Nausea (morning sickness)

Acupuncture and/or Chinese Herbal Medicine is often very effective in reducing both the severity and incidence of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Australian research demonstrated that traditional Acupuncture (points chosen are based on individual diagnosis) experienced faster relief when compared to ‘sham’ Acupuncture or routine prescribed points. However, a cochrane review found that it showed no significant benefit. Within our clinic we find that the outcomes tend to mirror the Australian research.

At Happy Laughter we undertake a comprehensive health assessment in order to determine the best treatment strategy for you. Fewer needles are inserted for pregnancy conditions than standard treatments and often no sensation is experienced. At Happy Laughter we are very experienced in the treatment of pregnancy conditions ensuring all of our treatments are safe for mother and baby.

Labour preparation and induction

At Happy Laughter we believe in empowering you to feel confident throughout your pregnancy and labour; birthing healthy babies by assisting your body to access its natural innate abilities.

Are you pregnant? Getting ready for the big day that you will meet your baby for the first time?

At Happy Laughter we want you to have a confident and empowered birth experience, and recommend that to assist your body to prepare, you undergo a series of weekly treatments from week 35-36 of pregnancy through to the birth of your baby to:

• support your body for a natural labour or VBAC
• Reduce the likelihood of interventions such as induction or caesarean

Whilst you may have heard that Acupuncture can be used to induce labour, you may not be aware that Acupuncture can promote a natural labour. By Natural Labour we mean a labour that doesn’t require interventions.

Induction by Acupuncture, whilst not being chemical or ‘western’, is not ‘natural’. An induction by Acupuncture is still trying to force something to occur, and whilst this can be a very useful alternative in situations where a mother is about to experience a medical induction, it is not the optimum outcome that we set out to achieve.

At Happy Laughter we will always try to assist a mother to first have a Natural Labour; meaning that you will spontaneously go into labour and to have an intervention free, positive birth experience.

Research has shown that having Acupuncture as part of your pre-labour preparation may benefit you by:

• Increasing your chances of having a natural spontaneous labour
• shortening your time in labour
• helping to prepare (efface) and ripen the cervix and begin cervical dilation. The cervix needs to efface (to become flat) and to begin to dilate – this means that when contractions begin, your cervix is much more ready and has already started dilation before this time- which generally means that you experience less pain and labour times are shortened.
• decreasing your risk of requiring medical interventions
  including; epidurals, medical inductions and caesarean (31%, 35% and 32% reduction respectively).

At Happy Laughter, by using the principles of Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, plus historic use, we also work at toward achieving the following:

• Working to ensure optimal foetal position, meaning your babies back is against your stomach (anterior position). Anterior position makes it easier for your baby to pass through the birth canal, resulting in a less painful and quicker labour.
• Acupuncture can also be used to turn babies who are not in an optimal position, this includes babies who are in the breech position.
• aiding to loosen and free your pelvic ligaments – making it easier for your baby to pass through with less struggle.
• reducing aches, pains and other irritations (eg, back pain, heartburn and reflux, carpal tunnel, oedema, fatigue and high blood pressure).
• promoting an efficient, timely labour with no increased chance of delivering early

What to expect with your treatment

It’s easy, effective and painless. Labour preparation starts at week 35-36, with one treatment per week. ‘Minor’ discomforts, which are considered normal, including reflux or heartburn, constipation, leg cramps, backache or other pains, varicose veins, haemorrhoids, difficulty sleeping and increased anxiety and tiredness, can also be treated during these sessions.

Acupressure for pain relief during labour is taught during these sessions, assisting your partner to support you throughout your labour.

Later than 37 weeks? No problem! You will still gain benefits from the treatment.