By Whitney Patterson
How Acupuncture Can Support You Through Each Trimester of Pregnancy?
Pregnancy is a time of profound transformation, both physically and emotionally. As your body adapts to nourish new life, you might experience various discomforts and challenges unique to each trimester. Acupuncture, a holistic therapy that has been practiced for thousands of years, is a safe and compassionate way to take care of yourself and can provide much-needed support throughout your pregnancy journey. By working with an experienced acupuncturist and collaborating with your OB/GYN, midwife, or doula, acupuncture can help you manage common pregnancy symptoms and ensure a smoother, more comfortable experience.
First Trimester: Easing Nausea, Bloating, and Boosting Energy
The first trimester is often marked by a rollercoaster of hormonal changes, which can lead to a range of symptoms such as nausea, bloating, constipation and fatigue. Many women experience morning sickness, and while it can vary in intensity, it often affects daily life.
Acupuncture for Nausea: Acupuncture has been widely studied and recognized for its ability to alleviate nausea and vomiting, particularly during pregnancy. Conventional treatments may be limited due to concerns about medication safety.
Studies have shown that acupuncture can significantly reduce both the severity and frequency of nausea and vomiting, especially for individuals experiencing morning sickness or hyperemesis gravidarum (a severe form of pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting). By treating acupuncture points such as Pericardium 6 (P6), located on the inner forearm, acupuncture can help regulate the digestive system and calm the stomach. It has been shown to influence the nervous system, promoting better gastrointestinal function, and reduces queasiness. Moreover, acupuncture provides a non-invasive, drug-free approach, making it an appealing option for pregnant individuals seeking safe relief. When women are experiencing nausea, we recommend they book their treatments in our Community room. This room provides La-Z-Boy chairs, allowing a woman to sit more upright. Treatments of longer duration, and more frequent (at least twice per week) are recommended to manage nausea.
Bloating and Constipation Relief: During the first trimester of pregnancy, hormonal shifts—particularly increases in progesterone—can slow down digestion, leading to common discomforts such as bloating, gas, constipation, and a general feeling of heaviness. These changes occur because progesterone relaxes the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract, which slows the passage of food and can cause a buildup of gas.
By stimulating specific acupuncture points on the body, particularly those associated with the Stomach and Spleen meridians, acupuncture helps regulate the digestive system and improve its efficiency. For example, Stomach 36 (ST36) and Spleen 6 (SP6) can enhance circulation in the abdomen, promote the flow of qi (vital energy), and support smoother digestion.
Acupuncture also reduces stress and calms the nervous system, which further aids digestion by minimizing the impact of stress hormones on the gastrointestinal tract. As a safe, drug-free option, it provides relief from bloating, gas, and constipation, helping pregnant individuals feel more comfortable and balanced.
Energy Boost: Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms experienced during the first trimester of pregnancy. As your body undergoes significant changes to support a growing baby—such as increased blood production, hormone fluctuations, and metabolic adjustments—energy levels can take a noticeable dip. These shifts often leave expectant mothers feeling unusually drained, even after adequate rest.
According to traditional Chinese medicine, fatigue occurs when the Qi is blocked or depleted, disrupting the body’s ability to function optimally. Acupuncture works by stimulating and balancing channels, working to enhance the flow of qi and unblock stagnation to support the body’s natural ability to rejuvenate itself.
In addition to boosting energy, acupuncture promotes overall relaxation and stress reduction. It helps regulate stress hormones, such as cortisol, which can exacerbate feelings of exhaustion. By addressing the root cause of fatigue and enhancing the efficiency of the body’s energy systems, acupuncture can leave expectant mothers feeling more refreshed, focused, and ready to take on the demands of pregnancy.
At the Acupuncture Clinic of Boulder, we will also spend time with you and help you understand the nutritional requirements to support a healthy pregnancy and sustain your own health both during your pregnancy and post-partum.
Second Trimester: Addressing Digestion, Pain, Immune, and Sleep Issues
As you move into the second trimester, many women feel a surge of energy and relief from early pregnancy symptoms. However, new challenges may arise, such as heartburn, constipation, and body aches.
Heartburn & Constipation Relief: As the pregnancy progresses, the growing uterus begins to place increasing pressure on surrounding organs, including the stomach and digestive tract. This pressure can disrupt the natural flow of digestion, leading to common discomforts such as heartburn, acid reflux, and constipation.
For heartburn and acid reflux, acupuncture can help strengthen the digestive fire and regulate the stomach’s acidity, preventing the upward flow of stomach contents. Acupuncture works to relax the diaphragm and esophagus, reducing the frequency and severity of heartburn and acid reflux episodes. Additionally, acupuncture treatments can stimulate the peristalsis (muscular contractions) of the intestines, encouraging the movement of food through the digestive tract and alleviating constipation.
Hemorrhoid Relief: As blood flow increases and the uterus exerts pressure on pelvic veins, some women experience hemorrhoids, a condition often accompanied by pain, swelling, and discomfort. Acupuncture can be an effective treatment to address these symptoms by helping to reduce inflammation and improve blood circulation, which can alleviate swelling and relieve pressure on the pelvic veins. We also recommend you use compression stockings throughout your pregnancy to help prevent future varicose veins.
Additionally, acupuncture enhances overall blood flow, helping to nourish and support healthy tissue function. There are even specific acupuncture points indicated for treatment of hemorrhoids, such as Bladder 57 and Erbai. BL57, located on the back of the calf, helps to improve blood circulation, reduce inflammation, and alleviate pain in the lower body, including the pelvic region and anus. Erbai, located near the elbow, is known to promote the flow of energy in the lower abdomen and reduce swelling and discomfort associated with hemorrhoids. Together, these acupuncture points work to relieve pressure, support blood flow, and provide natural, non-invasive relief from hemorrhoid discomfort during pregnancy.
Acupuncture also reduces the pain associated with pelvic congestion syndrome and swollen labia. While it is not a cure, it can help manage your symptoms while pregnant.
Pain and Discomfort Management: As your body changes to accommodate your growing baby, the shifting of your body’s center of gravity, increased weight, and hormonal changes can place added strain on muscles, ligaments, and joints you may experience aches and pains, especially in the lower back, hips, and legs. As your pregnancy progresses, a hormone called relaxin increases. Relaxin “relaxes” pelvic floor muscles and ligaments which allows your pelvis to spread, or stretch, during childbirth. It also makes your joints “loosey goosey” and therefore can create some instability.
Acupuncture can relieve pain by stimulating endorphins, or neurochemicals that act as natural painkillers, helping to reduce the sensation of pain. It also helps improve circulation throughout the body, and the improved blood flow ensures oxygen and nutrients are delivered to tissues more efficiently, aiding in the recovery of muscles and tissues under strain. Increased circulation also helps reduce inflammation, which is often a contributing factor to pain and can encourage muscle relaxation by calming tight, overworked muscles and releasing tension in the lower back, hips, and legs.
Improved Sleep: many expectant mothers experience difficulty sleeping, which can be caused by a variety of factors, including physical discomfort, such as an expanding belly, back pain, or leg cramps, as well as stress or anxiety related to pregnancy. Poor sleep quality can leave you feeling fatigued and drained, making it harder to manage daily activities and enjoy your pregnancy.
Acupuncture has a powerful calming effect on the nervous system, which plays a key role in promoting relaxation and easing stress. By helping to balance the body’s energy and release endorphins, which are natural mood boosters, we can not only reduce physical discomfort but also help ease anxiety and mental tension, allowing you to unwind and relax more effectively. The soothing effect of acupuncture helps calm the mind, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night.
Immune Support: Pregnancy can naturally place added stress on your immune system, as your body is adjusting to the changes necessary to support both you and your growing baby. This can make you more vulnerable to colds, flu, and other illnesses, which can be more challenging to manage during pregnancy.
Acupuncture can strengthen the immune system by improving circulation and enhancing the activity of immune cells, allowing your body to better fight off infections. It also helps to reduce inflammation and stress, which can weaken immune function. Acupuncture works to harmonize the body’s systems, restoring balance and promoting resilience, which is especially important during pregnancy. By addressing underlying imbalances, it supports your body’s natural defenses, helping you stay healthier and better equipped to handle seasonal illnesses or any other health challenges that may arise during this critical time.
Third Trimester: Preparing for Labor, Breech Presentation, and Birth Encouragement
As your due date approaches, the third trimester is all about preparing for labor and delivery. Acupuncture can be an invaluable tool for supporting labor preparation and addressing specific concerns, such as breech presentation.
Labor Preparation: A study from the University of Nebraska Medical Center recommends starting your preparation for birth as early as 36 weeks. Twice-weekly treatments may reduce labor duration. Acupuncture supports labor by promoting cervical ripening, easing anxiety, and encouraging efficient contractions. It gently stimulates natural processes like oxytocin production to aid labor onset.
Breech Presentation: If your baby is in a breech position, acupuncture, combined with moxibustion (a technique using heat), has been shown to encourage the baby to turn into the optimal position for birth.
Read more about this method here
Birth Encouragement: Acupuncture in the final weeks of pregnancy can gently stimulate the body’s natural processes to encourage labor. It stimulates the body to produce oxytocin, one of the primary cascade hormones needed for labor onset. To learn more about labor prep and birth encouragement, read our blog post from Ariel here.
Fourth Trimester: Postpartum Recovery and Emotional Support
The “fourth trimester,” or the postpartum period, is often overlooked but equally as important. After childbirth, your body undergoes a significant healing process, and acupuncture can support this recovery phase, helping you regain strength, hormonal, and emotional balance.
Physical Recovery: While labor is a natural process, it can also be a long process that leaves you feeling tired. Hopefully you are getting great support and care during your recovery time. Postpartum acupuncture and moxibustion helps your body heal by improving circulation, reducing inflammation, and promoting tissue repair. It can also help with postpartum bleeding, reducing swelling, and easing pain from labor or C-section scars.
Emotional Balance: The postpartum period can be emotionally challenging due to hormonal fluctuations and the stress of adjusting to new motherhood. Acupuncture supports emotional well-being by balancing hormones, reducing stress, and alleviating symptoms of postpartum depression or anxiety.
Breastfeeding Support: Acupuncture can also support lactation by promoting milk production and addressing any issues with mastitis or blocked milk ducts, making breastfeeding a smoother experience. Acupuncture is also useful to halt milk production when you are ready to stop breastfeeding.
Read more about the Fourth Trimester on our blog post here.
Partnering with OB/GYNs, Midwives, and Doulas
Acupuncture is a complementary therapy that works beautifully alongside traditional prenatal care. Many OB/GYNs, midwives, and doulas refer their patients to acupuncturists to support them through pregnancy and beyond. By working closely with your healthcare team, we can create a comprehensive care plan tailored to your specific needs, ensuring you and your baby receive the best possible care throughout your pregnancy.
Acupuncture is a gentle, non-invasive way to nurture your body, mind, and spirit during pregnancy. From easing nausea in the first trimester to preparing for labor in the third, and promoting postpartum recovery in the fourth, acupuncture can help you navigate each stage of pregnancy with greater comfort and confidence.
If you’d like to learn more about how acupuncture can support your pregnancy, reach out to us or consult with your midwife, OB/GYN, or doula for a referral. We are here to walk this journey with you, providing holistic care every step of the way.
Did you know we also have hospital privileges at BCH? If you would like support during your active labor, please call us at 303-665-5515.
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