Pregnancy Insomnia

Acupuncture improves insomnia in pregnancy - Brisbane

Michelle Blum practices Acupuncture and Naturopathy in the South Brisbane suburb of Moorooka. She has a special interest in women's health and sees many pregnant women in her clinic for an assortment of pregnancy-related conditions.

Michelle wishes to share the results of a recent research trial conducted on pregnant women in their third trimester. The trial ran for a duration of three weeks and involved 72 pregnant participants with insomnia. The women either received 10 sessions of actual acupuncture or 10 sessions of sham acupuncture along with sleep hygiene recommendations.

The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to assess sleep quality in addition to the measurement of melatonin urinary metabolites which assesses the secretion of melatonin, a neurotransmitter that affects sleep quality.

Both were measured at the beginning of the trial and then again at the end of the trial.

The women in the actual Acupuncture group showed a significant improvement in both PSQI scores as well as melatonin urinary metabolites at the end of the trial which was said to be consistent with the findings of prior research studies.

Researchers noted that the effects of Acupuncture may have been due to its regulatory effect on various neuro-endocrinological pathways.

The impact of poor sleep quality in pregnancy can at times be serious, with possible outcomes including- premature delivery; a reduction in fetal growth as well as an increase in postnatal depression.

There are many pharmaceutical and natural treatments for insomnia, however, most of these are not recommended during pregnancy, due to their potential side effects. This is why Acupuncture becomes a safe, risk-free option for women needing relief from sleepless nights not to mention other ailments commonly experienced during pregnancy.