Welcoming a newborn into the world is an extraordinary, but oftentimes overwhelming experience. Along with the joys and challenges of caring for an infant, parents may find themselves in need of additional support and guidance during the postpartum period. I’ll be mentioning five crucial postpartum professionals who may provide invaluable assistance to families in their transition into parenthood. Lactation Consultants Breastfeeding or chest-feeding can be a wonderful experience to bond with baby, but it’s not without its challenges. Lactation consultants are professionals who specialize in h ..read more

Heartburn is a common discomfort for many pregnant people, and happen throughout each trimester - with the third trimester being the most common. Hormonal changes, most notably an increase in progesterone levels, can cause the muscles in the digestive tract to relax, allowing gastric acids to flow back into the esophagus. Additionally, the growing uterus puts pressure on the stomach, further contributing to heartburn symptoms. Risk Factors for Heartburn Multiparity Pre-existing heartburn Advanced gestational age Smoking Natural Remedies for Heartburn in Pregnancy Dietary Modificatio ..read more

By the end of the third trimester pregnant people are more often than not ready to get the ball rolling when it comes to birth. While medical induction is a common practice, clients often present in my office wanting to try acupuncture to induce labour. Moreover, they’re also looking for other evidence-based natural ways to induce labour and promote cervical ripening (because I don’t know about you, but I couldn’t handle spicy foods at the end of pregnancy!). Cervical ripening is incredibly important when it comes to the success of induction and labour. A ripe cervix increases the likelihood o ..read more

A VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean), is when you deliver a child vaginally after having one previous cesarean delivery. A VBAC can also be referred to as TOL which means ‘trial of labour after cesarean.” Why a C-section may have occurred A cesarean birth may have previously occurred for the following reasons: Difficult or slow birth Previous cesarean birth Breech baby Sometimes there are other issues in previous pregnancies that may have resulted in a c-section (like placental issues). Based on your past pregnancy history, your OB or Midwife will help you determine if you’re a good c ..read more

As more and more couples are turning towards In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) during their fertility journey, acupuncture is becoming an increasingly popular complementary therapy to increase the chances of a successful pregnancy and live birth. Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medicine technique that involves the insertion of thin needles into specific points on the body to stimulate energy flow and promote healing. How does acupuncture help with IVF? Acupuncture can play a crucial role in increasing the success rates of IVF. Here are a few ways in which acupuncture may help: Improves Blood Fl ..read more

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that has been used for over 3,000 years to treat various ailments and improve overall health. It involves the insertion of thin needles into the skin at specific points of the body to rebalance energy flow in the body. One area where acupuncture has shown remarkable results is in treating Cesarean section scars. C-sections are a common surgical procedure that involves the delivery of a baby through an incision in the pregnant person’s body through 6 layers - the skin, subcutaneous tissue, fascia, rectus abdominus (this is usually spread a ..read more

Acupuncture is the insertion of thin, never before used needles, into specific areas of the body. These points can be used in the weeks leading up to birth. These specific acupuncture points can help with pain, promote efficient contractions and cervical dilation. Acupuncture Point for Cervical Dilation Spleen 6 is the main point for cervical dilation. If you’re applying pressure at home, steady pressure on SP6 during contractions can reduce pain and shorten labour duration. This point also helps with placental delivery. It can be found four finger widths above the tip of the inner ankle bon ..read more

Your health during pregnancy can is a stepping stone in developing your child’s health. Focusing on your health and diet years before conceiving can help influence outcomes relating to your pregnancy and child’s health. Nevertheless, when you’re pregnant, it’s always a good time to make positive lifestyle changes if you have the ability to do so. As soon as you become pregnant, your body and nutritional requirements change as well. As your child’s organs are developing, you may need to increase certain nutrients or avoid specific foods. Whereas as baby grows, you may need to supplement with e ..read more

During birth, baby should exit the birthing canal head first. However sometimes baby isn’t in this position during pregnancy - this is known as a breech position, and it’s a common presentation. There are three common irregular presentations, they are: Frank Breech: legs point up with feet by the baby’s head so the bottom would emerge first. Complete Breech: legs folded with feet at the level of the baby’s bottom. Footling Breech: one or both feet point down so the legs would emerge first. During the third trimester, your care provider will often assess baby’s position - usually manual ..read more

Short answer: Yes! I frequently use acupuncture in my practice for fertility, it’s well loved because it: (a) is not another supplement and (b) is quite relaxing and is basically self care. I’m often asked if someone needs to be undergoing IVF to have acupuncture done - and that’s not the case. You can have acupuncture doing for a variety of reasons. Here’s what acupuncture can help with: Causes the release of neurotransmitters thereby promotes regular menstrual cycles Promotes ovulation - which is helpful for conditions like PCOS, where anovulation is one of the symptoms Promotes and ..read more