Using Chinese Wisdom to Enhance Your Pregnancy, Birth & Parenting Experience
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) methods like acupressure, acupuncture and moxibustion, provide a range benefits during pregnancy, birth and parenting.
According to Traditional Chinese wisdom, a meridian system runs through our bodies in the form of channels. Similar to veins transporting blood around the body, meridians carry ‘chi’. Chi is energy. These meridian channels travel through internal organs and surface in certain areas of the body. This is where an acu-point is located.
Lifestyle circumstances can disrupt the flow of chi within the meridians, which can cause functionality issues in our bodies’ systems. These issues may present as headaches, skin irritations, allergies and/or fatigue. When there is a disruption to chi, it is believed that putting pressure on the point of the imbalanced meridian (acupressure), or intercepting them with extremely fine needles (acupuncture), can release the imbalance and create a healthy flow of energy through the meridian again. Moxibustion is the act of burning a dried herb called mugwort over certain acu-points to restore the correct flow of chi.
Research on the use of Traditional Chinese Medicine to prepare women for labour first appeared in 1974. Since then, the topic of TCM has been further explored and has proven to help with numerous common pregnancy and birth-related issues such as:
• Insomnia
• Morning sickness
• Pelvic pain
• Flipping a breech
• Cervix Maturation
• Encouraging normal vaginal births
Sleep
Sleep is crucial to our quality of life, and there is an abundance of research that suggests acupuncture significantly improves a pregnant woman’s ability to sleep.
Morning Sickness
Acupuncture has been proven to help with nausea, dry retching and vomiting. (Read this study for more information.) At Appetence Families we combine TCM techniques with essential oil massage to assist with morning sickness in our Morning Sickness Holistic Care Pathway.
Flipping a Breech
Combining moxibustion to stimulate acu-points with acupressure, acupuncture or postural techniques has been proven to assist with flipping a breech in pregnancy. One study (click to read) even reported more cephalic presentations at birth and fewer births by caesarean when mothers employed moxibustion treatment. Another study (click to read) reported that 75.4% of mothers who applied moxibustion at week 33 had flipped the breech by week 35.
At Appetence Families, we incorporate these TCM treatments with clinical midwifery techniques, Yoga postures and essential oils in our Breech Baby Holistic Care Pathways to encourage Bub out of breech and into the ideal position.
Cervix Maturation
Cervix maturation or cervical ripening is the medical term used to explain the softening and thinning of the cervix in preparation for labour. Research suggests that acupressure or acupuncture applied on particular acu-points supports cervical ripening, and can reduce the time between a baby’s due date and the actual date of delivery. In one particular study (click to read), one group of mothers received acupuncture every 2 days and the other group received no treatment throughout their pregnancy. 20% of pregnancies were induced in those who received acupuncture compared to 35% who received no treatment. There was also an average of 5 days between due date and delivery, compared to 7.9 days respectively.
For more information and support regarding cervical ripening and maturation, see the Appetence Families Natural Induction Holistic Care Pathway incorporating TCM treatments, midwifery techniques, Yoga postures and essential oils.
Pain Relief
Acupuncture is widely employed by allied health professionals for pain and injury management, and there is increasing research to support the application of acupuncture throughout pregnancy. One particular study (click to read) suggests that the use of acupuncture has the capacity to reduce the level of pain intensity experienced during labour, which consequently reduces the use of pharmacological analgesia (pharmacological pain relief) as well. To learn more about how you and your birth partner can use TCM in labour, have a look at the Appetence Families Prenatal Education Course or Active Birth Workshop.
Encouraging Normal Vaginal Birth
Recent studies (click to read) suggest that the use of acupuncture throughout pregnancy encourages normal vaginal births. It does so by balancing the body’s chi, which allows normal hormonal changes to occur, softens the cervix, loosens ligaments, and encourages Bub into the optimal birth position. For more information about birth preparation, check out the Appetence Families Natural Induction Holistic Care Pathway.
I think TCM is such a beautiful ancient practice; not only to receive, but to give. It may sound a bit ‘woo woo’, but there is something really special about the connection that evolves between a practitioner and their client through the process of TCM treatment. Considering the significant evidence that supports these non-invasive practices, and the many benefits they’ve proven to have during pregnancy, I would not hesitate to recommend TCM.
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