Fertility & Pregnancy Acupuncture Anglesea
How can acupuncture and TCM support you?
Fertility is a journey, and for every parent to be it’s different. Some fall pregnant straight away, others take months to a year, and for some it can be a long term process that needs medical support. Regardless of what your journey has been Chinese medicine has been supporting couples with fertility for thousands of years, from pre-conception through to post-partum and early childhood. In the modern day it often is used to support couples going through IVF, as well as natural conception. Treatments such as acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, herbal medicine and dietary therapy are critical in restoring a body to a healthy and fertile state.
What is Infertility?
Infertility is a very common condition we see in the clinic, and is most often defined as “a disease of the male or female reproductive system defined by the failure to achieve a pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse.”
Primary Infertility is when pregnancy has never been achieved, and secondary infertility when at least one pregnancy has been achieved.
There are a number of ways in which TCM can support a couple going through their fertility journey, whether they choose IVF support or to achieve the pregnancy through natural conception.
Acupuncture, TCM and Fertility
In Chinese medicine the man and woman ideally should aim to be in optimal health to fall pregnant and carry to term. In an initial assessment we observe how the entire body is functioning. The Earth (digestion) and Water (kidneys-reproductive system) are of particular importance during pregnancy as they provide the lifeforce and energy for a foetus to grow.
It’s important to rule out any conditions or underlying imbalances that can prevent or impact on your fertility chances. This includes conditions such as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Endometriosis, Fibroids, blocked fallopian tubes, thyroid or pituitary conditions, and any other chronic health conditions. For men conditions that obstruct the reproductive tract can impact, as well as abnormal sperm count and health (morphology and motility). Lifestyle conditions such as smoking, excess alcohol intake, obesity can also impact on fertility.
For couples who have fallen pregnant before we’ll assess your health since the last pregnancy, the health of the menstrual cycle, sperm health, and general wellbeing.
For all couples stress management is an important part of the process. When the body is stressed and in a flight or flight phase it prioritises hormone and neural activity that helps the body fight off threat (such as cortisol & adrenaline) and impacts on sex hormones (such as testosterone, progesterone, oestrogen, FSH) that are critical for pregnancy. Keeping the nervous system balanced and regulated so that your gut and reproductive system are functioning well is a priority, regardless of where you are at in your pregnancy journey.
The Phases of Fertility and Pregnancy
Pre-Conception
In any fertility journey we most often recommend at least a three month pre-conception phase to prepare the body for conception. While it may seem counter-intuitive to wait, this three month window is a dedicated time to achieve optimal health. It takes 90 days for an ovum (egg) to mature to be ready for ovulation, so the healthier your body in this period, the healthier the maturation of the ovum. Likewise it’s an appropriate time to ensure healthy development and maturation of sperm.
During this 90 day period your practitioner guides you to lifestyle and dietary changes that will support you for conception. Eating a balanced diet of wholefoods, increased protein and seasonal vegetables, regular exercise and avoiding alcohol, recreational drugs, and even caffeine in some cases is advised.
Acupuncture, moxibustion and herbal treatments are tailored towards preparing the body for conception, regulating the effects of stress on the body, and increasing circulation to the cervix. This is the time to balance the menstrual cycle and ensure that healthy ovulation is occurring. If you’re unsure whether you are ovulating or not, it’s something we address in your consultation.
Pregnancy
Once conception occurs the focus of treatment changes to support the healthy development of the foetus and supporting the mother’s body through the different trimesters to carry to term.
The first trimester is when the yin and yang of the new foetus is developing rapidly and our focus is on regulating the nervous system, assisting the flow of qi and blood to the uterus, and also addressing any imbalances that arise and lead to common symptoms such as morning sickness, nausea, headaches, low energy, changes to appetite and bowels. There are many herbal formulas traditionally used to support mothers through every trimester, and to alleviate the symptoms associated with each.
The second trimester is commonly the more enjoyable trimester for some mothers. Qi and blood, and hormones are at their peak. Energy levels should lift after a dip in the first trimester and the focus of support is on assisting the gut provide nutrients for the rapidly growing foetus.
Third trimester is when the treatment adapts to prepare the body for labour, and to relieve physical discomfort associated with the growing baby (hip, back, neck and shoulder pain) as well as helping improve sleep and energy levels. Often we have discussions in this trimester about preparing for labour, embodiment practices to help pre and during the birth process, as well as the need to rest, and nest in preparation for the upcoming birth. A month out from labour we see mothers once or even twice a week to prepare them for labour.
Post Partum
From six weeks we begin supporting new mothers with acupuncture to help regulate their system with its recovery after the birth. Often herbs can be prescribed earlier to help restore blood and energy that is lost during labour, as well as helping to shed any material in the uterus that can be left over from birth. From here the focus is to support milk production, energy levels, as well as regulating the mother’s (and father’s) nervous system as the newborn will be co-regulating with them. It’s also important to return blood flow to the womb so that the endometrium lining can reform in a healthy way.
Are you looking for Fertility and Pregnancy support?
Peter has over a decade of experience supporting clients on their fertility journey, from pre-conception through pregnancy to post-partum. Whether you’re just starting out in your journey or already expecting Peter is here to support you with a treatment that is right for you.
If you have any questions or want to know more about how acupuncture and chinese medicine can assist you with fertility and pregnancy, contact us today. We can arrange an initial consultation and treatment plan that is tailored to your journey.
