Ali uses Acupuncture for help "getting pregnant, staying pregnant, having a healthy pregnancy and an easier delivery", as a result of postgraduate training in Gynaecology and Obstetrics with Dr Michel Odont, Jani White, Debra Betts, Liliana Lamers and many more.

Before you conceive

Recent research has shown that having Acupuncture before you try for a baby, can increase your chances of getting pregnant. Many patients have found that Acupuncture support has contributed to conceiving naturally, whilst other patients undergoing assisted conception (IVF, IUI) have found Meridian Acupuncture® helpful during down regulation (in the control of mood swings), egg ripening, egg collection, as well as pre and post transfer of embryos.

Once you're pregnant

Some women worry about staying pregnant, especially if they have miscarried before. Although there are many reasons for miscarriages, not all of which are preventable, Acupuncture can in many cases, stabilise the pregnancy and allow it to proceed to full term.

During your pregnancy

 Your body adapts to carrying the baby/babies, waters and placenta - which can place physical strain on the organs and muscles. Meridian Acupuncture® can help you cope with the enormous physical, chemical and emotional changes that will happen in a relatively short space of time.

Discomforts of pregnancy

Specific Acupuncture points can help to ease any of the following syptoms that you may be feeling:

* Heart Burn, High Blood Pressure, Insomnia and Exhaustion, Nausea and Vomiting,  Breathing difficulties, Sinusitis, Constipation, Varicose Veins and Haemorrhoids.

Breech and Posterior babies

In caring for women with breech presentation, moxibustion (a gentle warming technique), can be offered to women from 33 weeks. Additional Acupuncture points can also help to turn babies that are in a posterior position, and thus assist in the baby having a more optimal position prior to birth.

Birth Preparation

3 to 4 weeks before the due date, a treatment using Acupuncture points in your hands and feet starts preparing the pelvis and cervix for birth. This is followed by 1 treatment per week until labour begins. If you choose to have regular Acupuncture, you may find that you deliver more safely and quickly - in 12 contractions or less !  though it really depends on the position of the baby as every birth is different.

Induction and During Labour

If your baby is overdue, Meridian Acupuncture® can offer a safe and drug-free way of promoting labour. Acupuncture is great for pain relief, and also helps to gently relax the uterus and ensure the cervix dilates gradually and fully.

Supply of Breast Milk

Sometimes breast feeding does not happen immediately, and this is where Acupuncture can help not only to relieve anxiety that new Mums may be feeling, but also naturally start lactation.

Ali is Vice President of the non profit organisation ACT Northwest (The Acupuncture Childbirth Team), a special interest group to promote safe, natural birthing services for pregnant women and is a member of the AFN (Acupuncture Fertility Network).