Acupuncture while pregnant

[Anonymous]

Has anyone had acupuncture throughout their pregnancy?
Is it safe?

[Anonymous]

I got pregnant with the help of acupuncture and continued to have it every two weeks for the first 12 weeks and then one appt at 16 weeks and a final appt at 20 weeks. As long as the acupuncturist is experienced and know what he/she is doing, it's not only safe but good for you and the baby.

[Anonymous]

I did it as well throughout my pregnancy and it helped tremendously

[Anonymous]

I did acupuncture prior to my first pregnancy to help with fertility. I am now in my second pregnancy and have done it once a week throughout. It helps with many things and it is safeif you go to a reputable licensed practitioner.

[Anonymous]

I'm currently at 16 weeks in my first pregnancy and have been going monthly since 8 weeks. Plan to go more regularly once I am closer to due date. The important thing is that your acupuncturist know what she/he is doing and be well trained. I see Monika Rukus in Chevy Chase and she's amazing. She's also a RN and LCSW so can help balance you in a wide variety of ways. Everyone I've sent to her has loved her.

Also, anecdotally, a friend of mine saw an acupuncturist for her final couple weeks before delivery when having her second child. First child was an emergency C-Section and she was really committed to a VBAC for her second. She credits acupuncture for making it possible to deliver a 10 lb baby w/out any medication.

[Anonymous]

I'm so encouraged by this post.

What kind of issues can acupuncture help with? I'm 26 weeks and having severe SI-joint pain (where the spine and pelvis meet) and carpul tunnel (ended up with cortisone shots late in my last pg due to this). Does acupuncture help with these types of issues?

Also, I had a big baby last pg and was almost induced due to her size. I'd like to avoid induction with baby #2 if acupuncture can help induce labor when appropriate.

Does insurance cover this? Lastly, any recommendations in the Virginia Hospital Center area or Alexandria for a good acupuncturist?

[Anonymous]

I am a licensed acupuncturist. I do not wish to self-promote here, so I will keep this post anonymous. I do want to encourage the understanding that acupuncture is both safe and beneficial during pregnancy. I have worked with many women who have seen improvements in a variety of symptoms while pregnant. When you call to schedule an appointment, simply make sure to ask whether the practitioner is comfortable with / has experience treating pregnant women.

Among other things, acupuncture can help with joint aches and pains, swelling and carpal tunnel syndrome, and feelings of anxiety and stress, and it promotes healthy pregnancy overall.

There are acupuncture techniques that can be used to help turn malpositioned babies and to encourage the start of labor. One idea that I would like to publicize is that sometimes one treatment is enough in these circumstances, but often it takes two or three sessions to get things moving. For that reason, if you want to avoid medical induction, it's best to plan ahead and book a couple of appointments around the time of your due date rather than trying to get in for one session the day before your doctor sets as the deadline for medical induction.

When acupuncture is used to encourage labor, it is not like receiving pitocin; it does not immediately initiate intense contractions. Rather, it works with the body's natural processes to tone up the uterus and begin the "down and out" movement of childbirth.

As for recommendations, I suggest looking at the "find a practitioner" page on the Acupuncture Society of Virginia website: www.acusova.com. All members must be certified and licensed in the state of Virginia, so you'll know your seeing someone who has met all of the legal requirements.

[Anonymous]

1909 poster here - thank you pp for posting that information. I asked my OB about it and while he didn't discourage me, he didn't act like it would be of much help. Last pg, I had severe carpal tunnel (and I'm on my way with this pg) and ended up with cortisone shots that made my hands swell like melons. I'm not looking to repeat this, so I would really like to try acupuncture if it might help.

Do insurance typically cover this type of services?

[Anonymous]

10:41 acupuncturist here - glad to be of service, PP. I have worked with several pregnant moms who found that the numbness, pain, and tingling from pregnancy-related carpal tunnel significantly decreased or went away with acupuncture treatment. It usually takes a few sessions to really deal with it, but I would say that it's definitely worth a try for you.

Insurance coverage of acupuncture varies a lot from plan to plan. Check in the literature about your policy or call customer service to find out about yours. Generally, acupuncturists don't have a staff to handle direct insurance billing, so you should expect to pay the acupuncturist out of pocket. S/he can then give you a medical receipt with the appropriate procedure codes to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.

Two additional notes: 1) The insurance companies often like to see a "diagnostic code" issued by your physician, indicating what condition you are addressing with acupuncture. It is helpful to get that in writing from your doctor 2) Some federal policies will only cover acupuncture performed by an MD. I hesitate to recommend seeing an MD because they are allowed to practice acupuncture after only 200 hours of training, whereas licensed acupuncturists must earn a master's degree with 1700+ hours of training, pass a national certification exam, gain specific licensure through the state, and receive continuing education. A few MD's have had more extensive acupuncture training, but licensed acupuncturists are generally more thoroughly schooled. If your insurance is private or a Va. state or local employee policy, they are required by law to cover MD's and licensed acupuncturists equally.

Hope this helps.