Acupuncture
during pregnancy, delivery and maternity
Sabine Schmitz
Midwife

Midwife, acupuncture and pregnancy
As a midwife, I have become familiar with the numerous complaints and problems that can arise during pregnancy and delivery. I am convinced, however, that complaints do not have to be part of a natural prenatal process.
As an almost standard element in Chinese medical practice, acupuncture offers the possibility to recognise complaint patterns and combat them at source. Pregnant women are familiar with some of them: at first morning sickness, later heartburn and wobbly legs, then memory loss...
 
Acupuncture addresses all these complaints as if they are a disruption to your body balance. By restoring body balance, women emerge from their pregnancy and delivery in better shape. By treating complaints on time, problems that may arise later can be mitigated. Most people are of the opinion that acupuncture is nothing more than needles in skin. But eating patterns play an important role too.
 
Training
I followed a course in Germany focussing on midwives in relation to acupuncture. During pregnancy and delivery, acupuncture has been applied there for years. In The Netherlands, I followed the general acupuncture course at the Qing Bai Academy and naturally attend refresher classes to boost my knowledge level.
 
Treatment during pregnancy
You can consider acupuncture in the following situations:

1. nausea and vomiting
2. headache
3. heartburn
4. carpal tunnel syndrome (painful, swollen hands and loss of finger control)
5. back and neck complaints, pregnancy sciatica
6. constipation
7. fluid retention and/or rising blood pressure
8. sleep disruption
9. mental imbalance such as anxiety, tension and worry
10. pregnancy itch
11. urine loss

The following applies to all complaints:
It is useful and important to reach out for help when complaints arise during pregnancy. The less a given pattern becomes normal and the earlier corrective action can be taken, the better. This is self-evident for a baby in breech presentation.
 
When rotating a baby lying in breech, needles are not used but moxa = warmth is applied. In a personal consultation, you and I will thoroughly discuss the situation and the proposed treatment that can be carried out with your partner back home.
 
Acupuncture preceding delivery starts four weeks prior to your due date. You are treated once a week. Objective of the treatment is the gradual softening and loosening of the neck of the womb and the cervix, in order to facilitate dilation once you enter into labour. During prenatal preparation, issues associated with the final weeks of pregnancy - sleep, oedema, heartburn and frustration, for example - are combatted and prevented. Thanks to a better balance of body energy, you become stronger at the moment of delivery and have a better birth experience. The dilation period becomes shorter thanks to the stimulated softening process and increased stability. This treatment does not stimulate contractions and differs from other treatments with that objective in mind.
 
Initiating a delivery: this is possible if you are beyond your due date.
 
Should your membranes break in the early stages of labour, the contractions can be stimulated. It is best to call in the morning, so that we can make a same-day appointment.
 
During delivery, acupuncture can be of help:

• with irregular contractions, or those too weak to develop into full dilation. These contractions are often perceived as truly painful.
• with exhaustion, anxiety, tension, all of which can disrupt the normal course of delivery.
• should you need pain relief.

Acupuncture aimed at pain relief during the delivery enhances the endorphine bloodcount. This makes it easier for you to relax and you become less sensitive to pain. This natural relaxation and pain relief have a positive impact on dilation and the contractions. Your midwife is always on hand for both the delivery and the possible application of acupuncture in the prenatal process.
 
In the immediate post-delivery period, acupuncture can be of help in the following situations:

1. to stimulate breastfeeding
2. to compensate for too little breastmilk
3. cracked nipples
4. a potential breast infection
5. sleep disruption
6. constipation
7. painful stitches and scars
8. fatigue
9. mental imbalance
10. recovery

Babies
Treatment of babies for indigestion, sleep disruption and other problems is carried out with Shonishin, a special needle-free technique.
 
You can always contact me with any questions or to make an appointment. In non-emergency situations, please mail me through the website.
 
Telephone 020 - 6173293 or 06-51846508 (mobile)
website: www.vroedvrouw.info <http://www.vroedvrouw.info/>
 
The consultations take place at various locations:

• Amsterdam, on the Woestduinstraat 1-3, amongst others
• Hoofddorp, in the Geboortecentrumwonderwereld on the Kruislaan 4a
• At home, if necessary

I am a member of the Zhong professional association.
Depending on your health insurance policy, the acupuncture treatment will be refunded.