As wonderful of a city as San Francisco is, it tends to get a bad rap when it comes to children. For the most part, people see San Francisco as a city better geared towards single millennials and young professionals rather than families or parents-to-be. However, despite the perception, women in San Francisco give birth to an average of 8,000 babies a year. As a result, at any given time there are thousands of expect mothers here in the city looking for ways to manage the discomfort that comes with pregnancy. Luckily for them, we have the perfect solution in the form of prenatal acupuncture treatments.

Over the years prenatal acupuncture has done wonders to help pregnant women stay relaxed and comfortable during pregnancy, especially in the later stages. Prenatal acupuncture treatments have been shown to provide relief from the following pregnancy related ailments:

• Lower Back Pain – Women in their late second and third trimesters often suffer from an achy lower back. Acupuncture can help release tension and relax the muscles in the back, which in turn puts less strain on the spine. A decrease in lower back pain can help increase comfort levels and keep women more active during the tail end of the pregnancy.• Morning Sickness – Battling the nausea and fatigue associated with morning sickness can be tough, but acupuncture has been shown to significantly decrease those symptoms. Acupuncture, helping to decrease levels of stress as well, can also help prevent symptoms of morning sickness from returning as well.• Headaches – Tension and fatigue related to expecting a child can bring on some serious headaches. Acupuncture helps to release that overall tension and decrease stress, leading to an overall decrease in headaches.• Issues with Sleep – a combination of the ailments listed above can contribute to problems falling asleep or getting the deep, restful sleep you need. A secondary aspect of decreasing the symptoms of these issues can make getting a good night sleep a lot easier.

Is Prenatal Acupuncture Safe?

When done correctly, there is little to no risk associated with receiving regular acupuncture treatments during any stage of the pregnancy. A trained, licensed acupuncturist will know what areas to focus on as well as areas to avoid (for example, certain points on the hand, shoulders and lower parts of the legs). It’s always best to inform your acupuncturist of your pregnancy so they can tailor your treatment to meet your needs.

Here at Conscious Chiropractic, we have years of experience providing acupuncture treatments during every stage of pregnancy. Our patients can trust that we will attend to every one of your needs and ensure a more comfortable and stress-free pregnancy. Feel free to give us a call at (415) 677-9900 or visit our acupuncture page for more info.

[Image Credit: subbotina / 123RF Stock Photo]