Pregnancy Support

The joy a women experience’s when she finds out she is pregnant is like no other.

The symptoms that can accompany pregnancy are also like no other. Acupuncture, Naturopathy and Massage maybe able to help through pregnancy.

No matter the Stage of your pregnancy, Essence of Health is a multidisciplinary clinic offering a wide range of treatment modalities that may support you…every step of the way.

Essence of health offers Acupuncture, Nutritional Medicine and the incorporation of Naturopathy to pregnant women, to give them the highest level of personalised care. We also suggest looking at Lifestyle, diet and supplementation as part of an ongoing service to ensure optimal health and nutrition in the lead up to and during your pregnancy.

Our clinical acupuncturists have a particular interest in supporting patients throughout their entire pregnancy and may be able to help pregnant women with:

• Pregnancy related musculoskeletal pains
• Nausea and vomiting
• Digestive support
• Headaches and migraines
• Stress and anxiety related symptoms
• Breastfeeding support
• Preparation of natural labour

Acupuncture and Massage may help a woman relax and encourage the natural onset of labour.

Pregnancy Massage is start at any stage of the pregnancy, as the massage is adjusted based on your needs and what stage of the pregnancy you are at. Preparation treatments are commenced from 34-35 weeks and are aimed at helping with relaxing any tension and improving joint mobility. This along with acupuncture may provide the opportunity for the baby to move into the correct position and preparing the physical body for the induction process. An important focus of Acupuncture & Massage is not only to prepare the body physically but to also support the nervous system ensures that mentally and emotionally the body has the potential of remaining relaxed and calm throughout the birthing process.

Aside from focusing on the Labour preparation, there are many other potential benefits that massage may provide at any stage of pregnancy and include:

• Reduce pain, tension and distress in the lower back, neck, legs and sciatic region.
• Reduce fluid retention ‘odema’
• Help relieve tension headaches, caused by neck and shoulder stiffness
• Improve circulation, by stimulating blood flow
• Increases energy and a reduced sense of fatigue
• Brings about a deep relaxation, and can work well in conjunction with mums wanting to use hypnobirthing
• Relief of the everyday discomforts of pregnancy such as back pain, joint pain, neck pain, headaches, pelvic pain, and leg cramps, by targeting specific trigger points and muscle tension
• Reduces excess fluid retention which generally manifests as swelling in the hands and ankles
• Reduced sciatica pain
• Improved circulation
• Improved sleep from being more relaxed, reduced muscle tension and feeling less uncomfortable.

A greater sense of relaxation which may lead to the  improvement in the progression of labour.

Sandra is a highly regarded Acupuncturist, who has been working with Flinders Birthing Centre and Women’s and Children’s Birthing Centre patients in conjunction with their midwives to help in supporting natural labour preparation and induction.

Sandra has a special interest and focus in IVF, Fertility and Pregnancy and is able to assist her patients in the final stages with natural labour induction treatment points using acupuncture.

As a mother herself, Sandra also understands the importance and need to provide ongoing treatment and support for post natal recovery and hormone balancing for women.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbs may be able to help support new mothers struggling with breastfeeding due to insufficient lactation. This can be a stressful time for some woman, and Acupuncture treatment supports the relaxation of the nervous system to assist alongside with the postnatal treatment.

There are many other potential benefits that acupuncture may provide and include:

• Reduce pain, tension and distress in the lower back, neck, legs and sciatic region.
• Reduce fluid retention ‘odema’
• Help relieve tension headaches, caused by neck and shoulder stiffness
• Improve circulation, by stimulating blood flow
• Increases energy and a reduced sense of fatigue
• Brings about a deep relaxation, and can work well in conjunction with nursing mothers.
• Improved circulation
• Improved sleep from being more relaxed, reduced muscle tension and feeling less uncomfortable.