Acupuncture is a clinically proven alternative for treating fertility issues as well as a strong complementary therapy to modern fertility treatments. It is also a safe and effective option to nurture and support early pregnancy by providing relief for many common discomforts without drugs and their harmful side effects.
Many women experience nausea and vomiting during the first trimester of pregnancy. These symptoms, ranging from mild to severe, are likely caused by hormone changes in the body. If you find that you are nauseous most of the day, or if you cannot stop vomiting, you need to seek medical advice.
Most women are reluctant to use conventional medications to reduce their symptoms; so acupuncture offers an appealing alternative for alleviating nausea and vomiting. Smith et al. in 2002 published that acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment for women who experience nausea and dry retching in early pregnancy.
Pregnancy brings many wonderful joys and excitement. However, many women are often surprised to learn that the hormonal adjustments in their bodies are causing them to experience mood swings, irritability, depression, anxiety, and stress.
Women with previously unexplained miscarriages, threatened miscarriages and/or stress related to an IVF cycle may be particularly vulnerable to worries and fears about successfully carrying a baby to term. Researchers have found that stress in early pregnancy causes elevated levels of the hormone cortisol, which may suppress progesterone and make the immune system hostile to the developing embryo.
Acupuncture is an incredibly effective tool for reducing stress. It naturally stimulates the central nervous system and increases the production of endorphins, which are the body’s own chemicals for lowering stress-related cortisol levels. Lowering cortisol levels improves a person’s mood and overall feeling of well-being.
The March 2010 issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology reported that women who used acupuncture for depression during pregnancy experienced a greater reduction in symptom severity and expressed a more positive response than those in control groups. Acupuncture for depression can be as effective as the conventional treatment approaches of counseling and drugs.
Promoting adequate circulation and blood flow to the uterus and placenta is essential for a successful pregnancy. During the pregnancy, the uterine circulation constantly adapts to meet the growing metabolic needs of the embryo. The placenta connects the developing fetus to the uterine wall to allow nutrient uptake, waste elimination and gas exchange through the mother's blood supply.
Practitioners at the Sydney IVF clinic are using acupuncture in early pregnancy to enhance microcirculation in the uterine lining and the newly developing placenta. Increasing maternal blood flow to the placenta allows the transfer of nutrients and oxygen from the mother to the fetus and the transfer of waste products and carbon dioxide from the fetus to the mother. It boosts the health of both the mother and the fetus, which can help in maintaining an optimal pregnancy.
Acupuncture enhances the mother's health and helps ensure the growth of the fetus, especially if a woman has a history of miscarriage. The first trimester is the most critical time in a woman's pregnancy because a successful pregnancy often hinges on the early stages of fetal development. Many drugs that are typically prescribed in Western treatments may present a risk to the developing fetus. That is why acupuncture is an excellent, worry-free choice for addressing many physical and emotional changes that occur during early pregnancy.
About 25 percent of pregnant women in the first trimester experience some vaginal bleeding. It is important to know that not all bleeding is a precursor to miscarriage. In fact, about half of the women who have bleeding do not have miscarriages. However, if you have vaginal bleeding during early pregnancy, you should report it to your doctor immediately. Some causes of vaginal bleeding include implantation bleeding and cervical erosion. By strengthening weaknesses in the mother's health, acupuncture can calm the uterus to help prevent uterine contractions and certain types of threatened miscarriages.
For optimum results, we recommend weekly acupuncture treatments until 12 weeks of gestation. In addition, we believe that maintaining a healthy diet, better lifestyle, and positive emotions can directly nourish and support the fetus. Women should eat nutrient-rich and easily digestible, cooked food in small portions more often during the day, drink plenty of fluids, and avoid spicy, fried and greasy foods.
Enjoy this special time in your life! Staying healthy and supporting a full-term pregnancy is something women have done for centuries.