Last year 300 Australian pregnant women were asked about acupuncture as a treatment for antenatal depression. 68% had already been using acupuncture & of them, a further 68% were using it specifically for pregnancy related symptoms. Overall 84% had a positive experience & were open to its possible inclusion in conventional care as a non-pharmaceutical alternative. Maternal depression & anxiety during pregnancy can affect the unborn child & has been associated with increased rates of obstetric complications, congenital malformations & possibly low birth weight. As well as the physical implications in utero, it may impact later cognitive, behavioral & physical development, as well as the child’s response to stress.
Acupuncture for antenatal depression
