Morning Sickness and Acupuncture
Posted by Admin
Morning sickness is one of the hallmark signs of pregnancy but for some women, it can be extremely debilitating. It typically starts shortly after the woman discovers she is pregnant and for the majority of women, begins to subside around week 14 as they enter the second trimester. It can range in severity from being extremely mild nausea in some women to severe nausea and vomiting in others which may require hospitalization in order to prevent dehydration.
In western medicine, the treatment is typically medication, specifically an anti-emetic called diclectin. Many women hesitate to try this though, as they do not wish to take any medication while pregnant and the effects of the thalidomide crisis are still fresh in many of their eyes.
However, acupuncture can be a great alternative treatment for morning sickness since it is completely safe during pregnancy when performed by an experienced practitioner. The needles are typically inserted into acu-points in the wrist and lower leg and may vary between women depending on their symptoms. Additionally, acupuncture treatments tend to be very relaxing, helping to ease any anxiety or stress a woman may be feeling at this point in her pregnancy. Acupressure on some of the points is also a great idea; I love showing women how to do this since it enables them to work on self care at home and is a great complement to the treatments themselves.
The number of treatments needed will also vary depending on the severity of the symptoms. For women with more severe nausea and vomiting, they may require treatment twice a week for several weeks while a woman experiencing fairly mild nausea may only need one or two treatments.
If you are experiencing morning sickness, I would recommend booking in for a consultation with one of the acupuncturists here at Whole Family Health to determine a treatment plan which would best suit you.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment!
