Acupuncture sessions to prepare your mind + body for birth
A common question I hear in regards to Birth Preparation Acupuncture is…when is the best time in Pregnancy to get started? The answer is not black & white, and really depends on how you’re feeling physically, mentally & emotionally this pregnancy.
Pregnancy & labour are not two distinct events; rather, throughout pregnancy, our body, mind & hormones (as well as our baby!) are constantly in a state of ebb & flow, until one day everything aligns and the dance of labour begins.
So my advice is, tune in to the messages your body is sending you. If your body is showing you signs that it could benefit from extra nurturing, nourishment or healing, then now is the best time to book a session. From the all consuming first trimester symptoms to the very common musculoskeletal aches & pains that often begin somewhere in the second or third trimester as our bump grows and puts extra pressure on our body, TCM has a long history of supporting women during pregnancy.
Or perhaps you are one of the luckier ones who mostly breezes through pregnancy with that famous glow we hear about. The first time you think about Acupuncture may be in those final weeks as you near your estimated due date & feel pressure to be medically induced.
Can Acupuncture be used as an Induction method? To read my thoughts on this, visit my FAQ section!
The deep sense of relaxation that many feel during Acupuncture, I believe creates the biggest shifts when preparing for labour & birth. This allows us to drop in to our body and take a break from the busy thoughts that often consume our mind. Stress and a busy mind can actually prevent our labour hormones from flowing freely. Learning to quiet our mind and shifting our focus to our body & breath is an amazing gift when preparing for birth.
It is never too late to have birth preparation Acupuncture, even one or two sessions can do wonders for our nervous system & mindset leading up to birth.
Or perhaps you already know the benefits Acupuncture & TCM can bring to your pregnancy + birth and you’re just here to get a feel if I’m the right practitioner for you. If so, amazing! I’m really excited to meet you.
How do my Birth Prep Sessions differ from other Acupuncturists?
The main difference is once a doula, always a doula! I am so passionate about women-centred birth and truly understand the importance of surrounding all pregnant women with those who have aligned values. I will always be an ear and a sounding board to help you navigate whatever is coming up for you. And if you need reminding, you can bet I will never let you forget how capable and powerful you are!
I am a huge advocate for Optimal Maternal Positioning (OMP) exercises in pregnancy to prepare our body & mind for birth
and I offer these within my Pregnancy Acupuncture sessions for no extra charge.
OMP is similar to Spinning Babies, except rather than focusing on optimising baby’s position by ‘spinning baby’, the focus of OMP is to bring balance and alignment to the mother’s body & pelvis. This optimises the space available for baby, so baby can move into his/her optimal position for birth and to navigate our pelvis more easily during labour. We trust that baby knows the ins & outs of our pelvis better than we do! These OMP exercises usually feel wonderful for mum, reminding me of a deep, myofascial stretch or yin yoga class.
I am also a Reiki practitioner so energetic alignment is also on offer for those who feel called to prepare for birth in this way. And once again, I include this within my Pregnancy Acupuncture sessions at no extra cost for you.
In case you need to hear it again…you have everything you need inside yourself to birth your baby!
However, sometimes there will be mini roadblocks along the way, and this is what I am here to help you navigate. Any questions at all, I would love to hear from you.
