Pregnancy, Labour Prep and Induction Program
Lets face it, it can be hard to navigate exactly what you can and cannot do once you are pregnant. You have to be careful with medications, food, and lifestyle choices. Fortunately acupuncture, can provide a safe alternative to help you cope with these changes that are going on in your body.
Even though it may have taken a lot of work to get you here, the care for yourself should not stop because you achieved your pregnancy goals. This is because a Healthy Mommy = Healthy Baby. With my knowledge and training I am able to safely and effectively aid in a healthy pregnancy to prevent miscarriage, decrease uncomfortable pregnancy symptoms, address medical conditions and risk factors along the way and prepare you for a smooth labour, delivery and transition to mommyhood.
Labour Preparation
A due date is just an approximate date of when your bundle of joy will enter into this world and if you have experienced labour before you know how stressful it can be if you have gone days or weeks past this date. After 40 weeks of pregnancy your OBGYN will start to discuss the need for a medical induction and this can be worrisome because this was not in your birth plan. Labour prep with acupuncture can reduce the need for medical intervention. This is because it helps to relax the muscles, calms the mind, softens the cervix and can increase the release of the natural labour hormone oxytocin. As a result you are more likely to go into labour closer to your due date, preparing your body for a more efficient labour and hopefully easier less painful delivery.
*Labour preparation is most effective when started at 36 weeks gestation
Labour Induction
This program is for you if your doctor has started to talk to you about a medical induction. I know for a lot of woman this was not in “the plan” and can lead to even more anxiety and stress about how and when your baby will arrive. As a result to this news it can actually prolong the labour process because of the added stress the muscles around the cervix can start to tighten and your blood pressure can increase, which will most likely result in needing medical intervention necessary. Fortunately acupuncture can naturally help reduce the need for a medical induction by relaxing the muscles, softening the cervix and stimulating uterine contractions to start.
The primary reason why it works is because it helps your body to release its own labour induction hormone-oxytocin, which crosses the blood brain barrier as opposed to Pitocin (synthetic form of oxytocin), which does not. Why is this significant? When hormones have the ability to cross the blood brain barrier it leads to uterine contractions that are less intense but just as if not more effective rather than just thrusting you into labour.
For best results it is best to schedule 3 acupuncture treatments fairly close together. A lot of the time not all 3 appointments are needed
Issues that can be treated with this program
- Decrease your chances of Miscarriage
- Eliminate or lessen unmanageable nausea/vomiting
- Decrease Fatigue
- Regulate bowel movements (too loose/constipation)
- Reduce heart burn
- Help with aches and pains associated with a changing body (sciatica, carpal tunnel, restless leg syndrome)
- Support in managing medical conditions such as (gestational diabetes, hypertension, placenta previa)
- Breech presentation
- Labour Prep & Induction (calms the mind, relaxes the muscles, softens the cervix and ups the release of your natural oxytocin levels)
Your Program Includes
- Customized Acupuncture treatments
- Stress Reduction Support and Advice
- Recommendations for Safe Supplements/ Herbal Medicines
- Nutritional & Lifestyle Advice
- On going support
