Depression is one of the symptoms during the pregnancy stage of a woman. It can be reduced effectively by acupuncture, according to a first-of-its-kind study from Stanford University School of Medicine researchers. “This standardized acupuncture protocol could be a viable treatment option for depression during pregnancy,” said by the study authors, led by Rachel Manber, PhD.

There is as high as 14% of pregnant have major depressive disorder. It is a condition characterized by feelings of dread, gloom and hopelessness, and a loss of interest in normally pleasurable activities.

Doctors and clinicians are not totally sure how pregnancy leads to the disorder, but an influx of hormones could be the suspect. There are also women who might feel overwhelmed by the major changes in their life that could somehow later trigger depression.