Is acupuncture safe to use during pregnancy?

Acupuncture is generally a safe treatment method, especially for you who are pregnant and the unborn child as nothing is added to the body.

It is important to know that the concept of treatment as we in the Western world see it is very different from the traditional view of acupuncture.

According to Chinese tradition, healthy or sick is not seen as black or white, instead it is regarded as different degrees of imbalance. Only when there is a large imbalance do we get symptoms and illness. Acupuncture strengthens the body's own self-healing ability by creating balance. Based on this point of view, it becomes a little less tricky to explain how acupuncture can have a place in connection with, or before a physiological birth.

Also more recent Western research shows that the effects acupuncture has on the body and brain, among other things, stimulate our calm and rest system (parasympathetic nervous system), which helps the body to balance and heal itself, through increased release of certain hormones, signaling substances, increased circulation, etc. .

Now we can therefore measure several of the things that Chinese medicine has fixed on for several millennia.

Some acupoints are avoided during certain periods of the pregnancy, as they are considered to lead to contractions and disturb the baby in the womb. According to studies done, stimulation of these points has not led to miscarriages or other serious events.

We at Gravidbalans and many with us avoid them, however, out of consideration for the child and in order not to disturb the body's own physiology.

How can acupuncture help you?

There are a lot of pregnancy complaints that can be alleviated or completely remedied with acupuncture.

Acupuncture can have a good effect on both physical and emotional ailments. Fear, anxiety, pain and tension can be reduced already during ongoing treatment. Repeated treatments are usually needed for a lasting effect.

Acupuncture has a generally relaxing effect and the treatment session is often experienced as a pleasant moment where you can treat yourself to unwinding.

Pelvic pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and nausea of pregnancy are some of the symptoms where acupuncture has a very good and scientifically proven effect. 

How does it work when receiving acupuncture treatment?

All symptom treatments and preparatory treatments are individually tailored, therefore a free telephone consultation is booked first, which gives us time to plan your particular treatment.
Read more and/or book here.

When we meet for the first time, we go over your health again, what you want help with and set up a treatment plan.

You will then sit/lie on a comfortable couch supported by pillows and the needles will be placed. 

The needles are in place for about 20 minutes on each occasion and how many needles are inserted depends on what is being treated and what is required for you in particular. Between 5-10 needles is common.

Sometimes a technique called threading is used. It is a more superficial method than acupuncture that has a local pain-relieving effect. More needles are then used than with acupuncture.

How often and how many treatments are needed also differ depending on the effect you get, but also depending on what the treatment is aimed at. Treatment sessions are often more frequent at the beginning and then become less frequent.

We book a reappointment and evaluate the effect on an ongoing basis in order to be able to adjust with more/fewer points and the time between each treatment session is also adjusted along the way.

Feel free to contact me for a free telephone consultation if you are curious about how acupuncture can help you. Do not hesitate to get in touch if you are afraid of needles. I have had several clients with a fear of needles who were well helped by acupuncture.