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Dr. Maryam Mahanian, DTCM, RAc
Pregnancy and Postpartum Support
Are you expecting?
Would you like to have a comfortable uncomplicated pregnancy?
Would you like an easy & efficient birth?
Do you need postpartum support?
If yes to any of these, you've come to the right place.
Dr. Maryam's Pregnancy & Postpartum Support
There’s nothing more important to you than your developing baby. Whether you just found out you’re pregnant and experiencing morning sickness or you’re almost due and preparing for childbirth, it is always a great time to take part in my pregnancy program!
I’ve developed a process to support expectant mothers throughout their entire pregnancies and into their postpartum. It’s all about effectively treating pregnancy and postpartum naturally. Read below to learn more about what it entails and how it works.
How does Acupuncture Help in Pregnancy?
Acupuncture calms the sympathetic nervous system making the mom more relaxed, sleep better, and have more energy which benefits the baby as well.
Acupuncture increases blood flow to the uterus which nourishes the baby.
Acupuncture boosts the immune system.
Acupuncture increases your chances of delivering on time without medications or emergency medical intervention.
Acupuncture can re-position babies in the breech or posterior positions.
First Trimester (Conception to Week 12)
Treatments consist of weekly acupuncture treatments. Chinese herbal medicine may be given also. The following pregnancy-related conditions will be addressed:
prevention of miscarriage
Morning sickness
anxiety, depression, and stress
fatigue
Second Trimester (Week 13 to Week 27)
Treatments consist of acupuncture every two to four weeks. The following pregnancy-related conditions will be addressed:
Musculoskeletal pain (hip pain, Lower back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome etc)
Digestive issues
Hypertension
Prevention of Gestational Diabetes
General wellness
Third Trimester (Week 28 to Week 37)
Treatments consist of acupuncture every two weeks. The following pregnancy-related conditions will be addressed:
Musculoskeletal conditions
Edema
Insomnia
Stress and anxiety
Continued management of hypertension to prevent pre-eclampsia
General wellness
Pre-Birth Treatments (Week 37 until birth)
These sessions are very popular! Treatments consist of weekly acupuncture sessions until birth. The treatments will aim for:
Cervical ripening and dilation
Balancing stress levels
Promoting the transition between pregnancy and labour
Lessening the likelihood of emergency medical intervention during childbirth
Postpartum Support
The benefits continue on after the baby arrives with post-partum recovery by re-building the body’s energy and blood. Acupuncture and/or Chinese herbal medicine helps facilitate milk production, relieve postpartum fatigue & depression, and balances the huge hormone transition. The mom can feel like herself again!
Frequency of visits will vary depending on the particular situation of the mother but typically are weekly treatments that begin two weeks post-birth for approximately three to four weeks. Treatment will include Chinese herbal medicine and/or acupuncture visits to address the following:
Postpartum depression
The baby blues
Insufficient lactation and other breastfeeding issues
Overall recovery and wellness
Perineal healing
Acupuncture for Optimal Fetal Positioning
Acupuncture and moxibustion (the warming of a specific acupuncture point with an herbal stick) can be helpful to support optimal positioning for your baby. This helps babies who are breech or transverse, posterior at 37 weeks, or a baby at 40 weeks who has not yet descended.
The treatments work by opening the pelvis, increasing the free flow of energy, lowering stress levels and increasing the fetal movement so that the condition will be optimal for the baby to move into the correct position.
The treatments are extremely safe, gentle and non-invasive.
For more detailed information on how this works, see my past blog post Acupuncture & Moxa To Turn Your Breech Baby
Pregnancy-Related Conditions Treated Successfully with Acupuncture/Chinese Medicine
Threatened miscarriage
Morning sickness
Constipation
Headaches and migraines
Back pain, pelvic and hip pain
Fatigue and exhaustion
Anxiety
Restless legs
Postpartum depression
Overall post-birth recovery
Lactation and breastfeeding issues
Pregnancy Articles by Dr. Maryam
If you’d like to learn more, Dr. Maryam’s Resource Library contains a great collection of articles about pregnancy. Sign up for free to become a VIP Insider Member, and have access to the entire library, absolutely free. Here are a sampling of some of the related articles in the Resource Library:
What You Can Do Right Away
