Accupuncture

[Dea]

My midwife is recommending it for me. What should I expect at an appointment, and what should I expect to pay?

[the elyse]

:

[sarahn4639]

My chiro does accupuncture and I did it at the end of my pregnancy with DD. She charges $75 the first visit and then $45 thereafter (it was only $45 when I did it). For labor induction she put needles in my hands and feet/ankles, I think that's it. they didn't hurt going in but after a while she came in and twisted and flicked them, that was fairly unpleasant but not terrible. My sister has had accupuntcure for depression and she said they didnt' twist them for her. I suppose it depends on what the goal/purpose is. My sister was suprised how long she was left to sit with the needles in so I guess it's worth mentioning. I think 20-40 minutes is pretty typical. I don't have very much experience wiht accupuncture so someone else may have better info, this was just my experience with it.

Why is your mw recommending it now?

[steph117]

I'm in NYC, & the two sessions I got cost $100 each. That may be more than the norm for other areas though!

Why are you getting acupuncture?

[milky_mama]

Visiting from the March ddc ... I had acupuncture in my second trimester to help with relaxation. It cost about $50. The treatments I've had usually last betwenn 30 and 40 minutes. I never feel any pain. Acupuncture is wonderful! It's a great way to relax. My acupuncturist did say she would do a treatment on me when it got close to my due date to get things moving but I'll have to see what I want to do at the time.

[Dea]

My midwife wants me to do it to help bring my blood pressure down.
I found out the cost is $125 for a new patient and $85 for a returning patient. I just don't know how it will help though. I don't understand what it does. The pain and discomfort don't matter to me, what matters is I get my blood pressure sorted so I my baby is okay.

[FelixMom]

I've had an acupuncturist to care for me and the kids since before I got pregnant with DS over 7 yrs ago due to a repetitive strain injury in my wrist.

Just be sure to check if your state has an Order or Association of acupuncturists so you can claim it on your insurance (if applicable). Also this way you have a way of knowing the standards of care and training for the person who will be treating you.

My acupuncturist charges $50 for an initial visit with detailed interview for your health background and $40 for all other follow-up visits. For labour and delivery, I must say I have been lucky that things got busy for me either on a Friday late in the day or over the weekend. She charged a flat initial fee of $100 or $200 (can't remember) and an hourly fee maxing out at $300. My second L&D she came with me to the birthing centre and everything was over in less than two hours, so I paid $100, which included one post-natal visit to help with my milk coming in.

Good luck!

[sarahn4639]

Wow Dea, where are you? That sounds pretty pricey! I'm in Iowa though so that probably makes a difference! I do think accupuncture could help with blood pressure but I also think something like hypnosis would too.

Amy, your accupuncturist sounds great!!

[sarahn4639]

sorry! the website was not posting but come to find out it must have been!!

[steph117]

deleting due to multiple postings!

[steph117]

Originally Posted by Dea

My midwife wants me to do it to help bring my blood pressure down.
I just don't know how it will help though. I don't understand what it does. The pain and discomfort don't matter to me, what matters is I get my blood pressure sorted so I my baby is okay.

Acupuncture can be an incredibly healing modality. It works on the system of meridians - energy pathways that travel through the body; acupuncturists put needles in appropriate pathways to smooth the energy flow & clear blockages, and the results can be immediate & profound.

I personally have had amazing results with acupuncture:
1. I've had NAET acupuncture to heal allergies - in that case, in two sessions a 15-year-long wheat allergy vanished! Boy, was that life-changing.
2. My last major experience with it was about 7 years ago (with an incredible practitioner - a Chinese acupuncturist who practiced in China his whole life, & recently moved to US. He was in his late 70s, and looked at least 15 years younger - which he attributed to lots of green tea & positive qi!). I went to see him on a friend's recommendation to speed the healing of a finger injury - but after reading my pulses, he determined that my kidney energy was depleted & decided to focus on that. I saw him over the course of about 2 months & SO much changed in me, for the better. I became much more energetic overall, I felt mentally clearer, and the most amazing change for me was how positively my overall circulation was affected. My hands & feet, which used to be perpetually freezing, stopped being cold all the time.
3. And just as a cool example of how quickly acupuncture can work - the acupuncturist I saw during this pregnancy noticed that I had a few inflamed tastebuds (they hurt!). Even though the purpose of the session was something else entirely, she diagnosed what was causing them and added a few needles to help. And by the end of the session the inflammation had disappeared! I couldn't believe it. Amazing stuff.

Anyway, if I were you I would absolutely give it a try. I would think that acupuncture could absolutely help sort out your blood pressure - even if for some reason it did not, it's very safe, and better to try an alternative method than jumping into medication, which it sounds like you don't necessarily want to do! And if you like your acupuncturist, like others have written, acupuncture can definitely assist with labor & delivery. Or there's a technique called moxibustion that can assist with turning your baby if it's breech.

I second making sure you go to someone licensed & experienced, though!

Let us know how it goes

[steph117]

deleting - multiple postings

[sarahn4639]

tried one last time, only to find all the others, sorry again!!

[steph117]

deleting - multiple postings!!!

[sarahn4639]

I'm glad it wasn't just me Steph! Also, thanks for all the info!

[Dea]

Originally Posted by steph117

Acupuncture can be an incredibly healing modality. It works on the system of meridians - energy pathways that travel through the body; acupuncturists put needles in appropriate pathways to smooth the energy flow & clear blockages, and the results can be immediate & profound.

I personally have had amazing results with acupuncture:
1. I've had NAET acupuncture to heal allergies - in that case, in two sessions a 15-year-long wheat allergy vanished! Boy, was that life-changing.
2. My last major experience with it was about 7 years ago (with an incredible practitioner - a Chinese acupuncturist who practiced in China his whole life, & recently moved to US. He was in his late 70s, and looked at least 15 years younger - which he attributed to lots of green tea & positive qi!). I went to see him on a friend's recommendation to speed the healing of a finger injury - but after reading my pulses, he determined that my kidney energy was depleted & decided to focus on that. I saw him over the course of about 2 months & SO much changed in me, for the better. I became much more energetic overall, I felt mentally clearer, and the most amazing change for me was how positively my overall circulation was affected. My hands & feet, which used to be perpetually freezing, stopped being cold all the time.
3. And just as a cool example of how quickly acupuncture can work - the acupuncturist I saw during this pregnancy noticed that I had a few inflamed tastebuds (they hurt!). Even though the purpose of the session was something else entirely, she diagnosed what was causing them and added a few needles to help. And by the end of the session the inflammation had disappeared! I couldn't believe it. Amazing stuff.

Anyway, if I were you I would absolutely give it a try. I would think that acupuncture could absolutely help sort out your blood pressure - even if for some reason it did not, it's very safe, and better to try an alternative method than jumping into medication, which it sounds like you don't necessarily want to do! And if you like your acupuncturist, like others have written, acupuncture can definitely assist with labor & delivery. Or there's a technique called moxibustion that can assist with turning your baby if it's breech.

I second making sure you go to someone licensed & experienced, though!

Let us know how it goes

Thanks Steph. I think she is certified, she has lots of letters after her name. She also studied in China for a long time, so I have confidence in her. And because my midwife says she's the best in the area. I hope I have good results, DH is so hesitant and would rather me go on medication. I can't be angry with him though, he sees it all from a very different perspective than me, which makes for interesting conversations!
Again thank you!

[Dea]

Originally Posted by sarahn4639

Wow Dea, where are you? That sounds pretty pricey! I'm in Iowa though so that probably makes a difference! I do think accupuncture could help with blood pressure but I also think something like hypnosis would too.

Amy, your accupuncturist sounds great!!

Sigh, I live in Silicon Valley, everything here is so expensive!

[Dea]

I went today and it was interesting. I could feel all of the tinglies and jolts from the needles, it was surreal.
She also gave me a lot of herbs to help.
I really hope everything helps and I end up with nice low blood pressure.
I have more appointments booked. So interesting, this trying new things!

[sarahn4639]

It is very interesting! Let us know how things go!