Pregnancy accupunture

[OceanPrincess]

Hi Melbourne ladies

I'm looking for a recommendation for an acupuncturist in Melbourne. A friend suggested I try acupuncture to encourage my bubs to get ready sooner rather than later as I am carrying a very large little girl right now!

Any recommendations?

I'd probably like to go for a few sessions over the next few weeks.

Thanks!
OP

[sloane]

i've been to the bellybelly centre for acupuncture a few times - once when we were TTC and twice since i've been PG (i think - am getting very forgetful!!). i've seen sharmaine & think she's fab (but is about to go on hols i think) but i've read good reviews of all the practitioners at the centre. i'm still very early on in the scheme of things, but i did speak with sharmaine about how AC could help prepare my body for labour further down the track as well

[littleberlin]

Whereabouts in Melbourne are you? I've been seeing a lovely lady called Annalise Drok at Quiescence Traditional Chinese Medicine In Brunswick Street, Fitzroy North. She has a website, too.

[Nai]

OP, I was going to book in with Justin at Belly Belly

[Olive]

OP i see justin at the bellybelly centre! going again tomorrow!

[belfie]

I saw justin at Belly Belly centre too - he was great. Oh and if you're getting keen, the induction massage is pure bliss!!

[OceanPrincess]

Of course - the BellyBelly centre! Why didn't I think of that?

Justin seems to be the guy to try.

I found a recommendation somewhere else for Annalise as well - that's another option. Littleberlin - does she do normal pregnancy AC as well as fertility treatments?

I am in the north east suburbs but working the city.

Thanks ladies!

[littleberlin]

Yes, she does - she specialises in women's health, fertility and prenatal acupuncture. I've been seeing her since 30 weeks (I thought it would good for my general well-being to start treatments earlier), and more recently she's been helping with relief for the (hiedous) pelvic girdle pain I've been experiencing. We're about to begin treatments for helping with baby's positioning as well.

She's really lovely, if Fitzroy North is easier for you to get to than Canterbury. From memory, the initial consult is $75.00, subsequent consultations are $60.00 - shockingly, my private health fund actually did something good for once, and have covered all my visits in full. I'm sill reeling from not having to pay any out-of-pocket expenses!

[OceanPrincess]

Oh and another question - should I start now? Do I need to speak to my Obs or should I just book in a session...?

[OceanPrincess]

... shockingly, my private health fund actually did something good for once, and have covered all my visits in full. I'm sill reeling from not having to pay any out-of-pocket expenses!

Woohoo! I wonder if mine will as well?

Thanks for the help - you answered my other questions too!

One last embarassing question... does it hurt??

[sloane]

i didn't think it hurt - i've had maybe one needle that stung as it went in, but the rest of the time i haven't felt a thing. apparently there is more than one needle thickness that can be used & i've had the very fine ones, don't know if that makes any difference!

i have found that i've been really relaxed after my appointments so far - with my first (when ttc), i was really stressed at work & had that eyelid twitching thing...and now i haven't had it since my first AC appointment & that was about 4 months ago!

my health fund does offer some rebates for AC as well - i'm with mbf. the centre has hicaps.

[OceanPrincess]

I've had that eye twitchy thing! Think I definitely need AC now...

[BellyBelly]

https://www.bellybelly.com.au/justin-keane

Here's justin's profile. All he does here are inductions, breech babies and fertility all day every day - and nothing else!!! Shar is about to go on holidays the lucky thing!!!

[littleberlin]

I think it depends on what exactly you are having acupuncture for. A friend of mine had a one-off treatment at 42 weeks to get labour moving (she gave birth the day after!) - so if you're just looking to bring on labour, I'm sure you could go just once. Some women start at 36 (or is it 34? Now I can't recall...) weeks for treatment for helping with baby's positioning for birth. I just decided to start early...well, just because, really! You can begin treatment whenever you like, but obviously the closer that you are to your EDD, the more that the treatment will be focused on preparation for birth.

I hadn't had acupuncture since I was a child, so at my first session I was a little nervous! The needles are super-thin and sterilised - though you might find it strange to observe them sticking out of your skin! It shouldn't hurt (and hasn't for me), but your experiences vary according to how sensitive you are to treatment, and also the position of the needles on your body. Any time a needle is inserted somewhere where there is very little body fat (i.e. the wrist, near the ankles or knees or feet), I tend to feel an initial little sting, which fades quite quickly. What you might experience is the feeling of energy being released from the acupuncture points - which can be quite strange, at first! Last week I had quite a few placed at certain points in my lower legs, and it was quite intense - like a kind of rush of warmth downwards...but again, it depends on your sensitivity. Annalise was telling me that some people just don't feel anything at all.

If you find that you go for treatment and you react quite strongly to it, she will remove the needle. If I have a strong reaction to a certain placement, I describe the sensation to her, and generally it dissipates. If it continues to feel uncomfortable or intensifies (which happened once), the needle is removed straight away. I'd try and remain calm, and take deep breaths - it sounds silly, but if you tense up and anticipate pain, you're more likely to experience discomfort (I think, anyway). I hope that answers your questions!

[belfie]

on the "should you go once" question, I know Justin was saying that it's better to have a number of treatments to help prepare the body for labour - rather than just leaving it for one treatment right before. I think he'd had a rush of BB ladies running in at the last moment (myself included ).

And I agree, it doesn't hurt, but occasionally one needle will hit a "twinge" spot. I also found I was really relaxed after my appointments too.

[Olive]

OP i first saw justin at 32 weeks then again just this morning, i now go weekly from here!!
he started induction accupunture today as well as working on my back pain, bladder issues and reflux!!
i doesnt hurt but you feel 'things' but in a good way!!

[OceanPrincess]

Thanks for all the info ladies!

I tried Justin but he only has appointments during the day, not so good for someone who is still working and in the city.

I've made an appointment with Annalise for Thursday. I feel a bit better knowing what to expect, sort of! I'll make sure I let her know if something hurts or doesn't feel right.

She said I'd definitely be ok to start preparing now for labour. Who knows, maybe I'll get some induction AC done like you AJP!

[Justin Keane]

Hi Oceanprincess,
I'm sure you and your baby girl will love acupuncture (and the time-out it affords!), I too have heard lots of good things about Annalise so am confident you will be well cared for. Thankyou for the rec AJP and belfie!
Just to clarify, my latest appt is 6.15pm thurs, so I agree its a little tight for the after workies if you have to travel, but if you like I can call your boss an tell them