Are you a birth worker or healthcare provider working with antenatal and postnatal patients? Have you wondered if acupuncture can be a beneficial modality to safely recommend to your patients? With acupuncture, we have historical evidence in addition to well conducted studies and formal analysis to show its safe and effective use during pregnancy. Two systematic reviews show adverse reactions were described as minor, and were comparable to non-acupuncture therapies. Another key takeaway from a systematic review by Park et al assessing the safety states acupuncture during pregnancy is found to be safe when applied correctly. Education and training matters! It is imperative to find a provider that specializes in perinatal health with extensive training in providing maternity acupuncture.
Additional reassurance is found in statements from ACOG and RCOG (American and Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynecology) where acupuncture is listed in their clinical guidelines as a safe modality in a variety of conditions during pregnancy.
- Park, J., Sohn, Y., White, A. R., & Lee, H. (2014). The safety of acupuncture during pregnancy: a systematic review. Acupunct Med, 32(3), 257-266. doi:10.1136/acupmed-2013-010480
- Clarkson CE, O’Mahony D, Jones DE. Adverse event reporting in studies of penetrating acupuncture during pregnancy: a systematic review. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2015;94(5):453–464. doi:10.1111/aogs.12587