Benefits of Acupuncture During Pregnancy

Acupuncture is an ancient healing practice that has been around for thousands of years. The benefits of acupuncture treatments are becoming more apparent both for stress-relief as well as alleviation of physical discomforts in pregnant women.

Here are a few of the common benefits that pregnant women report as a result of acupuncture.

• Alleviated morning sickness

• Reduced back pain and pelvic pressure

• Less nausea than before acupuncture treatments

• Reduced depression (due to hormonal shifts during pregnancy, depression is, unfortunately, a common struggle).

• Reduced discomfort Alleviated sleep issues (insomnia is another common side effect of pregnancy) Reduced headaches

If you are not pregnant but are going to try conceiving soon, many ancient doctors believed that acupuncture could be used to improve fertility as well.

One quick note, acupuncture is meant to be used as a complementary procedure to alleviate minor discomforts that women experience during pregnancy. Acupuncture is not meant to be used to cure severe medical conditions. We encourage mothers who are struggling with a health condition to consult their OB/GYN with medical concerns.

Is Acupuncture Safe During Pregnancy?

One of the most common questions regarding the safety of acupuncture during pregnancy is whether or not it’s safe for women in their first trimester.

As this is the stage where women need to exercise the most caution, it’s only natural that they avoid everything that could even remotely put their pregnancy at risk.

Although acupuncture during the first trimester of pregnancy hasn’t been conclusively studied, you’d be hard-pressed to find even one case where a woman had pregnancy complications due to acupuncture. There haven’t been enough instances of harmed pregnancies to show that acupuncture is unsafe during the first trimester.

The vast majority of women who try acupuncture during their pregnancies report no adverse effects and even experience some relief from unpleasant symptoms.

Side Effects of Acupuncture During Pregnancy

The question that comes next is, are there any side effects associated with acupuncture during pregnancy? And the answer is, not really.

Acupuncture as a whole has an exceedingly low risk of adverse reactions or side effects.

The most common side effect associated with acupuncture is some slight tenderness at the site where the needles were inserted. But this side effect comes with any type of acupuncture and isn’t exclusive to pregnancy acupuncture.

Looking for an Experienced Acupuncturist?

Here at GoodMedizen, we are passionate about natural ways to promote health and wellness. We have a team of skilled acupuncturists and herbalists who are ready to get you started on the road to more healthful living.

We offer stress-alleviating acupuncture services for those in Seattle and the surrounding areas. If you are getting ready to start on the journey to trying to conceive, we’d encourage you to visit our clinic for some relaxing acupuncture treatments.

There’s no better way to go into parenthood than with a relaxed mind and eased body.

If you would like to schedule an appointment with one of our acupuncturists today, contact GoodMedizen to speak with our team.