Nothing but a little prick…

I’m talking needles guys…specifically acupuncture!!!

As I have mentioned here, I am currently suffering with PGP due to pregnancy. It’s not great but I’m used to it now; I know my limitations, I have got used to the fact that I am pretty slow walking, getting out of the car, getting out of bed, etc. and that I have to contend with daily changes to my pelvis and back.

Excuse the bum crack!

With this pregnancy, I knew the symptoms and was able to get help earlier and I have been able to manage the discomfort, which I am really happy about.

I cannot fault the service that I have received from the NHS on this subject! The waiting times have been low, the care I have received in the physio department at Warrington hospital has been great and I am greeted every week by a lovely man at reception who has got to know me by name!

I had quite a bad flare up a few weeks ago

My lower back and glute became excruciatingly painful…so painful that I wished for the pain to be in my pubic bone (and that is something that you really do not want to experience!) My usual physio exercises were not giving any relief so I was referred to the antenatal acupuncturist based in the hospital.

Now, I am petrified of needles. I have just had my 28 week check (where you have your bloods taken) and the whole day before my midwife appointment was spent worrying and feeling sick at the thought of a needle being in my arm longer than a few seconds.

Acupuncture in pregnancy has been proven to be really beneficial, especially if you are not a fan of taking painkillers – I’d rather not for the PGP because I would be taking them all the time!

However, I put it off many times when it was suggested to me. It was the needle issue. Could I cope with needles over my body without wanting to rip them out or feel horrendous? But when I experienced the flare up I just thought that I had to try anything.

The acupuncturist was so lovely! She is a midwife who specialises in acupuncture and she put my mind at ease straightaway. She did not show me the needles but described how thin they were.

One of my issues is seeing them – if I see a needle (and know what it is for) I freak out. She mentioned that the needles would be placed either side of my spine and in my lower back on the side that hurt the most. Obviously, I was on my side because I can’t lie on my front!

It was such a strange experience!

She ‘tapped’ them into my skin – they actually go in quite deep in order to get through the layers of muscles and as soon as they went in, she left me alone to relax. I kid you not, I could actually feel the pain melt away!

There was a strange warming feeling that left a tingle and then I felt nothing. The needles were kept in for 20 minutes and were then taken out and disposed of.

If I am completely honest, I did not really like them being taken out, especially around my glute and hip area because that area is so tender at the moment and the muscle is really tense.

Overall, I really enjoyed the experience!

I am going to have these sessions up to labour now to keep the PGP at bay, however I have read that it can be used to bring on labour around the due date so I will mention to the midwife not to put any needles in that type of area…I do not want a Christmas Day baby!!!

If you are ever offered this…for pregnancy or otherwise, I’d say go for it!

x