Pregnancy Acupuncture in Takapuna: From 12 Weeks

Pregnancy narrows your options. A lot of the things you would normally reach for — anti-

inflammatories, strong painkillers, sleeping tablets — are off the table. That is why many

women look for something drug-free.

We offer acupuncture for pregnant women at our Takapuna clinic from 12 weeks

onwards. We do not treat during the first trimester.

What we see most often

Pelvic girdle and low back pain

As your centre of gravity shifts and ligaments soften, the pelvis and low back take a very different load. This is the single most common reason pregnant women come to see us, and it is the area where the evidence for acupuncture in pregnancy is most encouraging.

Nausea and an unsettled stomach

Pregnancy-related nausea is miserable and it is not confined to mornings. Acupuncture and acupressure at the P6 point on the inner forearm have been studied for this, and while the evidence is not conclusive, it is a low-risk, drug- free option that many women find helps.

Sleep

Discomfort, restless legs, needing the bathroom, an active mind at 3am — broken sleep is one of the hardest parts of the third trimester, and there is very little you can safely take for it. Acupuncture is one of the few options available, and improved sleep is one of the effects women report most often.

Baby's position

If your baby is breech, moxibustion — a warming technique applied to a point on the outer edge of the little toe — is a traditional approach that is usually offered from around 34 weeks. We want to be honest with you here: the evidence for moxibustion turning a breech baby is mixed and not conclusive. It is gentle, it is low-risk, and some women find it worthwhile. But it is not a substitute for obstetric care, and it does not replace the option of an ECV (a doctor manually turning the baby). This should always be done alongside your midwife or LMC, not instead of them.

General wellbeing

Tension headaches, tight hips and shoulders, and anxiety in the run- up to birth are all common reasons women come in.

Is it safe?

Acupuncture in pregnancy is widely used and, in trained hands, is considered low-risk.

Certain points are avoided during pregnancy, needle depth and technique are adjusted,

and positioning is chosen for your comfort as the pregnancy progresses.

Please tell us:

• How many weeks pregnant you are

• Who your midwife or LMC is

• Whether your pregnancy has been classified as high-risk

• Any bleeding, complications or conditions such as pre-eclampsia

• Any medications you are taking

We work alongside your maternity care team, not instead of them. If something needs your

midwife or your doctor, we will tell you.

When to contact your midwife or a doctor, not us

Contact your LMC, midwife or doctor immediately — or go to hospital — if you have vaginal

bleeding, fluid loss, reduced or absent fetal movements, severe or persistent headache,

visual disturbance, sudden swelling of the face or hands, severe abdominal pain, or

vomiting so severe you cannot keep fluids down. These need urgent medical assessment,

not acupuncture.

Is it covered by ACC?

Pregnancy itself is not an injury, so treatment for pregnancy-related discomfort is a private

appointment. But being pregnant does not exclude you from ACC. If you have an injury — a fall, a

lifting strain, a back or pelvic injury, a sporting or work accident — you are entitled to

lodge a claim like anyone else, and once that claim is accepted, your acupuncture

treatment for that injury is ACC-funded, with no surcharge.

If you are not sure whether what you have is an injury or a pregnancy symptom, come in

and we will assess it and tell you honestly. If it is claimable, our clinic lodges the claim at

your first appointment.

Book online, or call us 09 281 3779 — Level 3, 507 Lake Road, Takapuna.

References Coyle ME, Smith CA, Peat B. Cephalic version by moxibustion for breech

presentation. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Matthews A, et al. Interventions

for nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

Liddle SD, Pennick V. Interventions for preventing and treating low-back and pelvic pain

during pregnancy. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.