How Acupuncture Can Help You During Your Pregnancy Third Trimester

Every pregnancy is different. Some women struggle with morning sickness early on that dissipates as time goes by. Others suffer from very few symptoms initially, only to develop severe back pain halfway through their gestation. But, as the majority of mothers will tell you, once you reach the third trimester, pregnancy starts taking a toll on you — and not just physically, but mentally, as well. The weight of your growing baby places a serious strain on your body, leading to all manner of uncomfortable symptoms, and the anxiety around your impending delivery only adds to the discomfort. But acupuncture can help you during your pregnancy's third trimester period. Here’s how.

In addition to alleviating stress, acupuncture helps prepare the body for birth by releasing oxytocin, keeping the baby in the correct position, ripening the cervix, and toning the uterus to encourage efficient contractions.

Acupuncture helps control third-trimester pregnancy symptoms

Pregnancy symptoms typically vary from week to week. Some women rarely experience any unpleasant side effects. Consider them the lucky ones! Many women struggle with debilitating symptoms of nausea, back and hip pain, as well as incontinence.

For many women, the unpleasant symptoms of pregnancy only increase as they enter their third trimester. Carrying a baby takes a physical toll on your body, putting pressure on your surrounding nerves and organs, and stretching and straining your muscles.

Acupuncture is a safe, non-invasive treatment for third-trimester pregnancy symptoms. Acupuncture is highly beneficial during all stages of pregnancy. Not only does acupuncture help reduce stress hormones, but it also works to release built-up muscle tension and promote healthy muscle function, too.

Acupuncture also improves circulation, which can alleviate your nerve pain, while also reducing swelling. It’s worth noting, too, that acupuncture triggers the release of endorphins, which can raise your pain threshold and make it easier for you to cope with your late-stage pregnancy symptoms naturally. 

Acupuncture prepares your body for efficient labor

Acupuncture makes you feel better, that’s true. But it does a lot more than that. Acupuncture can be tremendously helpful in preparing your body for labor during your third trimester. As needles are inserted into the appropriate trigger points, this stimulates a surge in blood flow to your reproductive organs, ensuring they have the nutrients, oxygen, and hormones they need to function optimally.

Good blood flow helps keep your uterus toned and supports the healthy function of the muscles in your pelvic floor. Not only will this help you produce more efficient contractions during your delivery, but it can also help you regain your pelvic floor strength after delivery.

Acupuncture also helps prepare your body for delivery by ripening the cervix. In new moms, the average time from the start of labor to fully dilated is 8 to 18 hours. Because acupuncture promotes circulation, it softens the cervix as you near the end of your third trimester. This makes it easier for the cervix to dilate, potentially shortening your time spent in labor.

Finally, acupuncture stimulates oxytocin release. Oxytocin, also known as the “love hormone”, is needed to produce uterine contractions powerful enough to deliver a baby. If you’re nearing your due date and trying to induce labor, acupuncture’s ability to encourage oxytocin production can speed up your delivery. 

Acupuncture helps your baby stay in the correct position

As you progress through your pregnancy, your baby’s position will change. In some cases, babies fail to turn at the end of the third trimester, or simply get turned around, with their bottoms facing the cervix. A breech presentation can make childbirth more complicated. Amazingly, acupuncture can help keep babies in the proper position, encouraging a smooth delivery.

In a study, acupuncture, combined with moxibustion, was found to be effective for repositioning breech-positioned babies. This benefit may seem hard to believe. After all, how can a few tiny needles change the way your baby is facing? But because acupuncture supports a healthy pregnancy, it makes sense that it can help keep your baby in the proper position for birth, too.

Remember, acupuncture tones the muscles in the pelvic region, preparing them for childbirth. Keeping these muscles in good working order is crucial because they help turn your baby, preparing it for delivery. Good muscle tone also makes it much easier for your body to expel afterbirth without complication. 

Acupuncture helps your body recover postpartum

Your pregnancy journey doesn’t end the moment you give birth. Sure, you may not be pregnant anymore. But your body needs some time and extra TLC to get back to normal. Pregnancy is no easy process! So it’s important to be gentle with yourself in the weeks following your delivery.

We recommend our patients continue their acupuncture sessions after giving birth to help them recover from their pregnancy and cope with the stresses of raising a newborn. Acupuncture can help restore healthy hormone patterns, regulate neurotransmitters to keep “baby blues” at bay, and make it easier for you to sleep.

We advise many of our new moms to practice “Zuo Yue Zi”, or the one-month sitting. This ancient practice involves restricting physical activity and reducing stress as much as possible, while also focusing on rest, sleep, and high-quality nutrition. Giving your body ample time to rest will help you feel better (naturally), and focusing on eating good foods enables your body to build your blood back up.

Good postpartum care is just as critical as pregnancy support. So as you transition from your third trimester to new motherhood, remember to take time for yourself. We’ll work with you, using a variety of strategies, from herbal medicine to massage and stress management, to ensure you get back to feeling great as soon as possible so you can enjoy those special moments with your new baby. 

Get in touch with us today

At Integrative Healing Arts, we love being there to support expectant mothers as they embark on one of the most important journeys of their lives. We would be privileged to help you, too. 

Get in touch with our office today to find out more about how acupuncture can help prepare you for labor. We’ll work with you to create a protocol that allows you to enjoy the last trimester of your pregnancy so you can focus on preparing for your new baby.