Acupuncture has a profound effect on both mum and baby. I am so passionate about the importance of expectant mothers receiving acupuncture and reflexology during pregnancy. We have been treating pregnant women here at the Centre for over 10 years now, in that time it always amazes us how, generally speaking, our mums have a healthy, happy pregnancy, tending to go very close to their due dates. Acupuncture can be given at all stages of pregnancy. Reflexology is usually given after 12 weeks, although our Reflexologist specialises in Pregnancy and happily treats in the first trimester.
In Chinese Medicine there is a acu-point called “Beautiful Baby” Point, Kidney 9  (Zhubin) It is located on the Kidney channel, we use this point around 9 and again at around 15 weeks of pregnancy. In Chinese medicine the point is thought to calm the mind, tonify Blood and qi. We have found that this point really seems to bring a really happy baby into the world!
How can Acupuncture & Reflexology help during pregnancy?

1. Morning Sickness (or all day sickness if you’re unlucky) - Acupuncture helps relieve morning sickness, best started at 6 weeks for full benefit. Whilst in western medicine morning sickness is seen as a good sign, in Chinese Medicine (TCM) it suggests that the mother to be’s Spleen and Stomach Qi need to be balanced. Also if the pregnancy has come after a miscarriage, the fear of losing again brings their Qi further out of balance. Our job is to keep mum as calm as possible and re-balance her energy. The relief is usually immediate and very welcome!
2. Insomnia – Both Reflexology and Acupuncture used during pregnancy have a huge effect on promoting a peaceful night’s sleep. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) the Liver energy tends to alter sleep patterns especially around 15-16 weeks of pregnancy. Some women report being completely wide awake at 2-3am (Liver Time) in the morning. We help by again re balancing the subtle changes that take place. I have also found that women on progesterone support, such as cyclogest pessaries tend to be more susceptible to disturbed sleep throughout the pregnancy.
3. Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD) -  During pregnancy your body produces a hormone called relaxin, which softens your ligaments to help your baby pass through your pelvis. SPD is a common painful condition during pregnancy resulting from the pelvic joint becoming more unstable. Acupuncture works quickly to relieve pain considerably.
4. High/Low Blood Pressure - We get many referrals for help in treating blood pressure during pregnancy. Whilst HBP is closely monitored especially if there is a history of pre-eclampsia, acupuncture is perfect to treat HBP, We have found that patients that combined acupuncture and reflexology throughout their pregnancies had normal blood pressure compared to previous pregnancies where their blood pressure was very unstable.
5. Constipation - Increased Progesterone hormone especially in early pregnancy can really slow bowel activity right down. Acupuncture and Reflexology are simply amazing to get the bowel working efficiently again.
6. Migraine, Headaches and Sinusitis - With all the changes taking place in the expectant mother’s body, those with a history of migraines can find pregnancy triggers them again. Acupuncture works at re-balancing the gallbladder and liver channels helping to relieve symptoms quickly. Acupuncture for pregnancy sinusitis is a successful treatment in helping to prevent the infection and inflammation of the sinus cavities, and relieving many of the symptoms.
7. Stress and Anxiety - Pregnancy can be a very vulnerable time for any woman. Especially if the pregnancy is long awaited, or has come after a previous miscarriage. Stress unfortunately has a knock on effect to sleep, and energy levels. Every single expectant mother we have ever treated here have reported a huge sense of calm after each session, be it Acupuncture or Reflexology.
8. Oedema -Swollen Ankles, Feet & Hands - Normally around 20 plus weeks expectant mums can start to experience swollen feet, ankles and even their wrists and hands. Working women with jobs that require them to stand for long periods of time are especially susceptible to this. In TCM we work on the Spleen meridian an acupuncture point Sp9 (Yinlingquan) is a bit of a miracle worker. Reflexology given monthly from 20 weeks is also a perfect treatment to really help keep the swelling down.
9. Haemorrhoids (piles) - Any pregnant women who has suffered from haemorrhoids pre and post birth will understand how painful these little blighters can be. We have had pregnant women ringing us in tears of joy after one session of acupuncture to help haemorrhoids. The relief they received was incredible. In TCM we use a selection of acupuncture points that really help. BL57 (Chenghan) is one of my personal favourites!
10. Back Pain - The added weight of carrying what can feel like a huge sack of potatoes around every day can have a huge impact on the expectant mothers spine, especially the lumbar spine (lower back). Sciatic pain, that usually starts with a sharp nerve pain travelling down the leg can be treated quickly with a few choice needles. We use a combination of acupuncture and massage for full benefit. I love using essential oils as well.

We can also help turn a Breech baby using Moxa, this is used on a acupuncture point known as Bl67 (Zhiyin). This is a completely pain free and highly effective method used for many years.
As I am writing this Blog I realise there are so many more benefits both acupuncture and reflexology can offer to mum and baby. At 36 weeks of pregnancy we usually treat our pregnant ladies more frequently getting their bodies ready for the big event!
If you are expecting a baby and have never tried acupuncture or reflexology before, please do. Always make sure the practitioner has experience with treating pregnancy. Enjoy the wonderful benefits that both you and your growing baby will receive.

Katie Murphy Lic AC MTCMCI
 

Here at Clonmel Acupuncture & Therapy Centre we work with ingredients that work with your own cycle. In Chinese Medicine we like to use warm foods at this time of your cycle. This is the luteal phase of your cycle (after ovulation) and beta-carotene-rich foods are the important ingredient to include in your diet during this time. The corpus luteum (the ruptured ovarian follicle that produces progesterone to thicken the womb lining, close the cervix and maintain a pregnancy) contains a high level of beta-carotene. This nutrient is a powerful anti-oxidant that helps protect your cells from damage.
Here is one example of an ideal lunch or after work supper you can make really quickly. Ideal for those during the two week wait of an IVF/IUI cycle.
Our Luteal Phase Fertility Soup is naturally quite sweet, due to the high content of orange vegetables, so fell free to add some celery or any other vegetable that you like. We try to use all organic ingredients, locally sourced if possible
RECIPE:-

• 1 Butternut Squash, peeled and chopped into 1cm cubes
• 2 Carrots, peeled and finely sliced
• 1 Sweet Potato, peeled and chopped into 1 cm cubes
• ½ - 1 red onion sliced
• 2 garlic cloves (leave out if you’re not a fan)
• 1-2cm of fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon of turmeric
• 2 tablespoons of Olive Oil or Rapeseed Oil
• 1 tablespoon of fresh herbs, (thyme, parsley, sage etc) or dried
• 1-2 pints of vegetable stock (fresh or use organic MSG free cubes)
• Handful of pumpkin seeds toasted
• Optional extra 100 ml coconut milk

Steps
Place all the sliced veg, ginger, onion, garlic onto a shallow roasting tray, drizzle Olive Oil, herbs, season with salt and pepper sprinkle with turmeric, Bake in oven 180 centigrade/Gas mark 4 – 40mins or until tender and cooked through.
Place cooked veg into sauce pan add stock, heat through, blend to a smooth soup, adding more stock if needed. Here you can add coconut milk for a richer taste. Season to taste and add more fresh herbs, we used fresh oregano; add toasted pumpkin seeds just before serving.
This soup can be frozen, also is great for men, beta-carotene rich vegetable’s help protect sperm from free radical attack, rich in Vitamin A important for sperm maturation. So you can both enjoy this recipe!

We tend to focus on the female when trying for a baby, this is possibly due to the fact that we have the menstrual cycle, as women we get used to our bodies monthly rhythms. So it’s us that tend to get checked out first.
However recent studies show that Male fertility is the cause of 35-40% of infertility in couples. Many of our patients find a stumbling block when we mention that we would like the man to get his semen analysis done. This is often the case when perhaps the woman wants to actively try for a baby, and the man is more laid back, and wanted to leave it a bit longer. It isn’t the most pleasurable thing to do, in a sterile room, in a fertility clinic. But communication is key here, make sure you as a couple want to take the next step, and if you have been actively trying for a baby for over a year if under 35, and 6 months if 36 plus, then it is vital to get a semen analysis done, along with blood tests for the woman, testing FSH & LH and progesterone.
Here at Clonmel Acupuncture & Therapy Centre we have come up some of our top Super Duper Sperm creators!

• You know what our first tip is going to be… An absolute must is GIVE UP SMOKING. Not only do cigarettes contain more than 70 carcinogenic compounds and release over 4000 chemicals when burnt, smokers both male and female take longer to conceive than non-smokers (Shiverick 2011). Smoking has a negative impact on sperm production, motility, and morphology.
• Reduce Alcohol. Consuming alcohol, especially over 6 units a week can lead to a reduced sperm count. It can also have a negative effect on sperm quality and embryo quality.
• Eat a diet rich in Organic fresh food, with at least 4-5 portions of different coloured vegetables a day. Too few vitamins and the toxins in the many processed foods wreak havoc on man’s fragile sperm cells. So keep processed foods to an absolute minimum, this includes sausages, ham and bacon! Plenty of protein, such as eggs and Oily fish. Walnuts are especially good for healthy sperm, try adding them to your snack cupboard!
• Minimise your scrotum’s exposure to excess heat! Avoid wearing tight Jeans and placing hot laptop computers on your lap. Always make sure your scrotum is well aired and cooled by choosing boxers over briefs and avoiding heated car seats, sauna and tanning bed sessions.
• Invest in a really good quality multi vitamin, even if you do have a healthy diet. Healthy Sperm production needs plenty of nutrients on a constant basis. We have found that these 3 seem to be producing great results after 12 weeks; Fertilsan M supplement, Bio-Care MaleForte® Multi, and Pre Conceive.
• SEX and lots of it! Saving sperm is a complete myth, the more fresh sperm there is the better the quality.
• STOP HAVING PASSIONLESS SEX – This is one of my personal top tips; sex often becomes a chore, mechanical and quick when it comes to mid-cycle. We need to get DESIRE back into your sex life. Testosterone is the hormone of desire, arousal is so important as it affects the amount of sperm you produce. So now maybe you can see why timed, almost forced intercourse rarely results in a positive pregnancy test.
• Exercise – Balance your exercise, if you are overweight you need to get out in the fresh air and move 3-4 times a week. In a study conducted by Vaamonde et al. in 2009 it was noted that men who are physically active, exercising at least 3 times a week for 1 hour, typically scored higher in almost all sperm parameters in comparison with men who engaged in competitive sport or were athletes.
• Sleep – It’s exactly the same with men as it is with women, sleep allows our bodies to recharge, and re-balance, and this includes our hormones. When sleep is broken, this has a knock on effect to male fertility over time.
• Acupuncture – In the last 10 years treating couples for fertility, especially those leading up to getting IVF. Every single semen analysis has come back improved in almost all parameters after 3 months of Acupuncture treatments. Also acupuncture helps hugely with stress, another cause of male fertility issues. So many men come into our clinics dragging their heels, and yet they keep coming back long after they have successfully had a family!

 
Sperm cells take 11 weeks to mature in the testicles before they are ready for ejaculation. If you adjust your diet today, along with any of the other tips that apply to you, it will thus take three months for the better sperm to be ready for fertilisation. You must therefore keep eating the healthy diet and/ or taking supplements on an on-going basis – ideally until your partner is pregnant. 

Katie Murphy Lic Ac MTCMCI