It is useful to look at the historical context in which Bellingham acupuncture for pregnancy developed to realize the ways that it may be utilized. A sturdy son was desired in particular, since it would be he who would tend the shrine of his departed antecedents. Chinese Medicine developed to address the expectations of the faithful follower of that tradition. Treatment evolved to help couples to conceive and then to foster a healthy pregnancy and uncomplicated delivery.
Acupuncture as it is practiced today is a safe, comfortable and cost effective treatment for many of the problems that commonly develop in pregnancy. This is especially true since pharmaceuticals are contraindicated in pregnant women in most cases.
That being said, it is important that the acupuncture with a well trained practitioner because there are some acupuncture point that are traditionally forbidden to do during the nine months of gestation. These points are the ones that are known to strongly move Qi (energy) and blood through the pelvis include obvious points like those on the lower abdomen, and also the famous points we use to treat gynecological disorders: LI4 and SP6
In fact these two points when strongly stimulated have been used to induce abortion. I have read that they were frequently used in Maoist China when the one child per family edict was strictly enforced. Acupuncture, of course, when properly applied can help to prevent, not cause miscarriages.
Acupuncture treatment is recommended once a month to ensure the optimal health of the mother and the developing fetus at different stages of growth and differentiation. Tradition has it that Zhubin (K9), the “beautiful baby point”, should be needled at the end of the third and sixth months to ensure a happy, healthy, and of course, gorgeous baby. The Chinese name for the point means “guest house”. The Zhubin point, located just below the calf muscle and above the inner ankle bone, is known to calm the mind, relieve anxiety and helps to build blood. It is claimed that “stimulating this point minimizes the transmission of toxins from the mother to the child, increases the health of the baby and its resistance to disease and also tonifies the mother’s Qi.”
In preparation for labor and delivery during in the last month of the pregnancy the expectant mom should be seen weekly. While the focus of this article is to address the treatment of conditions that arise as a direct result of the pregnancy, acupuncture can be used to treat conditions that antedate the pregnancy, such as migraine headache or allergies. In most cases acupuncture is a safer approach than the use of prescription medications.