When trying to conceive, we often embrace the fatigue, nausea and vomiting as signs the pregnancy is “sticky”. Although validating, these symptoms can really take a toll during the first trimester or throughout your pregnancy. The rapid increase of HcG and rising estrogen levels are often the main reasons for nausea and vomiting. Increased fatigue, stress levels and dietary choices can exacerbate nausea as well as dietary choices. Nausea and vomiting occur in approximately half of pregnancies and usually between the sixth to sixteenth week. Unfortunately, some women battle nausea from week one until birth.

Acupuncture is an effective therapy at alleviating nausea and vomiting. In one study, 593 pregnant women were divided into four groups and either received traditional acupuncture, sham acupuncture or no acupuncture. The group that received traditional acupuncture reported less nausea and dry retching throughout the trial.

How Does Acupuncture Work for Nausea:

• Decreases upper gastric acid secretion and represses gastric arrhythmias. The increase in the reproductive hormone, relaxin, causes muscles, tendons and ligaments to relax and loosen. Consequently, the area between the esophagus and stomach softens and stomach acid can move into the esophagus.

• Increases endorphins and ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) from the pituitary gland which in turn inhibits the areas of the brain that are responsible for nausea and vomiting

• Initiates the relaxation response by increasing the effects of the parasympathetic nervous system and decreasing sympathetic stimulation.

Our Dietary and Lifestyle Recommendations for Nausea:

• Eat small meals every 2-3 hours. Nausea can increase when you are hungry and tired and eating frequently will help maintain blood sugar levels and reduce severity of nausea.

• Ginger is a safe, effective food therapy to help alleviate nausea. You can use fresh, raw ginger in soups, stews or drink as a tea. For convenience and effectiveness, I recommend ginger capsules (250mg 3-4x per day).

• B6 capsules 10-25mg 3x daily, not to exceed 75mg

• Preggie Pop Drops with B6 and sour flavors help mitigate frequent feelings of nausea

• Eat protein last thing at night (yogurt or nuts are great!)

• Dry crackers or ginger biscuits on in the morning may help

• To address constipation: 2 kiwifruit at night usually helps. Along with prune juice and CALM-magnesium supplement

Near week 12 of pregnancy, both mother and baby tend to turn a corner as the placenta has taken over hormone production. Consequently, momma will feel less fatigue and nausea. In Chinese medicine, we support the health and development of the baby by nourishing the mother and helping regulate the nervous, endocrine, and digestive systems. As the baby continues to grow and develop, there can be more orthopedic pain as well as digestive issues and swelling. Acupuncture treatments can assist with many symptoms, including:

• Back pain

• Round ligament pain

• Fatigue

• Nausea

• Sinus issues

• Heartburn

• Leg cramps

• Cold and flu

• Gestational diabetes

• Placenta previa

• Cholestasis

• High blood pressure

• Poor sleep

• Stress and tension

We typically recommend treatments monthly during the second trimester to support this stage of pregnancy and as a way to prevent the majority of symptoms and conditions that can often arrive later in pregnancy.

You have made it to the final stretch of pregnancy! During the third trimester many babies will gain half of their birth weight, creating a variety of symptoms for momma. We know that you have much to do and get done before baby arrives and are here to support you along the way. Acupuncture treatments during this trimester can offer several benefits including:

• Pain relief: Increased levels of the hormones progesterone and relaxin, relax the joints and muscles to accommodate your growing baby (and uterus), enhancing the flexibility of the pelvis. Your center of gravity is off and pulling forward which can cause strain for the low back, hip, gluts and sacrum. Acupuncture, cupping and gua sha can help release muscle tension and reduce inflammation in the area.

• Pain Relief to Support Labor Preparation: By reducing muscle tension throughout the entire body especially the low back and hip area, can support baby to drop down in the pelvis.

• Edema (swelling): During pregnancy your body produces sixty percent more blood volume and your uterus is putting added weight on that return blood back to the heart which causes extra fluid to pool in your legs, feet and ankles.

• Breech: acupuncture and moxibustion (an herb used a specific acupuncture point) is used to encourage baby to turn head down. See Breech section for more information

• Insomnia and Reduction of Stress and Anxiety: Acupuncture regulates the nervous system by promoting relaxation and has been shown to stimulate the release of the neurotransmitters serotonin. Pregnancy can be a time of heightened emotions and managing stress and anxiety is important for the health of both momma and baby.

• Sinusitis: Hormonal changes during pregnancy may lead to dry membranes that line the nasal passages, predisposing women to nasal congestion and sinusitis. Acupuncture is an effective therapy at regulating the fluids of the body and can alleviate the severity of sinusitis. Treatments are often combined with dietary therapy for this condition.

• Urinary tract infections, Hemorrhoids, Constipation, Heartburn: Symptoms affecting the digestive and urogenital system are common during pregnancy due to hormonal, immune and overall musculoskeletal changes. Acupuncture produces an anti-inflammatory effect and promotes blood circulation which can help with the progression of bacterial infections and address the underlying cause that leads to GI issues. Certain acupuncture points have been shown to have an analgesic effect that can reduce the pain associated with hemorrhoids.

In addition to supporting mom with these more common symptoms the third trimester can bring, we are also experienced in supporting babies who are IUGR. Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) occurs when baby is not growing at the expected rate for its gestational age. Acupuncture promotes and thereby can potentially increase blood flow and oxygen to the to the placenta, aiding the body to provide more support and nutrition to your growing baby.

During 34-36 weeks, most babies will rotate into a head-down position within the pelvis. Breech presentation occurs in 3-4% of all term pregnancies. Various therapies, including chiropractic, moxibustion, acupuncture, and movement therapy, can encourage a baby to move into an optimal position for delivery.

Moxibustion is a form of heat therapy that uses a dried herb called Mugwort (artemisia argyi folium) or Ai Ye to stimulate acupuncture points.

Moxibustion therapy has been used in East Asian medicine for two thousand years and is used as a stand-alone therapy or in combination with acupuncture. Practitioners use a variety of forms of moxa, including loose, formed, or rolled into moxa 'cigars' or placed on the ends of needles. Moxa sticks for home treatment are typically made of mugwort charcoal held near a point to provide gentle warmth and stimulation.

Moxibustion therapy is an effective therapy to encourage your breech baby to turn. We recommended a ten-day at-home moxibustion therapy protocol in combination with acupuncture treatments. You will first have the treatment performed and taught to you in the office and then given a moxibustion stick and printed protocol at the office. The moxa stick is held over the acupuncture point UB67 on the left and right little toe until you can feel the heat, but it is not uncomfortably hot. The treatment creates more uterine space by stimulating the acupuncture meridian that transverses the lower back. Promoting movement in this meridian can encourage the baby's movement to turn if they desire.

Most babies will move into their birth position by 34 weeks and truly settle in by 36 weeks. "Babies don't move at random. Their position matches the shape of the room within the uterus. This space is shaped by the abdominal and pelvic muscles, ligaments, and connective tissue or fascia. The mobility and alignment of the pelvis also make a significant contribution" (Spinning Babies). For more information on babies' position during the third trimester, check out this resource.

We also highly recommend including chiropractic care in your care regime to promote head-down positioning of baby and to prepare for labor. We commonly collaborate with Be Chiropractic, our clinic neighbors, for prenatal care.

We encourage patients to regularly communicate with their healthcare providers to learn of babies' position. Acupuncture and moxibustion performed between 32-35 weeks are ideal, but we can help with breech presentation as early as 30 weeks and have had babies turn up until their due dates. Acupuncture combined with cupping and massage can help relax low back, gluteal, and hip flexor muscles, encouraging less tension and creating more room for the baby to move. Treatments can also help relax Mom, which is always a good thing! 😉

Starting at 36 weeks, we begin specific, weekly treatments in preparation for delivery. Research has demonstrated that the average duration of labor in a group of women giving birth for the first time was reduced from 8 hours in the control group to six hours and 36 minutes, nearly 18% shorter, in the group who had received pre-birth acupuncture.

Acupuncture is an effective therapy to prepare a woman’s body for birth, with an emphasis on encouraging beneficial pregnancy hormones, assisting with cervical ripening, and promoting optimal fetal position and pelvis conditions for labor.