  • Headaches.
  • Persistant uterine bleeding.
  • Anxiety and postnatal depression.