Transcription:
Acupucture/Chinese Medicine During Pregnancy

Melanie Cole (Host):  The question of “is Chinese medicine safe in pregnancy” is one of the most commonly asked questions of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners by pregnant women. My guest today is Stephanie Beniek. She’s a licensed acupuncturist with the Penny George Institute for Health and Healing. Welcome to the show, Stephanie. First, let’s talk about what types of traditional Chinese medicine practices can be used during pregnancy.

Stephanie Beniek (Guest): Thanks, Melanie, for having me on the show. I just love talking about pregnancy and acupuncture. The types of practices that can be used during pregnancy are all of the same things that we can use when you’re not pregnant. We can use things like acupuncture, traditional Chinese herbs, moxibustion which is a heat therapy, cupping, tui na, which is Chinese medical massage and diet therapy. We just use these things in a different way which is why it is important to choose a licensed acupuncturist who specializes in pregnancy to go to. Similar to when you get pregnant, you choose a new doctor or a midwife to see you through your pregnancy and delivery, you want to choose a licensed acupuncturist who has master or doctoral level training and has experience and additional training in the treatment of pregnant women.

Melanie:  Chinese medicine has been around for thousands of years. Do you find that people are a little bit wary of what you do and especially with pregnant women?  Clear that up for us.

Ms. Beniek:  Chinese medicine has a long obstetric history in using acupuncture, not only in pregnancy, but in fertility care and post-partum care as well. Acupuncture is a safe and drug-free natural way to get well and stay healthy through your pregnancy. There are certain herb that we do not use in pregnancy and there are certain points and ways in which we use our treatment methods during pregnancy and there are certain things we wouldn’t use in pregnancy because it wouldn’t be safe for the baby. We just need to make sure that we’re using all of our modalities in a safe and effective way during pregnancy.

Melanie:  Tell us about acupuncture and some of the benefits of it for pregnancy.

Ms. Beniek:  During pregnancy, some of the benefits of acupuncture are that it really helps to provide both physical and emotional support during your pregnancy. We can work on things like anxiety and depression; any pain like sciatica or back pain that you’re having; headaches, nausea and vomiting like with morning sickness and then we can work on it for labor preparation treatment, like the months leading up to your estimated due date.

Melanie:  Tell us a little bit about acupuncture because right away, people think needles and they’re not sure if it hurts and especially a pregnant woman is concerned for the safety of her baby.

Ms. Beniek:  Absolutely. Generally, during pregnancy we do not do any points on the abdomen. I just like to put that out there right away because moms are like, “Where are you going to put the points?”  We might do some on the upper abdomen really early in the pregnancy but we don’t do anything that is directly into the abdomen during pregnancy. Acupuncture is the insertion of these really tiny disposable, sterile needles that are placed very gently into specific points on the body. During the insertion, some people feel nothing at all while others may experience a little quick twinge like a mosquito bite and it might be followed with some light tingling or some heavy sensation or warmth feelings but all these responses are completely normal as some points of the body can be more sensitive than others. Points are generally retained or remain in place for about 20 minutes and patients generally feel relaxed and often most of my patients take a little nap during their treatment and they often wake up feeling revitalized and rested after their session.

Melanie:  How often do you recommend that they come in?

Ms. Beniek:  During pregnancy, I generally recommend for all pregnant women monthly prenatal acupuncture treatment. However, if there is something – a health concern or issue going on--we generally recommend coming in on a more weekly basis until those symptoms are a little bit more manageable and under control. That can be anywhere from two weeks to four to six weeks of weekly treatments. In the last month of pregnancy, it’s very helpful to come in, again, weekly starting around 36 to 37 weeks gestation with one baby or like 34 to 35 with twins. I like for them to come in weekly, again, for acupuncture because it helps to prepare your body for labor and delivery and to have a more efficient and effective labor and delivery.

Melanie:  What can they expect after the treatments?  Are there residual feelings?  Do they feel a sense of euphoria and well-being?  Tell us about what’s after the treatment.

Ms. Beniek:  Immediately following the treatments, oftentimes people feel very relaxed. A lot of people like coming in the evenings because they go home and take a nap or in the afternoon when they can go home and take a nap. Sometimes people, like I said, feel kind of revitalized and kind of get this burst of energy again to finish throughout their day. It kind of depends on the symptoms that you’re having and the reason that you’re coming in. For example, with morning sickness or with nausea and vomiting, oftentimes people will find that they get relief after their acupuncture treatment for anywhere from two to four days and their symptoms, because their pregnant, then that doesn’t go away and their symptoms come back a little bit which is why they need to come in again for a weekly treatment. For things like pain or headaches, most people can feel immediate symptom relief from the acupuncture.

Melanie:  At the beginning, you mentioned that there are some precautions and with herbal medicine as well that you want pregnant women to know about. Speak about some of those.

Ms. Beniek:  For acupuncture, there are just certain points that we don’t use throughout your pregnancy because of they can potentially stimulate uterine contractions. However, they have tried to do studies on this to stimulate uterine contractions with these points early in pregnancy and it is unsuccessful. However, we still don’t use these points early in pregnancy. As far as herbs are concerned, there’s just a small amount of Chinese herbs that are safe to use during pregnancy. It’s similar with medications. There’s just a large number of medications that you just don’t use during pregnancy because of the risk to the fetus. It’s the same with Chinese herbal medicine. There’s a large number that we don’t use during pregnancy because of the risk to the fetus.

Melanie:  What do you tell women that say they were at their local health food store and there were things that said can help morning sickness and pregnancy?  What do you tell them about being cautious about some of these things they can buy over the counter?

Ms. Beniek:  I generally tell them to not buy those things over the counter and to talk with, if they have an acupuncturist, to talk with their acupuncturist about it.  A lot of midwives do know a lot about different herbs. Some OB’s do as well. I always encourage them to check in with their healthcare providers first before taking anything over the counter. With that said, there are some things like some teas over the counter--like pregnancy teas--that are totally safe and fine. They’re very small amounts. Things like ginger tea or peppermint tea – those are fine. Anything that’s like a pill in a health food store, that I would say check in with your healthcare provider before you take it.

Melanie:  In just the last few minutes, Stephanie, give your best advice for pregnant women that are considering traditional Chinese medicine during pregnancy and why they should come to the Penny George Institute for health and healing because it is a question so many of them have and it can be so beneficial. Give your best advice.

Ms. Beniek:  My number one thing is just to find a licensed acupuncturist who specializes in pregnancy. We do have some wonderful people at the Penny George Institute that have lots of experience with pregnancy. Just make sure you’re going to that licensed acupuncturist. Don’t just find kind of anybody out there because in pregnancy it is this unique time in a women’s life and you want to make sure that you’re creating the best healthcare team that you possibly can find. I really encourage every pregnant woman to seek out regular acupuncture throughout their pregnancy because it really does help to set a foundation for a positive, healthy labor and delivery and post-partum recovery.

Melanie:  What great information and so important for pregnant women to hear. Thank you so much, Stephanie, for being with us today. You’re listening to The WELLcast with Allina Health. For more information on the Penny George Institute for health and healing you can go to allinahealth.org. That’s allinahealth.org. This is Melanie Cole. Thanks so much for listening.