Being pregnant is a beautiful, wonderful thing. It can also be a pain in the--well, it can be a pain in a lot of places. Those of us who've tackled the trail more than once can attest to back problems, leg problems, headaches and swelling places we didn't even know existed until we became "with child." Modern science is able to assist us in treating these symptoms or at the very least lessening them.
Many of us eschew chemicals and medication while pregnant though, so what to do when things become less than comfortable? How about acupuncture? Sure the thought of needles and that sort of thing doesn't seem like a good combo with being pregnant at first, but many women are turning to this Eastern tradition for relief when nothing else will do.
Women suffering from pelvic pain during pregnancy have gotten some relief using acupuncture--both the traditional kind and the non-sham form. One third of women experience pelvic pain while they're pregnant, and, according to the article I read, pelvic pain is one of the main reasons women become disabled while pregnant. In a recent study, 115 pregnant women were treated with either actual needles or sham needles (where the needle doesn't actually penetrate the skin but gives off the illusion that it does) for a period of eight weeks. Both sets of women experienced relief from their pain due to what researchers believe was sensory stimulation. Several of the women were able to continue working longer as a result of the treatment.
My husband has a former colleague who used acupuncture both while she was pregnant and afterwards. According to the colleague, the acupuncture helped with comfort during the pregnancy and helped her lose the baby weight after the pregnancy. In fact, my husband noted she was thinner after her pregnancy than before--which is a rarity (that I've seen). Acupuncture, of course, is not for everyone. Some of us simply can't stand the thought or sight of needles--real or fake.
Did you try acupuncture while you were pregnant? What for? Did it work???