Pregnancy Treatment

You’re Pregnant. Congratulations! Now What?
 
I have developed three separate protocols for women who are pregnant.
 
The first thing to be aware of is that unfortunately, any pregnant patient is always at risk for miscarriage.
 
The Miscarriage Prevention Protocol
Optimally, I treat my pregnant patients once to twice weekly with acupuncture, especially in the first 12-16 weeks of pregnancy. Additionally, I may prescribe special miscarriage prevention herbal formulas. The reasoning behind the frequency of treatment during the first 12-16 weeks is statistically sound: 90% of miscarriages occur within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
 
The use of acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine assists in preventing miscarriage that is not due to chromosomal anomalies. One reason for miscarriage other than aneuploidy (chromosomal problems), is lack of blood flow to the embryo and then, later on, to the placenta.  Acupuncture and herbal medicine addresses this issue by stimulating blood flow first to the embryo, and then, later on, to the placenta, ensuring proper delivery of oxygen and nutrition to the developing fetus.
 
Another reason for miscarriage is that sometimes the body attacks the embryo or the placenta.  This occurs when women have certain types of autoimmune disorders. As acupuncture and herbal medicine are frequently able to regulate immune function, these women’s pregnancies are often saved due to the inclusion of acupuncture and herbs.
 
The Healthy Mom/Healthy Baby Protocol
Under this method of care you are treated throughout your entire pregnancy at the overall frequency of either once weekly or once biweekly, as well as, also potentially being prescribed herbal formulas on an as needed basis. The purpose of this protocol is to help maintain your health during pregnancy and to assist in avoidance of possible complications such as preeclampsia, eclampsia, gestational diabetes, hyperemesis gravidarum (severe vomiting), etc.  Further, the acupuncture and herbal medicine will serve to deliver more blood and more oxygen to your growing baby helping to ensure a beautiful, healthy and well developed child.
 
The Recovery Protocol
Post partum bleeding, swelling (edema) sweating, lack of energy, depression, weight gain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and lower back pain are not uncommon after delivery.
 
Through the proper use of acupuncture and herbal medicine, relief may frequently be found for these issues. I typically treat post-partum patients with any of these complaints for a period of two to four months with a frequency ranging anywhere from once per week, once biweekly (every two week) to once per month. The frequency will depend upon what you are experiencing health and symptom wise.