Bleeding During Pregnancy: A Terrifiying Fact and What You Can Do About It

1.      In your experience, do many women have bleeding during pregnancy?  If they do experience spotting or bleeding during pregnancy, is it a source of stress?

I have given over 10,000 acupuncture treatments in my career and my expertise is helping women get pregnant and stay pregnant so I’ve seen a lot of pregnant women in my career of nearly 20 years. It is actually quite rare, less than 5%, for a woman in my practice to experience any bleeding during her pregnancy. It is especially rare for any woman to experience bleeding after the first few weeks when implantation of the embryo into the uterine lining has already occurred.  However, patients not being seen by an Acupuncturist whose specialty is women’s health and pregnancy can expect between a 20-40% likelihood of some form of spotting or bleeding during their pregnancy, typically in the first few weeks of pregnancy and is considered on the of the most stressful things to happen during a pregnancy. If a woman does experience bleeding it is critical for her to first call her OBGYN or midwife to rule out ectopic pregnancy, impending miscarriage or infection. Once those concerns are ruled out, immediately call your acupuncturist to stop the bleeding, calm your mind and reduce stress. 

2.      Is it possible that the acupuncture stimulates the bleeding during pregnancy? 

Actually it’s the opposite:  acupuncture given during pregnancy can stop bleeding, which comes as a huge relief to a pregnant woman.  There are different patterns associated with bleeding during pregnancy that we as the expert must assess in order to treat appropriately. There a few different patterns that we differentiate between and then apply the appropriate acupuncture and moxabustion treatment to stop the bleeding.  The main causes are: trauma (falls, car accidents, any accident), Kidney deficiency (the blood is usually seen very early in the pregnancy and is usually only spotting and a light color, Blood heat or Blood Stasis causes reckless bleeding from the uterus and is bright in color and can range from spotting to very heavy. Energy (or Qi) and Blood Deficiency that may not necessarily be anemia will typically cause bleeding toward the end of the third month of pregnancy and the blood will be pale in color and the mother to be will be very tired, may have a pale complexion and could feel her heart beating inside her chest (palpitations).  All of these conditions are treatable with acupuncture but I always advise my pregnant patients to also see their midwife or OBGYN with any signs of bleeding during pregnancy.

In acupuncture we even have acupuncture points specifically designed to stop bleeding: Spleen 10 , also known as the “Sea of Blood” is used specifically to: stop uterine bleeding, stop sudden uterine bleeding and stop uterine bleeding that contains clots.  In addition, another acupuncture point called “ Bladder 17” is considered “the Meeting Point of Blood” and it too can stop irregular bleeding. “Spleen 1”  is yet another potent acupuncture point that stops uterine bleeding and is considered to be the most profound acupuncture point that has the ability to control blood loss.

These acupuncture points are used for all types of irregular bleeding, not just spotting or bleeding during pregnancy.  They can be used for nosebleeds, excessive uterine bleeding during a menstrual cycle, bleeding with bowel movements and even coughing up blood. 

3.      How can women reduce stress during pregnancy?  

There are three things every pregnant woman should do throughout her pregnancy: get rest, receive pregnancy massage and supportive acupuncture treatments regularly. Rest is critical because you are growing a human being which takes an extraordinary amount of energy to do so. Pregnancy massage because it feels divine to have your sore, burdened body massaged throughout your pregnancy. Acupuncture because it can address so many discomforts throughout pregnancy and reduce stress hormones that aren’t good for Mom or baby.  Women who have medical challenges during pregnancy often have no other medical option and are asked to tough it out or worse: told there is nothing that can be done safely. Acupuncture can alleviate morning sickness, back pain, carpal tunnel, edema, headaches, insomnia,  low blood pressure, high blood pressure, help a fetus that is not growing, constipation, anxiety, depression, dizziness, chronic cough, painful or retention of urination, and fear of giving birth are some of the conditions we treat well during pregnancy.

4. How do you feel about patients playing doctor on the internet?  Is it healthy to search the world wide web when having anxiety or any health concern when pregnant?

 Stay away from the internet and I don’t advise my patients to read “What to Expect When You are Expecting”. Unfortunately, that book cultivates the fears many women already have during their vulnerable time as a pregnant woman and flat out discusses worst case scenarios. Worst case scenarios are for the maternal fetal medicine doctors, not for the patient to read on a daily basis while pregnant. Instead, in addition to having your midwife or OBGYN, it’s critical to have an acupuncturist who specializes in pregnancy and women’s health. She will be able to soothe morning sickness and reduce the likelihood of miscarriage, stop bleeding if it were to occur and address most pain syndromes that arise. Acupuncture can turn breech babies safely and comfortably and gently starts your labor after week 38 reducing the likelihood of needing pitocin, the dreaded, nasty drug that violently starts your contractions. Acupuncture significantly reduces the likelihood of needing a c-section. In my practice less than 7% of my patients typically need to have a c-section and that is well below the national average that is closing in on 30% in some states now. Most doctors won’t know to refer you out to acupuncture for your pregnancy aliments and stresses as they have zero training in acupuncture during traditional medical school.  OBGYN’s  and midwives are obviously an important part of any woman’s pregnancy, especially when assessing risk management and options if something serious were to happen but typically that form of medicine falls extraordinarily short when helping women manage and cope comfortably with their ever evolving bodies during the magnificent time of pregnancy. Together the very different specialists can make your pregnancy not only comfortable but exciting and safe. 

Mrs. Kristen N. Burris, L.Ac., M.S.T.O.M. is an expert in women's health before, during and after pregnancy. You can find her here www.EagleAcupuncture.com. She offers complex consultations via phone consultations throughout the US (208) 938-1277 helping patient address any medical problem they have encountered.  Here is a list of some conditions she helps patients cope with and heal from:

Gastrointestinal Disorders

• IBS- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Colitis, Diverticulitis, Enteritis, Gastritis
• Constipation or Diarrhea
• Ulcers
• Abdominal Bloating, Gas, Burping, Mucus or Bleeding
• Hemorrhoids
• Acid Reflux
• Metabolic Disorder with Weight Gain
• Gallstones

Gynecological / Genitourinary Disorders

• Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
• Irregular, Heavy or Painful Menstruation
• Endometriosis
• Menopause: Hot Flashes, Night Sweats, Libido, Insomnia, Emotional Imbalance
• PCOS
• Cysts- Bursting and Pain
• Chronic Bladder Infection
• Atrophic Vaginitis
• Morning Sickness or Insufficient Lactation
• Kidney Stones
• Low Sex Drive
• Infertility
• Prevention of Hysterectomy
• Post Hysterectomy Problems and Pain
• PID Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Immune and Auto-Immune Disorders

• Candida or Chronic Yeast Infections
• Chronic Fatigue
• HIV and AIDS
• Epstein Barr Virus
• Medical Mysteries
• Allergies
• Lupus
• MS Multiple Sclerosis
• RA Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Ankylosing Spondylitis
• Hepatitis or Elevated Liver Enzymes
• Hashimotos Thyroiditis
• Hyperactive Immune System
• Sjogren’s Syndrome
• POTS
• Grave’s Disease
• Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s
• Herpes: Oral, Vaginal or Systemic or Blisters

Circulatory Disorders

• High Blood Pressure
• Low Blood Pressure
• POTS
• Anemia
• Blood Clots
• Raynaud’s
• Coronary Heart Disease
• Lymph Edema
• High Cholesterol

Infection

    Sinus Infection

·         Lung Infection, Bronchitis, Chronic Cough

·         Mastitis

·         Jaundice

·         Gallbladder

·         Gastrointestinal Infection with Abdominal Pain and Diarrhea

·         Viral Hepatitis

·         Oral Herpes with Blisters

·         Genital Herpes with Lesions

·         Herpes Zoster (shingles)

·         Genitourinary Infection

·         Skin Infections

·         Acne with Infection

·         Yeast Infection

·         Any Bacterial Infection

·         Any Viral Infection

·         Frequent Infections

·         Lyme’s

 Emotional, Psychological and Stress Disorders

• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Depression
• Stress
• PMDD
• Post-Partum Depression
• Bruxism (teeth grinding)
• Burned Out
• Fatigue, Adrenal Fatigue, Chronic Fatigue
• SEID Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease

Musculoskeletal and Neurological Disorders

• Arthritis
• Neuralgia and Neuropathy
• Sciatica
• Back Pain, Neck Pain, Shoulder Pain, Hip Pain, Joint Pain
• Bursitis
• Tendonitis
• Stiff Neck
• Bell's Palsy
• Trigeminal Neuralgia
• Headaches and Migraines
• Stroke Rehabilitation
• Cerebral Palsy
• Sprains
• Muscle Spasms and Tics
• Shingles
• MS
• TMJ

Acupuncture Also Treats

• Chemotherapy/Radiation Side Effects and Recovery From Treatments
• Diabetes Management
• Dermatological Disorders: Acne, Psoriasis, Eczema, Rashes, Sensitive Skin, Melasma
• Weight Control
• Anti-Aging: Acupuncture Facelift, Premature Signs of Aging: weakness, fatigue, forgetfulness, dizziness, Neurodegeneration with early signs of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Balance Issues, Chronic Fatigue, Decrease in Bone Density, Degeneration of soft tissue: muscles, ligaments, tendons, cartilage, Diminished vision, Dry Eyes, Visual Problems, Low Sex Drive, Vaginal Dryness, Cataracts and Macular Degeneration

Eye, Ear, Nose, Throat Disorders

• Sinusitis and Bronchitis
• Allergies
• Earache
• Dizziness
• Swollen Lymph Nodes
• Asthma
• Recovering from Colds and Flu’s
• Boosting Immunity to Prevent Chronic Infections