Acupuncture and Pregnancy – What You Should Know
There are many things you should not do while pregnant, but did you know that acupuncture and pregnancy can go hand in hand? Your doctor may warn you not to drink or smoke while you are pregnant, but they can often offer very little in terms of making your pregnancy more comfortable. This is where acupuncture comes in. You can use this for a variety of different things, and there is little to no risk involved. Many suffer with morning sickness and aches and pains, but that does not mean that you have to do the same.
When you think of acupuncture and pregnancy, you may think the last thing you want to see is more needles. You will have your blood drawn many times while pregnant. This is important, as it helps your doctor determine many things about your health and the health of your baby. The needles used for acupuncture are in most cases the size of a hair, and the pain involved is much less than what you get with the conventional needle used in medical facilities. Some feel a slight sting while others feel nothing at all when these tiny needles are inserted into the skin.
If you have already experienced acupuncture, and pregnancy is on the way, you want to talk to your acupuncturist about what is going on. If you are trying to conceive, or have just done so, let them know at once. There are many treatments you can have to help ease many symptoms that you may have thought you just have to live with while expecting. One of the biggest things women have problems with is morning sickness, and it is thought that this is due to hormones racing through your body. Treatment can help with this, and in many cases it can bring great comfort and eliminate most of it.
Acupuncture and pregnancy also come together when you are closer to your delivery date. Many women experience horrible backaches, and pains in other parts of their bodies. Acupuncture sessions can help release endorphins. These endorphins are your bodies natural way of alleviating pain. You might think of them as your body’s built-in pain medication that is safe during pregnancy. This might also help with the leg cramps that some women get, and also with the pain that comes when your ligaments in your hips stretch to accommodate your growing uterus.
The benefits of acupuncture don’t end when you give birth. Childbirth is painful, and it may take you weeks to recover. It is hard to deal with this type of pain when you have an infant to care for, and this is why so many women need extra help during the first weeks after delivery. Acupuncture can help alleviate the pains that come as your body heals, and can help if you have had to have a cesarean section. It might help stem the bleeding after birth, and if you are having problems with post partum depression, it may be able to help there as well. It’s a great alternative to taking drugs that may or may not be secreted in breast milk, and that may also alter your mood.
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