Fertility, conception & antenatal acupuncture

ACUPUNCTURE & FERTILITY

Whether you are trying to get pregnant naturally for the first time or having difficulty conceiving second or third time around, Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offer a safe, natural and valuable support for you and your partner.  Acupuncture may help with fertility problems from regulating ovulation and hormone levels to improving low sperm count and quality.

Acupuncture  can assist to regulating hormonal imbalances, improving ovarian function and increasing blood flow to the uterus therefore improving endometrial lining and egg implantation. It may also significantly reduces stress and promotes relaxation. In addition it may be effective for treating conditions such as PCOS, endometriosis and high FSH or for promoting ovulation in women that don’t ovulate. It can also very beneficial in the treatment of women who have unexplained infertility.

ACUPUNCTURE & IVF

Due to its holistic approach acupuncture can also provide couples with valuable physical and emotional support during all phases of an assisted conception programme (ART) such as IVF. Treatment focuses upon the prospective parents’ individual needs to help improve their reproductive health and  during the actual cycle can also help women cope with the possible side effects of drugs and the emotional rollercoaster that often accompanies IVF. Research has shown that women who undergo a course of acupuncture whilst having IVF treatment may increase their chances of a pregnancy from a 20-30% success rate to a success rate of over 40%. It is recommended to start treatment 2 to 3 months before starting IVF but it is never too late to prepare and starting as little as 1 month before can be just as beneficial.  Acupuncture can also be helpful when undergoing any of the other ART including IUI and ICSI.

ANTENATAL  AND PRE BIRTH ACUPUNCTURE

Acupuncture is safe in pregnancy for the mother and baby, even in the first trimester, and can bring relief from the problems and symptoms that pregnancy can bring. These include morning sickness or hyper emesis, constipation, back pain & sciatica, pelvic pain, carpel tunnel syndrome, heartburn, leg cramps or restless legs, insomnia and anxiety.

The use of moxibustion, a technique used by traditional acupuncturists, is a safe and effective way of turning a breech baby and is regularly recommended by midwives. During the last few weeks of pregnancy (36-40 weeks), pre-birth acupuncture enables your body and mind to prepare for labour. Treatments at this key time can provide valuable rest and relaxation and help women approach labour with greater confidence. Acupuncture can also be used to help encourage the spontaneous onset of labour from 41 weeks.

POSTNATAL ACUPUNCTURE

Acupuncture after labour and in the first 12 weeks can provide wonderful support for the mother, helping the body to make the adaptions from pregnancy to breastfeeding, to heal well and can provide valuable emotional support for helping women to cope with the myriad of changes that those initial weeks bring.