Acupuncture for Women's Health
with
Anne Warner
with
Anne Warner
Pregnancy and Childbirth
More and more women are again turning to natural medicine for their anti-and post natal care. This is a time in a woman's life when acupuncture can be enormously supportive and beneficial.
Anti-natal care.
During pregnancy, due to concern for the baby's health and wellbeing it is often undesirable for Mum to take any medication to help alleviate many of the common symptoms that can arise. This is when acupuncture might come to the rescue. Again, the following list is far from exhaustive. If you are not sure if treatment would be appropriate please contact me - I am always very happy to answer any questions you might have. Please e-mail me at: anne@annelouisewarner.com
Anti-natal care.
During pregnancy, due to concern for the baby's health and wellbeing it is often undesirable for Mum to take any medication to help alleviate many of the common symptoms that can arise. This is when acupuncture might come to the rescue. Again, the following list is far from exhaustive. If you are not sure if treatment would be appropriate please contact me - I am always very happy to answer any questions you might have. Please e-mail me at: anne@annelouisewarner.com
| ¡ | Morning sickness and nausea |
| ¡ | Constipation |
| ¡ | Heart burn and acid reflux |
| ¡ | Back ache and sciatica |
| ¡ | Symphisis pubis pain |
| ¡ | Anaemia |
Delivery and the run-up.
Breech Presentation.
Given the possible dangers and difficulties of having a breech baby and the disappointment that many women experience if they are forced to have a caesarian delivery rather than a natural birth, it is not surprising that their midwives are often referring them for acupuncture.
Studies involving acupuncture and breech presentation have demonstrated success rates ranging from 80 to 90%. When there are no contra-indications for using acupuncture to turn a breech baby a simple warming technique is used. This technique is referred to as moxibustion. The optimum time for treatment seems to be around the 34th week but anywhere between 32 and 35 weeks can be successful. Assuming that all is well with the pregnancy some babies will even turn as late as 38 weeks.
Induction.
For some women chemically induced delivery can provoke more pain and a longer labour. Again assuming that there are no complications with the pregnancy, acupuncture may be used for induction. Good results can be achieved when the baby is 10 to 14 days over due.
Delivery.
Acupuncture is probably best known for its ability to control and ease pain. It can, therefore, be very useful during labour, helping to ease pain, speed and promote the strength of contractions as well as helping to calm and support Mum.
Post-natal Care.
Perhaps one of the most distressing problems that can be experienced during the post-natal period is post-natal depression. Medication, for various reasons at this time, may be both undesirable and unwanted but post-natal depression can leave many women feeling isolated but desperate for help. Acupuncture could provide the help they are looking for to re-balance their hormones and support them again, during a time of heightened stress.
The symptoms with which acupuncture may be able to help are too numerous to go into in detail within these pages. If you are unsure whether treatment might be appropriate please do not hesitate to contact me.
Breech Presentation.
Given the possible dangers and difficulties of having a breech baby and the disappointment that many women experience if they are forced to have a caesarian delivery rather than a natural birth, it is not surprising that their midwives are often referring them for acupuncture.
Studies involving acupuncture and breech presentation have demonstrated success rates ranging from 80 to 90%. When there are no contra-indications for using acupuncture to turn a breech baby a simple warming technique is used. This technique is referred to as moxibustion. The optimum time for treatment seems to be around the 34th week but anywhere between 32 and 35 weeks can be successful. Assuming that all is well with the pregnancy some babies will even turn as late as 38 weeks.
Induction.
For some women chemically induced delivery can provoke more pain and a longer labour. Again assuming that there are no complications with the pregnancy, acupuncture may be used for induction. Good results can be achieved when the baby is 10 to 14 days over due.
Delivery.
Acupuncture is probably best known for its ability to control and ease pain. It can, therefore, be very useful during labour, helping to ease pain, speed and promote the strength of contractions as well as helping to calm and support Mum.
Post-natal Care.
Perhaps one of the most distressing problems that can be experienced during the post-natal period is post-natal depression. Medication, for various reasons at this time, may be both undesirable and unwanted but post-natal depression can leave many women feeling isolated but desperate for help. Acupuncture could provide the help they are looking for to re-balance their hormones and support them again, during a time of heightened stress.
The symptoms with which acupuncture may be able to help are too numerous to go into in detail within these pages. If you are unsure whether treatment might be appropriate please do not hesitate to contact me.
