I'm writing this with great disappointment because when I first started seeing Dr. Miao at TCM, I…read morewas very pleased with my care and experience. The office staff is very polite, too. My doula recommended this practice for acupuncture to help encourage labor because my husband and I were planning a home birth and hoped to avoid reaching the point where we would need to transfer to a hospital.
We saw her three times without labor starting, even while trying other natural induction methods. We assumed my baby and body simply weren't ready yet, and I did not blame the acupuncture care I was receiving.
At my latest appointment, I was approximately 41 weeks and 3-5 days pregnant, depending on which medical professional's due date we were following. Our maternal-fetal medicine specialist had told us that the baby's monitoring results were reassuring, including the amniotic fluid, non-stress test, umbilical cord blood flow, and estimated weight. Our midwife recommended trying electroacupuncture and leave-in press tacks.
When I saw Dr. Miao, I asked for those specific treatments. She refused the leave-in press tacks because, in her opinion, they weren't necessary. She also kept urging me to go to the hospital for the birth because I was past my due date.
I tried to explain that our midwife would not deliver our baby at home if I reached 42 weeks and would insist on transferring care to the hospital. A hospital birth was already our backup plan, and there is a hospital approximately a mile from our home. We had discussed and planned for this possibility.
Despite my explanation, she continued talking about the baby gaining weight, there not being enough space for him to move, and my size potentially making birth dangerous for both of us. She also mentioned possible health problems later in his life if he became too big. These were alarming statements, and I did not feel she clearly explained how they applied to my pregnancy, particularly given our recent specialist's assessment.
I understand that larger babies can present risks, but broad statements about size and future health did not help me understand her concerns. My brother was born weighing 9 pounds, and a friend's brother was born vaginally, weighing 10 pounds; both are now adults without known health issues. Those experiences do not establish what is safe for my baby, but they are part of why I wanted a specific explanation rather than generalized warnings.
At that point, we had only a few days remaining before our planned transfer deadline. I kept gently asking about the leave-in press tacks, but she continued refusing and told me to get on the table. Part of me felt I should leave and find another acupuncturist, but I went ahead with the electroacupuncture treatment, which was fine.
What left a bad taste in my mouth was the conversation surrounding it. Her repeated warnings felt like fear-mongering to me, and I felt that she dismissed the monitoring, professional care, and backup plan we already had in place. I was looking for support and clear explanations, and instead left feeling unheard and pressured.
I contacted my midwife afterward, and she recommended another acupuncturist in our area. After speaking with him, he confirmed that he was willing to offer the treatments we had requested.
I appreciated my earlier visits and the polite office staff, but this appointment significantly changed my opinion of the practice. I will be seeking care elsewhere.
