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There are several benefits of natural childbirth, ranging from shorter recovery time to less vaginal tearing. Acupuncture has been used to help promote natural childbirth and delivery for thousands of years.

The primary objective of acupuncture for women’s health in San Francisco is to prepare the mind and body for childbirth and create an ideal environment for childbirth, instead of forcing a birth.

Ideally, women who have decided to give acupuncture a try must see their acupuncturist every week (from 36 weeks), so their acupuncturist gets enough time to come up with and execute a treatment plan that focuses on preparing the body to secrete the hormones required for natural childbirth.

After 40 weeks, your acupuncturist may want to see you more frequently (every 2-3 days) to help prepare your mind and body for childbirth and keep you feeling as comfortable and well rested as possible.

What to Expect?

During the initial consultation session, your acupuncturist will ask you questions about your pregnancy, such as what position the baby is in? How many weeks pregnant are you? They may also want to know your doctor’s or midwife’s opinion about your pregnancy. If you are experiencing a health issue, your acupuncturist will ask you to describe your symptoms.

Your acupuncturist will conduct a thorough physical examination. They will measure your vital signs and breathing depth.

If you are experiencing hip or lower back pain (a common complication of pregnancy), your acupuncturist will come up with a plan focused on relieving pressure on your stressed joints and muscles.

Once your acupuncturist gets answers to all their questions, they will begin treatment. At the start of a session, your acupuncturist will ask you to lie down on a bed. Once you are relaxed, they will insert paper-thin needles into targeted areas. This will stimulate the endocrine gland to secrete feel-good hormones.

If you are around your due date, your acupuncturist may want to use electro-acupuncture. You may feel a mild, dull aching sensation at the treatment points. If you experience discomfort or pain at any time during a session, ask your acupuncturist to stop.

After your acupuncturist inserts needles at strategic points on your body, they will give you time to relax. They will continue to adjust the needles every few minutes to restimulate the points.

Throughout the process, your acupuncturist will explain to you what and why they’re doing. It’s normal for pregnant women to feel the baby move around more during a session. Some women may experience Braxton-Hicks contractions.

Anchor Acupuncture & Wellness is committed to holistic care. Our licensed acupuncturists have years of experience diagnosing and treating health conditions. We take a whole-body approach to health. To talk to one of our acupuncturists, call (415) 855-3112.