Getting Pregnant? Got Pregnant? Ready to Deliver?

by Jennifer Caron, Lic.Ac., MAc.
Licensed Acupunturist

Spring and summer are the seasons of blossoming, blooming and nature coming back to life! Maybe it's only natural then, that there seems to be the same phenomenon happening with people this season. I don't know about you, but it seems that everyone I know is either pregnant, or trying to get pregnant! Conception and birth are the manifestation of our bodies coming to life - and this seems to be the spring and summer of babies, babies and more babies!

That's why it seems fitting to focus this month's article on the effects of acupuncture on the baby-making process!

First Thing's First.

Okay, we all know what needs to happen to make a baby, right? But what if you and your partner are struggling in that department? Low libido is, believe it or not, something that acupuncture is good at treating. Many people with low libido have many contributing life factors such as stress, fatigue, poor sleep, etc. Acupuncture can help your body with all of these and more, which can end up giving you more energy in the bedroom! In fact, in a research study on acupuncture's effectiveness on treating hot flashes in breast cancer patients on hormone therapy, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, one of the added benefits of acupuncture the researchers found was that acupuncture appeared to be increasing women's sex drive and improving her sense of well-being.

Women - It's Time to Regulate!

The female menstrual cycle is a very important part of working with fertility. If there are irregularities in ovulation or menstruation, conception can be a little tricky. By regulating the phases of the menstrual cycle and pinpointing a women's ovulation day, we can greatly increase the chances of conception. In 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognized acupuncture as having shown significant therapeutic effect on female infertility. Some of the ways acupuncture improves the menstrual cycle is by reducing or eliminating premenstrual symptoms, optimizing the length of the cycle (should be on average every 28 days), and better the quality of the menstrual flow itself (should not be too heavy or too scanty, too dark or too light, and too long or too short). When all of these components of the cycle start to regulate themselves, the likelihood of conception increases dramatically.

For many women, it's more than irregular cycles that are the problem. There are a few very common reasons that can make conception less than easy, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis. In fact PCOS was specifically named by the WHO as one of the female fertility issues that acupuncture was effective at treating. Both conditions involve the growth of cysts (PCOS) or abnormal tissue (endometriosis) where there shouldn't be any. These can become a problem because of the irregularities it can cause in the menstrual cycle in the case of PCOS, and in covering the uterine wall space (that should be free of obstruction for implantation) in the case of endometriosis. Chinese medicine, and acupuncture specifically, can help move this kind of obstructed qi and improve the flow of blood to the uterus and ovaries, and thus help reduce the growth of these conditions.

It's Not All About the Women, Fellas.

Sure, you are being totally supportive of your partner while SHE goes through fertility treatments. News flash - "male infertility" accounts for one-third of all couples that have trouble conceiving. Factors including environmental pollutants, malnutrition, excessive smoking and/or alcohol consumption can all contribute to poor sperm quantity and/or quality. Interestingly, these factors are so pervasive that the WHO reports the "normal" sperm count to be 20 million per ejaculate, whereas in the 1980's the "normal" was reported as 100 million per ejaculate. Where does acupuncture fit in? Studies have shown that acupuncture can help improve both sperm count and quality, specifically motility and morphology.

Still Confused?

So you're as regular as they come - like clockwork in fact! All sperm analysis comes back normal. And still not getting pregnant? Well you're not alone. Another one-third of all couples unable to conceive struggle with what is called "unexplained" infertility. This is due to, well, unexplained reasons. Sometimes there are just no reportable things "wrong" with us, and we may just need our energy freed from obstruction and rebalanced, so it can flow smoothly once again.

Pregnant and Feeling...Not So Good?

So you are pregnant - congratulations! But now you're feeling tired and nauseous, and you have swollen legs and headaches? A beautiful thing pregnancy is, indeed! In reality, though these are very common pregnancy symptoms, they do not need to be accepted as the inevitable. There are ways to help strengthen and balance your body's energy to make it less susceptible to the symptoms of your changing hormones. Acupuncture has long been shown to effectively treat headache, as shown in numerous studies and again recognized by the WHO. It can also help with insomnia and poor sleep patterns, low energy levels, back pain, and other common pregnancy companions.

It's Time!

Getting close to that due date (or beyond it)? You've made it this far, but there are still numerous ways in which your acupuncturist can be your best friend. Whether it's the treatment of pre-eclempsia (high blood pressure), breech presentation, delayed labor or labor pain, acupuncture can help with it all. Acupuncture is a very safe treatment to have during all stages of pregnancy, and can be especially helpful toward the end, when symptoms can become more intense and mothers-to-be near the end of their term.

The benefits of acupuncture don't stop with delivery. Improving the flow of breast milk, decreasing stress, working with post-partum depression and discomfort, and helping your body recover after delivery is all possible with acupuncture. At whatever stage in your pregnancy journey you've found this article, please enjoy the experience. There's nothing more beautiful than creating a life, and I wish you joy and good fortune throughout the entire process!