Pregnancy loss

Pregnancy loss before there is a positive pregnancy test is thought to be as high as 25% or more. After a positive test (miscarriage) rates increase with the age of the mother, or in the case of women under 35, with the age of the partner. In women over 40, they are as high as 25% or more.

Chinese herbs are commonly prescribed in early pregnancy if there is a risk of miscarriage .

The Chinese medical approach recognises that a healthy baby is the endpoint of a journey which begins with the parents and grandparents of the child. The Kidney Jing (essence of life) which we inherit from our parents and grandparents before them, is a finite substance that we are born with, and when it runs out, we die. In China, great emphasis is placed in conserving Jing and living a long and healthy life. This is achieved by nourishing both the Kidney Yin (rest and relaxation) and Kidney Yang (activity and energy-boosting). Our fast-paced Western lifestyle depletes both very quickly, and we often arrive at pregnancy with great difficulty. Toxins from the environment, daily drugs (caffeine, alcohol, cigarettes), stress and other lifestyle factors can all result in poor quality ovulations, damaged sperm, and congenitally abnormal embryos that do not survive to full term.

Women with difficulty conceiving often therefore have increased risk of miscarriage. Acupuncture can play a crucial role in early pregnancy management where a woman has had one or more previous miscarriages or is experiencing bleeding and/or spotting.