Holistic Approach to Pre-Conception, Pregnancy, and Postpartum Care
Acupuncture offers a unique approach to fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum care. The 3,000 year old practice, involves the insertion of needles into specific points on the body, to balance the flow of energy or ‘qi’.
The discipline is based on the traditional Chinese philosophy that there are energetic channels that exist within the body. These channels run through internal organs and when blocked or distorted from injury or emotional stress the qi, cannot flow smoothly. Think of a disruption to this energy flow as a tree that falls across a river. The tree must be removed in order for the river to flow smoothly again, just like the energy to all organs.
During pre-conception, Acupuncture can enhance fertility by improving blood flow to reproductive organs, balancing hormones, and reducing stress. Throughout pregnancy, it adapts to address common discomforts such as nausea, back pain, and mood swings, while also preparing the body for childbirth.
In the postpartum period, Acupuncture supports physical recovery, emotional balance, and overall wellbeing, helping new mothers to regain strength and vitality.
Targeting Discomfort & Emotional Wellbeing During Pregnancy and Postpartum
At Selph, we embrace the holistic and traditional wisdom of acupuncture to support women through the significant stages of pre-conception, pregnancy, and postpartum. Understanding the unique needs of women during these times, our acupuncture treatments are tailored to nurture and balance the body’s energy, enhancing wellness and comfort.
By restoring the energy flow and thus clearing the meridian pathways, acupuncture calms the energy and allows for the smooth release of pathways in the body. Acupuncture can assist in alleviating pregnancy-related discomforts and emotional stresses by restoring energy balance, such as:
- Pregnancy-related muscle and structural pain
- Pregnancy and postpartum insomnia
- Headaches during pregnancy and postpartum
- Fertility and infertility issues
- Stress and emotional fluctuations during pregnancy and after childbirth
- Postpartum weight management
- Gut and nutritional imbalances during pregnancy
- Pregnancy and postpartum anxiety
- Depression during and after pregnancy
Your acupuncturist will begin with an in-depth consultation to learn about your medical history and health concerns. They will be able to create a personalised treatment plan which may encompass nutritional guidance, lifestyle adjustments, exercises, herbal supplements, and mindfulness techniques, all tailored to support pre-conception, pregnancy, and postpartum stages.
Collaborative Approach
As with all treatments at Selph Health Studios, your Acupuncturist will be able to see and discuss your past and current treatments with any other of the Selph practitioners you are being treated by. This ensures that your treatments and wellness plan are both cohesive and collaborative across all disciplines.
Acupuncture for Pregnancy & Labour Induction
Pregnancy
We use acupuncture to target specific goals at each week of your visit during the final stages of pregnancy:
Week 36: Ideally, birth preparation treatment should begin around week 36, when the baby typically begins to engage.
Week 37: In week 37 our goal is to support hormonal shifts and tissue softening.
Week 38: In week 38 of pregnancy we use acupuncture to promote cervical ripening.
Week 39: If the baby is still high by week 39, we strongly promote engagement and tissue softening. If the baby is engaged, we focus on promoting cervical ripening.
Week 40: If the baby is engaged and mum has a ripe cervix we promote contractions, otherwise we work to strongly address cervical ripening or previous targets as necessary.
Our key goal regardless of week is to facilitate relaxation and calm, as emotional wellbeing and preparedness is a big barrier to your body relaxing and welcoming labour and birth.
Labor Induction
During those final moments of pregnancy, if the mother is close to or past her due date, and her contractions haven’t started, there’s often a reason why. Our Acupuncturists identify and address these reasons and then allow labour to progress naturally.
Acupuncture does not induce labour, it facilitates the body transitioning through stages if mother and baby are ready for birth. Acupuncture during this important time can support the body to relax enough for the mother and her body to be ready for the next step of birth.
You can read more about our Labour Induction process and how Acupuncture can help during this time in our Journal article here.
Acupuncture for Anxiety and Stress Relief During Pregnancy and Postpartum
Pregnancy and postpartum stages can heighten stress and anxiety, manifesting in various physical and emotional symptoms. Acupuncture acts as a release valve, calming the body and restoring balance.
By stimulating strategic meridian points, it triggers the nervous system to release endorphins and serotonin, promoting self-healing and internal balance. Improved circulation and shifting the body from the fight-or-flight response to a rest-and-relax state are crucial for managing pregnancy-related anxiety.
The overall aim is not only to treat anxiety symptoms but also to guide towards healthier lifestyle choices for enhanced overall wellbeing during and after pregnancy.
