Acupuncture etc to prevent preterm labour?

[Liz]

I'm starting to like the idea of acupuncture. A friend is using it for TTC, and I've read a lot about using acupuncture to induce labour etc. But can it be useful in avoiding preterm labour?

Reason I ask is I'm in negotiations with DH to try for #3 LOL.. so if I'm successful, my main concern will be going into labour early again. DS was 3 weeks early, which was ok.. still considered term.. but DD was 6 weeks early. Naturally, it floats around in my head that the next one could go even earlier, altho I do know that each pg is different etc etc. It's still a thought that enters my head tho! My mum's pregnancies all got longer (miscarriages, late loss, prem, and on time) .. and I feel like mine are getting shorter!

My theory is that when my baby's engage, or even bump their head on my cervix, my body takes that as 'i want out' coz neither of my babies were noted as engaged any time before labour. In a way I'm glad that DD came early coz she was a monster (or at least would have been had she gone full term - she was 3.5kg at 34 weeks).

Anyway, that's a bit sidetracked. So yeah, can accupuncture or other therapies help to prevent preterm labour?

[BellyBelly]

Yup sure can, they even have acupuncture to prevent threatened miscarriage...

[Liz]

ooh. yay. But is it something you do to treat preterm labour if its already threatening? or is it an ongoing thing you can do from the start to prevent it?

[BellyBelly]

I have emailed this to our TCM's because I forget how it works and I assume it would be the same for pre term labour, because they use points to 'hold' the energy in the uterus (?!) - something like that... I'll get the boys in to come and explain lol before I sound like a dufus!

[Liz]

Excellent, thanks Kelly

[Chris Tang]

HI there ladies!

Just thought i would put my 2 cents of expertise in this.
In regards to threatened miscarraige, it could be due to different factors:
(1) Qi and Blood deficiency
(2) Kidney Qi deficiency, not holding
(3)Heat in the blood
(4) disharmony of the Penetrating (Chong) & Conception (Ren) vessels
(5) Stagnation of Liver Qi
and so on...

In the case of pre term labour, it is pretty much the same TCM diagnosis. The constitution of the person is weak and deficient and cannot hold the baby to full term. This is why in TCM, the focus of TTC couples is to prepare the soon-to-be parents to be in the optimum state and balance to conceive. i.e if QI and Blood is deficient, then replenishing them; if Kidney Yin/ Yang is deficient, then nourishing Yin/ Invigorating Yang etc.
Acupuncture and herbal medicine can both be used at any stage of the pregnancy (preconception and postconception) to assist in bringing the pregnancy into full term with mothers who have had a repeated history of premature births.
Hope that helps a bit Liz! Feel free to fire away on questions

Now my question for u is are u TTC? How many kids do you have and how far apart are they?

[BellyBelly]

Thats a great worth Chris! Much better than my LOL

[Shanti]

Liz,

After 6mths ttc with no luck, I tried Acupuncture and 2 months later (after 6 sessions) we conceived our baby!! My Acupuncturist (AP) helped my body to achieve optimal health in order to conceive and sustain a pregnancy. For example, my kidneys weren't functioning to the best of their ability and kidney health is vital for conception to occur.

Since falling pregnant, I've seen my AP at 6wks pg, 12wks pg, and will see her at 24wks pg and 36wks pg..... so basically every 12 weeks! This ensures my body is kept healthy with the checks she does and also to assist my body to prepare for labour when it's ready to.... (ie 36wks onwards)...... so definitely see your AP throughout your pregnancy!! And discuss your preterm labour in the past..... your AP will be able to know what is best for you to try to prevent this from happening again....

Acupuncture is wonderful, it balances the body.... I truly believe it has helped me so much. If AP can help with conceiving, then for sure, it will help you with preventing early labour....

[Liz]

Awesome. Thank you. Think I will definitely look into acupuncture from the start.

Now my question for u is are u TTC? How many kids do you have and how far apart are they?

No we're not TTC just yet. Still working on convincing DH lol.

A quick history of us. We have 2 kids, 19 months apart. I was diagnosed with PCO and took metformin to establish a cycle (had completely disappeared for 10 months), and fell pg with #1 on the 2nd attempt. He was born at 37 weeks with no problems (2.7kg), he was considered term, just had a bit of jaundice and had to watch his sugar levels a bit) My cycles were then clockwork, and I mean textbook perfect LOL from 3 months after he was born, even though we were still breastfeeding. So charting and TTC'ing #2 was nice & easy, fell on 2nd attempt. Breastfed throughout the pregnancy, but as I said, she was a monster and I think my body wanted her out at 34 weeks (do you think the breastfeeding could have contributed to preterm labour? In myself I don't think so, coz feeding never even brought on braxton hicks or anything)

Anyway, that's our story in a nutshell. Oh and my cycle returned this time around 5 months, and again it's a beautiful cycle LOL, so I'm confident if we decide to go for it it shouldn't be too problematic.. but then again, I'm getting older, so who knows

[Chris Tang]

HI Liz,

Sorry for the late reply, was away for the weekend for a much needed holiday!
In regards to breastfeeding while pregnant, alot of mums do that and no known problems like onset of preterm labour have occured.
In your case, it all can come down to a constitutional factor. A weaker constitution can prove hard to maintain a full term pregnancy but it is only speculation as i need a proper consultation to provide a diagnosis.
Also another factor of having multiple children/pregnancies within a close period of time can physically deplete the mother. It is recommended to put aside at least 2-3 years before conceiving again as the body needs to recouperate. Pregnancy and birth can be a traumatic process for the body with the emotional aspect and the blood loss, not more to say if the mother undergoes c-section. That is why it is highly recommended for mothers to return for multiple sessions post birth especially after a traumatic birth. Other problems such as insufficient lactation, postnatal depression, scar tissue healing and jump-starting the menstrual cycle are also important to the mother during this recouperating period.

[Liz]

Thanks heaps Chris. If I can talk DH around I might look for an acupuncturist before TTC and get their opinion on where my body is at! I've had untraumatic births, my body has been pretty good getting back to pre-pg weight, no dramas with breastfeeding, and no PND or anything, and as I said was quick to get back into a beautiful menstrual cycle (altho a couple of years without AF would have been nice! )

Thank you. Will have to look up a local acupuncturist! When looking them up, will they say if they specialise in fertility and pregnancy etc?

[Chris Tang]

HI Liz,

NSW is a bit different to Victoria as in TCM is a highly regulated profession in Victoria and NSW is not as strict. To look for a qualified TCm practitioner, i recommend jumping onto the AACMA (Australian Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Association) and search for a nearby qualified practitioner. It can be worth calling up to enquire about their fields of expertise ie TTC and fertility. If I knew any practitioners, i would have most definately forwarded their details to u but unfortunately i dont.
Anyway, good luck with it all and dont forget to keep us posted! Look forward to hear from u again and dont be a stranger when u ever come to melbourne.