The Evidence Based Benefits of Acupuncture in Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a wonderful time in a woman’s life - but it comes with a few downsides. Nausea, back pain, pelvic pain, insomnia, and depression can make an otherwise amazing experience somewhat difficult. 

Lower back pain and pelvic pain are among the most common problems, affecting around 24% to 90% of pregnant women. (1) Another 46% struggle with insomnia, particularly during the later months. (2) Antenatal depression is also a serious concern, with around 6.2% of pregnant women in Australia battling low mood, along with stress and other mental health symptoms. (3)

Any one of these issues can impact both mum and baby quite severely - not only during pregnancy but later on in life. 

The good news is that acupuncture may be able to help. A number of recent studies have shown the fantastic benefits of using acupuncture for various health complaints during pregnancy which are discussed below.

Pregnancy Acupuncture for lower back pain and pelvic pain 

Lower back pain usually begins between the fifth and seventh months of pregnancy, but sometimes as early as 8-12 weeks. Pelvic pain, on the other hand, may begin around 18 weeks. Many women are unlucky enough to end up with both, especially if they’ve had a history of back problems. The pain usually worsens throughout pregnancy as the load on your spine and pelvis increases and ligaments and bones undergo structural changes. 

While the severity of the pain can vary, most women find daily activities pretty uncomfortable. Walking, sleeping, turning over in bed, and just getting out of a chair can be painful. Unfortunately, treatment options are limited: physical therapy and special pillows are sometimes suggested, but the safety and efficacy of these modalities lack clinical evidence. 

That’s where acupuncture comes in. 

A 2022 meta-analysis of 10 studies and over 1000 women found that using acupuncture when pregnant “significantly relieved” both lower back pain and pelvic pain. When treated with acupuncture between 17–30 weeks, patients found that they were able to carry out normal daily activities much more easily. Unsurprisingly, most women reported that their quality of life also improved enormously. No adverse effects were reported with the acupuncture treatment. 

Pregnancy Acupuncture for insomnia 

Sleep quality and duration decreases dramatically during pregnancy, and insomnia is a common complaint in the third trimester. Besides the discomfort of a growing belly, sleep can be affected by gastroesophageal reflux, trips to the bathroom, and hormonal changes. A 2020 study published in the journal Nature and Science of Sleep found acupuncture significantly improved sleep quality in pregnant women. The researchers suggested that acupuncture treatment may help to boost the secretion of melatonin (the hormone in charge of our sleep-wake cycle) and recommended acupuncture as a “low-cost and low-risk” alternative treatment to pharmacological therapies. 

Pregnancy Acupuncture for low mood 

Fluctuating hormones are cited as a major cause of low mood and depression during pregnancy. Many other factors are also at play: work, health, relationships, and home-life pressures, to name a few. (4) Mums-to-be may also struggle with stress, anxiety, and psychological distress as they adjust to mothering. 

Despite the prevalence of antenatal depression, not all those affected are able to access the right care, which can have lasting consequences. (5)

Again, acupuncture may offer some hope. A 2020 study from Western Sydney University investigated the effects of acupuncture on depression by monitoring 57 pregnant women who received acupuncture treatment from 24 to 31 weeks gestation. At the end of the study, those in the acupuncture group were found to have significantly lower depression scores than those who didn’t. Scores for stress and psychological distress also significantly improved. Again, there were no adverse effects. Although further research is pending, researchers concluded that acupuncture treatment helped to reduce depression, stress and distress during pregnancy. 

Acupuncture in pregnancy: what to expect 

In my 20 years as an acupuncture professional, I’ve treated many clients throughout their pregnancies with fantastic results. 

Acupuncture originated in China many centuries ago, and continues to be used successfully all over the world today. It involves the gentle insertion of very fine, stainless steel, single-use needles into specific points (known as acupuncture points) on the body. There are around 350 of these points located all over your body. As discovered by traditional Chinese medicine, inserting needles into certain points helps to regulate the flow of energy and bring the body back into balance. This has been found to alleviate a wide range of conditions or symptoms. 

A pregnancy acupuncture session will start with an in-depth chat about any issues you’re experiencing, followed by a physical assessment. Your specific treatment will be tailored to you and your current health needs. 

Naturopathy and pregnancy 

In Australia, pregnant women are among the highest users of naturopathy. (6) A qualified naturopath can help support pregnancy through every trimester - including sleep, mood, nutrition, morning sickness, digestive issues, and many other pregnancy-related issues. 

Naturopathy is a healthcare system that considers all systems of the body. During a consultation, a naturopath will go over your health history, diet, lifestyle, current symptoms, and goals. These consultations take much longer than a conventional medical appointment because there’s so much more to cover. 

Your naturopathic treatment plan will not be a “quick fix”. It’ll be a strategy customised to you and your needs - one that will help to restore good health over several weeks or months by treating the root cause of your health concerns as well as your presenting symptoms. Acupuncture is one of the many modalities used or recommended by naturopaths. It’s also one of the modalities with the most evidence behind it. Other modalities may include Ayurveda, homeopathy, and herbal medicine. 

Looking for a pregnancy naturopath or acupuncturist in your local area ?

Before you start searching for “pregnancy naturopath near me” or “pregnancy acupuncture near me”, there are a few things to keep in mind. In Australia, most legitimate Naturopaths will belong to a major association such as ATMS or ANTA. Similarly, in Australia, in order to use the title “Acupuncturist” a practitioner must be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), which ensures that a practitioner has the skills and qualifications to provide safe care to patients. 

What is the difference between Acupuncture and Dry Needling ?

The general public also can get confused about the difference between Acupuncture and dry needling. Essentially, dry needling is carried out by a practitioner who is not registered with AHPRA as an Acupuncturist. The pracitioner may be a physio or chiropractor who has done some short weekend training in needling, hence, he/she is not able to use the term Acupuncturist. On the other hand, an AHPRA registered acupuncturist will have done a 4 year degree in Acupuncture along with regular professional development to maintain his/her registration with AHPRA.

Are you ready to try acupuncture? If so, I’d love to hear from you. 

To book a session or make an enquiry, click on the button below.

1. https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD001139.pub4/full 

2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7231755/3.

https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-018-1598-x

4. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165032720302081?via%3Dihub 

5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8448270/

6. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1744388111000417