Acupuncture for Prenatal Care

Congratulations, you’re expecting! Pregnancy is usually a happy time, but it is not without its stresses and challenges, both physical and emotional. Even as you celebrate the little one who will soon be joining your life, you may be feeling perpetually queasy and exhausted. You may have some anxiety about the health of the baby or maintaining a healthy pregnancy, particularly if you have had fertility issues or pregnancy losses in the past. Later in pregnancy, you may experience discomforts like heartburn, muscle and joint aches and pains, or swollen hands and feet.

Fortunately, acupuncture is a wonderfully safe, natural, and effective way to address these common complaints of pregnancy. In addition, if you have a chronic condition and have been advised by your doctor to stop taking your usual medication during your pregnancy, acupuncture may help with managing your symptoms until you can resume your medication.

Acupuncture is also a fantastic way to maintain good health during pregnancy, reduce stress, support overall wellbeing, and prepare for a smooth and efficient labor and delivery. Over the years, I have used acupuncture to help many pregnant patients stay healthy, feel well, reduce stress, deal with complications, and prepare for labor. At my Dupont Circle office in Washington, DC, I offer gentle and compassionate acupuncture care to support prenatal wellness and reduce common discomforts of pregnancy.

There are some special cases (detailed below) in which acupuncture has proven to be an especially powerful yet gentle treatment.

Breech Babies

Clinical research shows an association between the use of acupuncture and moxibustion at specific points and the resolution of breech positioning. Often, I hear from patients seeking care for breech positioning because their doctors have suggested that they try acupuncture.

Whenever possible, it is best to schedule your treatment prior to reaching 37 weeks, while the baby has more room to move and turn. It is important to note that only the baby’s own movement can resolve breech positioning naturally. Acupuncture and moxibustion simply serve to support the optimal conditions for that movement to happen spontaneously. 

When addressing this condition, I first give an acupuncture treatment that helps correct any imbalances of qi that may be present. Then I use the moxibustion protocol for supporting optimal conditions for breech babies to turn. Finally, I provide supplies and instructions for continuing moxibustion at home. 

Preparation for Labor

In the last weeks of pregnancy, acupuncture can help your body prepare for a smooth, efficient, and timely labor. For greatest benefit, I recommend that pregnant patients receive acupuncture once a week during the last four weeks of their pregnancies.

Acupressure for Pain Relief and Natural Labor Support

During labor and delivery, acupressure can relieve pain and help support the smooth progress of labor. I love helping moms and their birth partners prepare for labor by learning these techniques. The moms appreciate the pain relief and the partners are happy to be able to provide helpful support during the birth process.