Is Acupuncture Safe in Pregnancy?

Acupuncture has proven to be a great treatment for problems of all types ranging from headaches, stress, anxiety, cancer, and just about any malady that you can imagine. Most people find that acupuncture does nothing but good things for them and once they try it they continue to go back again and again. In fact, many people go weekly even after their problem has been resolved just to avoid developing further problems in the future. While many people enjoy acupuncture some doctors suggest that women do not take part in the practice because it can cause problems with a pregnancy. Most certified and experienced acupuncturists claim that their methods are totally safe for women, and most of the time they are right.

A good acupuncturist can be good for a pregnant woman as they will help relieve lower back pain that is often associated with being pregnant and they can help the woman deal with stress. These are definitely good things! Most pregnant women that take part in acupuncture say that they simply feel better and have more energy after their treatments. Generally women go on to have completely healthy pregnancies and do not suffer any problems as a result of the acupuncture treatments. In fact, there is something good to be said about a relaxed, relatively pain free pregnant woman!

Many doctors do not like the idea of acupuncture in pregnant women because if the technician is not experienced or does not know what he or she is doing with a pregnant woman the treatment could cause problems. Many of the acupuncture treatments can cause muscle contractions, and the uterus is not an exception. As long as the acupuncturist knows how to treat a pregnant woman without causing any of these issues it can be a good thing, but it can be hard to define who is qualified and who is not. Basically, a woman needs to be very trusting in the fact that her technician can treat her without negatively impacting the health of her pregnancy and usually it is not a problem.

The bottom line with acupuncture during pregnancy is that it can be good but it can also be bad. Each pregnant woman must weigh the risks against the benefits. Also, it helps to sit down and talk with your acupuncturist to ensure that they have been trained on how to treat pregnant women and that they are confident in the techniques. If they are not let them know that you will be back after the pregnancy but you cannot risk being treated by them. It's better to ask these things up front than to be surprised later and end up having problems as a result.

Each pregnancy, expectant mother, and unborn child is different. Your pregnancy may not progress the same as the information found here. The information here is based on the average pregnancy. It's not meant to be a replacement for any advice your may receive from your doctor. If you have any concerns about your pregnancy, we advise you to contact your doctor.