For those who don’t realise, I really, really, really would like the baby to be born before Christmas. At this stage, the earlier the better (I’m over 38 weeks now, so baby really is full term, estimated due date is at 40 weeks). I’m trying a bunch of stuff to tell my body that now is the time. Raspberry leaf tea, expressing breast milk (I have about 2mL stored), evening primose oil etc. The latest thing I’ve tried and the one recommended by my midwives, is acupuncture.
So, acupuncture has been around for about 3000 years! That’s a long time. Much longer than, say, panadol (a little over 50 years). Now, “they” don’t really know how acupuncture works, but neither do “they” really know how paracetamol works… it’s debatable anyway. Anyway, Beau and I have previously talked about acupuncture and we decided, even though neither of us have ever tried it, that we believe in it. Like, we believe it works. Now, it might not work for everyone, but that’s true of modern medicines too. So, I decided to try it.
Yesterday I called, booked and had a session of acupuncture at City Osteopaths. I went for a “Pregnancy” treatment, one designed to give me energy and get my uterus, cervix etc in shape for for birth. I also got an extra needle put in to help with my swollen ankles… my feet are a little sausage-looking. It was nice. Acupucture needles are *tiny*. Heaps thinner than injection needles or blood test needles or any sewing needles I’ve ever seen. They are so thin they are bendy. More like hairs than needles. Totally doesn’t hurt when they put them in either, they have a little tube around them and the acupuncturist positions them over you and then taps the needle down into the tube. All you really feel is the tube hitting your skin. They you just have to lie there for like 30 min. Sweet.
The acupuncturist also did a demo needle on Beau so that he could feel it and showed him how to find acupressure points on me to help with pain management during labour, plus one on my shoulders that can help with let down of milk. I’m booked in for another session next week where I will be going for an “inducing” session. She will be using some of the *forbidden points*. Normally forbidden in pregnancy because they induce labour and you don’t want that happening too early. She will also get out the Vivid and draw on me the labour acupressure points. Which is pretty awesome.
Now, it might be that I’m one of those women who don’t want people touching her in labour. Either way, I feel reassured knowing that I have these options and tools available to me. The more relaxed and prepared I feel, the less afraid I feel and the more likely that I will have a positive birth experience… right?
Point of Fashion: No reason to get dressed
Current Obsession: acupuncture
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