Acupuncture in first trimester

[Alexandra6]

Hi, I just got my first BFP after 15 months of trying, am over the moon! It's really early days so I'm trying not to get too excited. I have pcos so I was on clomid, my first cycle, and I also had weekly acupuncture. I do think it helped a bit (appreciate lots of people might think it does nothing!) but now I'm pregnant, I'm not sure whether it's risky to keep going with it. At the same time, I'm nervous about stopping in case it's helping to support the pregnancy even just a tiny bit! Has anyone else had it at this stage or does anyone know anything about acupuncture in early pregnancy and how safe it is? Thanks

Hi there

Firstly, huge congrats on your BFP!! I remember that feeling well, although it feels ages ago as i'm 34+6 weeks pregnant. :)

I had acupuncture while TTC after an ectopic and found it wonderful. I continued directly through the first trimester until about 14 weeks when I couldn't afford it any more. It really helped keep me calm about worried of another loss and helped with backache, nausea, tiredness and other niggly symptoms. Of course, chat to your practitioner about it, mine kept away form any points that directly impacted on the reproductive organs etc. I wish I could have been able to keep it going all the way through.

HTH

Slightly different circumstance but I had acupuncture for severe HG. As long as your practitioner knows you are pregnant I'm sure it's ok.

Yes you can have acupuncture all the way through - just make sure they know you're pregnant now

Thanks all, I'm worried that she won't know what she's doing (you never know how good therapists are if you don't know the points I guess, she is qualified) but she says she's treated people in first trimester before. Sounds like it should be fine to go ahead, she said she would do a point in my stomach though, that's what worried me. At the same time, I do feel like it helped the clomid work first cycle, so don't want to stop if it's helping - I'll never know for sure of course.

Glossy what's HG?

My acupuncturist wouldn't do anything in the stomach/pelvis area. If you're unsure, then change therapist and find a recommendation from someone in your area.

Oh really, eek. I don't have any in my area that specialise in fertility and worried about trying someone new. Would do zita west if I could afford it! In her email, I asked about points and she said: "Probably use the point Du 20 on the crown of your head, Pericardium 6 on the wrist, Ren 6 on you abdomen, Stomach 36 on your leg and Kidney 3 on your Ankle"

Sounds silly but I'm paranoid about anything increasing my mc chances - either having acupuncture and stimulating the wrong thing or not having it and hormone levels dropping or something!

If you have any doubts as to her qualifications to treat in pregnancy I'd skip it and find someone else. I found an absolutely wonderful acupuncturist local to me, who specializes in fertility and pregnancy, via google and have been going to her since about 23 wks.

I had accupuncture after 3 miscarriages. I carried on with the treatment throughout my pregnancy and really believe it made all the difference both physically and psychologically. Great for also getting on top of undesirable pregnancy symptoms.

i had accupunture in fist trimester for sickness as i was HG

im sure it helped a bit

You can check if your acupuncturist is a member if the British Acupuncture Council or the ATCM ( I think). They are the 2 main bodies that accept acupuncturists who have done a lengthy training (over 3 years).
If your acupuncturist had a website, it should be on there as well as her qualification.

You are right to want to check but acupuncture in pregnancy is very safe. There are some points to avoid, not on the abdomen actually. Even though it is clear you want to be very careful over the uterus.

FWIW acupuncture can help a lot during pregnancy with very few side effects. Things such as morning sickness, back pain, heartburn or problem with sleeping all respond very well.

I started acupuncture following a mc and had a couple of sessions when I had just conceived but hadn't been aware I was pregnant. Continued with it right through the pregnancy until a week before my due date.There were times in the early days when I'd lie in my session worrying that I was doing more harm than good - I think that's only natural following a mc. I did have points in my stomach and lower abdomen in the earlier sessions, later sessions concentrated on head, arms and legs. Best of luck x

Btw, zits West can NOT tell you which points to use as the treatment should be tailored to you and not come out of a prescription book.

There is no increase risk of miscarriage with acupuncture as long ad you avoid certain points as they are used to induce labour. But you have to remember that using them does not automaticallyeans you will go into labour or miscarry. It is just safer not to use them.

You don't need to specialised in pregnancy to treat pg women. It is part of the training.
But I am surprised that even though you have already had some treatments with her, you don't feel you can fully trust her. Is there anything that has worried you?

alexandra sorry, HG is hyperemesis gravidarum.
Thank god mines over!

glossy I wish mine was!!!!!!!!!

on my second lot now!

I've had it from about 14 weeks to 24 (ish). I've got pain that needs an operation. They won't do the operation while I'm pregnant and the Western medicine solution was just to continue with painkillers throughout my pregnancy and have the op after I've had the baby.

I chose acupuncture (as a last ditch resort) to cut the painkillers down. It's been really effective - I've gone from 4 x doses of 30mg of codiene daily to 2 x 15mg most days and I'm hoping to cut it out completely when I stopped working.

They knew I was pregnant and just worked round it - tricky because its abdo pain and ideally they'd stick me in the tummy! Mostly they did legs and lower back. I'm really glad I went because its helped massively :)

Thanks so much for the feedback. My usual lady is on hols for three weeks and her friend (trained to the same BAC level) is taking over her appointments. She says she's treated PCOS/clomid and pregnancy before but then she mentioned maybe using the point on my stomach but sounds like that should be a no go?

Great it's helping you so much havealittlefaith I don't need it for pain or sickness or anything, so I would just cancel, but then I get worried that maybe the only reason the clomid worked first time and the pregnancy is holding is because of acupuncture and if I stop, will It affect hormones and I might mc?? Argh wish I was more relaxed about things!

nanny - big hugs, I know how awful it is. Have you tried acupuncture? When I first tried it, literally for about 10 minutes at the GP, but after that visit, although I retched the rest of the day I didn't vomit at all until the following day. It was a nice short period of respite after vomiting several times daily!

Hi, I am a British Acupuncture Council registered acupuncturist. Most of what has been posted is correct. It is perfectly safe to do acupuncture throughout your pregnancy. There are a small group of acupuncture points that are contraindicated however all registered acupuncturist are well aware of these. Though it can make the acupuncturists point choice slightly harder when treating some conditions, remember that is why you are paying a professional.
As far as typical points suggested over the phone these may be quite different in your unique situation.
Best of luck
Andrew