First an Acupuncturist, then a Mom!
Written by Julie Saint-Pierre Registered Acupuncturist
Hello! I am Julie Saint-Pierre, a registered acupuncturist at The Perinatal Wellness Centre!
I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself.
I graduated from the International Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture from Ottawa in 2012. I then learned a very effective style of acupuncture called Balance Method directly from its creator, Dr. Tan, and his most renowned disciple Eileen Han. I practiced and refined my technique while remaining a purist as I believe it is perfect as it is! Throughout my practice, I have treated many conditions with a lot of success, often finding it indescribable. I always say: Give acupuncture a try and let’s see the results we can get!
After graduating, I opened a practice in Ontario with my husband, who is also an amazing acupuncturist. Not long after, I became pregnant and treating patients for fertility and pregnancy-related challenges. I faced challenges of my own, and I am grateful for the benefits of acupuncture as a primary treatment strategy!
One of my biggest challenges was morning sickness.
During my first pregnancy, the first trimester was quite difficult. With multiple vomiting episodes each week, I needed to find a solution. It took me two weeks to really decide to address it. Initially, I hoped it would go away on its own, but then I started acupuncture. It was fantastic! It took a few treatments to be symptom-free but the nausea and vomiting eventually stopped completely.
I then experienced some acid reflux after meals. I surfed through it with regular acupuncture treatments and Tums, breaking them into quarters and taking just a bit when needed.
My second trimester was pretty good, I travelled, stayed active and spent time with friends and family. I really enjoyed it! I remember being impressed by how much food I was consuming! The second trimester wasn’t painful or difficult for me, so I was able to skip acupuncture treatments for most of that time.
During my third trimester, I remained active and walked a lot. I even biked to work until I was 35 weeks pregnant! I was eating at least one watermelon a week. My baby’s position, my blood pressure and my sugar levels were all good, and my midwife assured me that everything was on track.
I stayed active throughout the summer, perhaps a bit too much. At 36 weeks I almost went into labour at the Akwesasne Powwow! I will never forget it-it was quite the induction activity! Olivia was dancing to the rhythm of the drums and kicking so hard my ribs hurt. We managed to attend almost the entire event, but had to leave before the end of the day because I started experiencing serious Braxton Hicks contractions. It slowly calmed down that evening. Honestly, I might’ve given birth on-site otherwise. That might be why Olivia loves dancing and signing so much!
A week later, at 37.2 weeks, while I was in clinic, I received a phone call from one of my fertility patients announcing her pregnancy! I was so excited that I broke my water right there in clinic. After 2 days of prodromal labour, acupuncture treatments, acupressure sessions and multiple induction strategies at the hospital, I ended up having an emergency C-section.
Because of this, I can say that I understand the exhaustion of trying to give birth with a midwife, having to abandon the natural process and accepting a C-Section. I also know the pain, C-Section recovery, and the postpartum challenges that come with that…
Reflecting on my own journey through pregnancy and birth, I feel honored to offer valuable insights and treatment strategies to support my patients through pregnancy, induction, and the postpartum period. It is a significant milestone in a woman’s life to carry and give birth to a baby, and I am grateful to be able to support my patients and their partners, making a difference in their journey.
Please stick around for more acupuncture insights!