Acupuncture & Pregnancy

Blooma acupuncturist Jalashree Pradhan gets rave reviews from her clients, prenatal and otherwise. We asked her to tell us a little more about the benefits of acupuncture and pregnancy. Here, her thoughts:

Pregnancy is a special, yet often challenging, time in a woman’s life. It brings with it a multitude of physical and emotional changes driven by hormonal shifts within the body.

For centuries, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been used to effectively aid in the management of myriad pregnancy-related symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, edema, headaches, back and pelvic pain, as well as numerous other physical and emotional stresses that may present themselves over these wondrous months.

A recent study in The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology* notes that acupuncture, when provided as an adjunct service to standard treatment, is superior to standard treatment alone in relieving pregnancy-related back and pelvic pain.

Regular use of TCM during pregnancy creates the foundation for healthy mother and baby. In addition, those who have undergone regular treatments over the course of their pregnancy have been shown to experience shorter labor with fewer complications.

Acupuncture is a safe, noninvasive, and effective intervention for pregnant women. This is especially comforting since many Western medications may not be used during this very special time.

So, whether you are considering pregnancy or are currently pregnant, talk to your acupuncturist about making this incredible experience as positive and healthy as it can be.

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*Acupuncture for pelvic and back pain in pregnancy: a systematic review
Carolyn C. Ee, Eric Manheimer, Marie V. Pirotta, Adrian R. White
American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology - March 2008 (Vol. 198, Issue 3, Pages 254-259, DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2007.11.008)