Polyhydramnios in Pregnancy
Managing Naturally with Acupuncture, Herbs, and Diet
If you've been told you have polyhydramnios (excess amniotic fluid), don’t panic! Western medicine doesn’t offer much beyond recommending rest, but there’s so much more you can do. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers real solutions through acupuncture, herbs, and dietary adjustments to help manage the condition. By balancing fluids naturally, TCM can reduce the risks of breech presentation and the need for a C-section. This isn’t just luck or waiting; taking action empowers you to create a healthier outcome for both you and your baby!
Causes of Polyhydramnios 🌼
There are a few different reasons why polyhydramnios might happen:
Gestational diabetes – When blood sugar levels are elevated during pregnancy, it can lead to increased fluid retention in the amniotic sac because the baby produces more urine. High glucose crosses the placenta, leading the baby to urinate more, which can cause excess fluid
Fetal anomalies – If the baby has issues like gastrointestinal blockages or trouble swallowing, they may not be able to absorb the fluid properly, resulting in an excess of amniotic fluid. Don’t worry—these types of anomalies are usually detected during routine ultrasounds, so you'll have the necessary support early on.
Multiple pregnancies – Carrying twins naturally increases fluid levels.
Infections – Pregnancy infections can disrupt fluid balance.
But here’s the thing: In many cases, there’s no specific cause found, and everything seems normal. In these cases, acupuncture is a fantastic way to help balance fluids in the body!
🌸 How Acupuncture Helps with Polyhydramnios 🌸
Acupuncture is an incredible tool for balancing fluid metabolism in the body. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), we focus on improving how your body processes fluids by working on the spleen and kidney systems—these organs are key to fluid regulation.
For polyhydramnios, I use specific acupuncture points to promote fluid drainage and balance qi (energy) flow. Here are the points I often include in my treatment:
SP9 (Yinlingquan): Clears dampness and regulates water metabolism.
BL22 (Sanjiaoshu): Regulates water passage and supports spleen function.
KD3 (Taixi): Strengthens kidney function to support water metabolism.This helps the body naturally process and drain excess fluid. By increasing blood flow to the uterus and balancing your overall fluid system, acupuncture creates a healthier environment for you and your baby.
ST36 (Zusanli): strengthens Qi and tonifies both the spleen and stomach, which play essential roles in fluid metabolism. It also boosts the immune system, improves digestion, and enhances the body's ability to regulate and distribute fluids properly
LU 7 (Lieque): Supports fluid regulation and opens the lung meridian to disperse excess fluids. LU 7 is particularly effective in treating water metabolism issues by promoting urination and works alongside points like SP 9 (Yinlingquan) for draining dampness, and ST 36 (Zusanli), which improves overall digestion and fluid regulation.
KD 7 (Fuliu): Enhances the kidney’s function of regulating water metabolism and supports overall fluid balance.
✨ Moxibustion ✨
When I work with clients who have fluid imbalances like polyhydramnios, I often combine acupuncture with moxibustion. Moxibustion involves burning mugwort near specific acupuncture points to enhance the effects of treatment. For fluid regulation, I apply moxa to points like SP3 (Taibai) and ST36 (Zusanli). These points help strengthen the Spleen and Stomach, improving the body’s ability to metabolize and distribute fluids properly. This can significantly support fluid balance, creating a healthier environment for both mother and baby.
SP 3 supports Spleen function, which is essential for processing dampness and preventing the buildup of fluids, while ST 36 boosts qi to promote overall fluid regulation and circulation.
✨Herbal treatment ✨
I often prescribe herbal formulas that act as natural diuretics to help reduce excess fluid and support fluid balance in the body, especially in cases like polyhydramnios. These formulas encourage urination, improving water metabolism and supporting the Spleen’s function, which plays a key role in maintaining healthy fluid levels during pregnancy.
Key benefits include:
Drain dampness: Promotes urination, removing excess fluids.
Support Spleen function: Prevents fluid accumulation when the Spleen is weak.
Balance Qi: Enhances energy flow, improving circulation and reducing fluid stagnation.
If gestational diabetes is causing polyhydramnios, acupuncture can help regulate your blood sugar levels too! It improves insulin sensitivity and reduces glucose in the blood, which in turn helps reduce fluid retention.
🥕 Dietary Support: Nourishing Soup Recipe 🥕
Food plays a key role in managing polyhydramnios. I recommend soups, especially ones that help balance fluids. A great option is carp soup, often used in Chinese medicine. If carp is hard to find, you can substitute with white fish like branzino or dorade. Here is the Recipe:
Ingredients:
Carp fish 1pc
Radish 200g
Leek stalk 30g
Ginger 20g
Coriander 1 pc
Cooking wine 10ml
White pepper 1 tsp
Salt 1/2 tsp
Wash carp fish and radish. Peel the radish and chop into large chunks. Wash the leek stalks and shred. Peel ginger and slice. Chop the coriander.
Heat oil in wok and stir fry the shredded leek stalks, sliced ginger, then fry carp fish to brown.
Add water till it covers the fish and reduce the flame after boiling. Then add cooking wine and white pepper. Cook for 20 minutes.
Add radish and keep cooking for 15 minutes till it is soft.
Season with salt and scatter with coriander.
For something different, you can also try this comforting Mushroom Barley Soup:
Ingredients:
Carp fish 1pc
Radish 200g
Leek stalk 30g
Ginger 20g
Coriander 1 pc
Cooking wine 10ml
White pepper 1 tsp
Salt 1/2 tsp
In a medium pan, bring 4 cups of water and the 1 cup of barley to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 30-40 minutes, or until the barley is soft. You can make this the night before.
Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic. Cook until soft. Add the carrots and celery and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the sliced mushrooms and cook until they are soft. Add the vegetable broth, water, bay leaves, and fresh thyme. Simmer for about 10 minutes. Stir in the cooked barley and cook for 15 minutes or so.
Remove the bay leaves. before serving. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot.
🌿 Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Breech Babies 🌿
When there’s too much amniotic fluid (polyhydramnios), it’s like the baby is floating in a large, wide pool. This excess space makes it harder for the baby’s head to settle down into the pelvis, increasing the chances of a breech position. In other words, the baby can’t get “stuck” head-down because they’re essentially floating around too much.
When managing polyhydramnios, the goal is not only to reduce excess amniotic fluid but also to help guide the baby into the head-down position.
To address this, acupuncture combined with moxibustion is a great natural method to help the baby turn head-down. Moxibustion, particularly on the BL67 point on the little toe, stimulates uterine movement, encouraging the baby to turn. This technique is most effective between 32 and 34 weeks and is a fantastic alternative to more invasive interventions.
💫 You’re in Control! 💫
It can be discouraging when Western medicine only suggests rest as the main option for managing polyhydramnios. But there's so much more we can do! Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is real medicine, and it can make a huge difference. It's not just about waiting for things to change or accepting bad luck. With acupuncture, herbal treatments, and diet adjustments, we can actively reduce fluid buildup, encourage the baby’s head to descend, and lower the chances of breech presentation or a C-section. This approach helps ensure the best possible outcome for both mom and baby, empowering you to feel like you're taking control and getting the care you truly deserve for a healthy, natural pregnancy and birth.
Remember, you don’t have to feel like it’s out of your control. If you’re dealing with polyhydramnios, gestational diabetes, or just want to ensure the healthiest pregnancy, let’s connect. Together, we can make sure you and your baby are as healthy and comfortable as possible!
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