Acupuncture for Pregnancy, Childbirth and Postpartum Issues (3rd Trimester)

Submitted by yyh_staff on Tue, 01/09/2007 - 6:49pm

Below you will find common acupuncture diagnoses and treatment options for issues which may arise during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy.

  • Sciatica and Back Pain (also described in more detail here)
  • Symptoms: nausea, vomiting, general lethargy, strong food cravings or aversions
  • TCM Theory: Chronic sciatica issues in pregnancy are often related to the deficiency of kidney qi. Acute sciatica issues often involve a stagnation of qi and blood or a collection of cold and dampness in the area.
  • Treatment:
  • Edema
  • Symptoms: mild swelling in ankles/hands
  • TCM Theory: Edema is generally related to a deficiency of yang in either the spleen and/or kidneys. More basic cases are related to a stagnation of qi.
  • Differentiations:
    • Spleen Yang Deficiency
    • Signs and Symptoms: skin may be yellow, breathlessness, oppression in the chest, tired, loose stools, cold limbs
    • Tongue: Pale, Wet
    • Pulse: Weak, Slippery
    • Treatment Goals: Tonify Spleen and Yang, Resolve Dampness
    • Acupuncture Points: SP 9 (resolve dampness), SP 3 (tonify spleen), ST 36 (tonify st/sp qi), KD 7 (tonify yang), UB 20 (sp shu), UB 22 (th shu), (within first trimester you could add CV 9, CV 11, and ST 20 to drain dampness)
    • Kidney Yang Deficiency
    • Signs and Symptoms: edema worse in lower body/ankles, backache, cold legs
    • Tongue: Pale, Wet
    • Pulse: Weak, Deep
    • Treatment Goals: Tonify Kidney and Yang, Resolve Dampness
    • Acupuncture Points: SP 9 (resolve dampness), KD 3 (tonify kidney), ST 36 (tonify st/sp qi), KD 7 (tonify yang), UB 20 (sp shu), UB 23 (kd shu), (within first trimester you could add CV 9 and CV 11 to drain dampness)
    • Stagnation of Qi
    • Signs and Symptoms: abdominal distention, irritability
    • Tongue: Red on the sides
    • Pulse: Wiry
    • Treatment Goals: Harmonize Liver, Drain Dampness
    • Acupuncture Points: ST 40 (resolve dampness), SP 9 (resolve dampness), LV 3 (regulate liver), GB 34 (resolve stagnation), UB 18 (lv shu),
      • Breech Position
      • TCM Theory: The technique of moxibustion on the acupuncture point UB 67 works well for turning the fetus in a breech position and is best used within the 32nd to the 36th week. In general a patient should have a complete diagnosis and initial treatment, but the moxibustion can be performed at home with a moxa stick by a partner. The technique is described in detail on this page.