Should You Get Acupuncture While Pregnant?
Acupuncture in the third trimester
Between 32 and 34 weeks, your TCM practitioner will start to look at your baby's position in the uterus. If your baby is breech (head up as opposed to down), a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that acupuncture and moxibustion were very successful at encouraging babies to move until they were no longer breech.
Moxibustion is a TCM treatment that involves burning an herb (mugwort) over different acupoints on the body–in the case of breech babies, the herb is held over a point on the feet. "It's a nice option during pregnancy because it's safe and non-invasive," says Curran. "It's most effective when done between 32 and 35 weeks because there is more room for the baby to move and change position."
By the time you hit the 36 to 37 week mark, acupuncture on points on your legs and lower back can help your cervix soften and efface in preparation for labor and delivery. Then, once you reach your due date, acupuncture can be used to induce labor. "Your cervix has to be ready before the treatment can be done," says Curran. "And you have about a 10 day window before medical intervention becomes more likely."
