Pregnancy and Postpartum

About

 

Perhaps you’ve just recently read your positive home pregnancy test and are wondering about options for safe, effective, and natural health care during your gestation. Maybe you’re already enjoying cuddles and getting to know your new sweet baby while wondering how to improve your energy or ditch some pesky postpartum ailments. Wherever you are in the childbearing process, Chinese and Maya medicine can be an immense support for your body and mind, for prevention of problems, getting to the root of undesirable symptoms, and supporting your body in order to optimize your long term health.  

If you are feeling great and have no medical issues, routine care can help you keep things that way. If you are yet to give birth, birth preparation care can help get you ready. If you are experiencing any undesirable symptom or medical condition, Chinese and Maya medicine are fantastic at relieving these as well as addressing the root cause of them.

When appropriate, Dr. Eastin prefers to be in communication with your midwife or obstetrician in order to coordinate the best care possible.

Routine Pregnancy & Postpartum Care

Acupuncture, Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy®, Chinese herbal medicine, and dietary therapy are wonderful ways of maintaining wellness and preventing problems during and after pregnancy. Even if you are fortunate enough to not be experiencing any significant symptoms or illnesses during pregnancy, receiving any of these therapies will help you to optimize your health, relax your nervous system, boost your immune and digestive system, and balance your hormonal system.

Dr. Eastin can identify any subtle imbalances or weaknesses and improve these issues before they progress to the point of manifesting in actual symptoms. Routine pregnancy care at Nuwa Integrative Wellness can help you to prevent difficulties and discomforts postpartum and beyond.

Symptoms Treated

Dr. Eastin’s modalities safely treat many symptoms and illnesses during and after pregnancy without or in tandem with conventional medicine.  

The following are some common symptoms and illnesses that Dr. Eastin can effectively treat gently, safely, and naturally:

 

  • Morning sickness

  • Fatigue

  • Mood swings

  • Reduce risk of miscarriage

  • Cold, flu, and allergies

  • Headaches

  • Improve factors that contribute to complications, such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia

  • Calf cramps

  • Hand pain

  • Back, neck and other pain

  • Constipation and diarrhea

  • Heartburn

  • Depression and anxiety

  • Insomnia

  • Milk production

  • Mastitis

  • Birth recovery, both vaginal and C-section

  • Itching and skin issues

Childbirth Preparation

Chinese medicine and our other modalities are wonderful for preparing for childbirth. Research has shown that acupuncture can reduce chances of delayed onset of labor and the need for induction and can reduce average duration of labor. 

A 2004 study of 140 women giving birth for the first time, showed that the 70 women in the control group spent an average of 8 hours and 2 minutes in labor while the 70 women who received pre-birth acupuncture (the same base protocol Dr. Eastin uses) spent an average of 6 hours and 36 minutes in labor. The benefits for childbirth extend beyond duration of labor, though. In women who receive pre-birth acupuncture, midwives report fewer interventions needed, including less need for induction as labor spontaneous initiates close to the due date more often than in women who do not receive it (1).