Many women who seek fertility support are fortunate to discover they are pregnant, and often the journey to reach this milestone has been in itself complex. Whilst joy and elation should be felt, many women feel extremely anxious and stressed, particularly in the first trimester.

Acupuncture, given by a qualified, insured practitioner is extremely safe in pregnancy, and can help to support the myriad of pregnancy symptoms as well as offering emotional support to you. A systemic review in 2021 found that acupuncture could be an effective strategy to alleviate stress and anxiety in infertile women (i). Generally, I support women who have achieved a positive pregnancy test with my support, until their 12 week scan. Following this, I am trained and able to support you in various aspects of your pregnancy, such as pelvic girdle pain, ongoing nausea, migraines and offering you a safe space to relax and rebalance via acupuncture. I have supported many women presenting breech, through the use of moxa along with promoting the onset of labour.

There can be reasons where it is not appropriate for me to offer acupuncture during pregnancy, a full triage of your pregnancy and any associated conditions must be completed prior to a session with me.

Pregnancy support

Nausea and vomiting

Nausea and vomiting are experienced in approximately 50-70% of pregnancies, other symptoms include extreme fatigue, sensitivity to certain smells, food cravings and aversions, burping, horrid taste in mouth and heartburn. Changes in hormone levels and increasing pregnancy hormones can cause delays in gastric emptying and digestion. Tiredness, stress and emotional factors can exacerbate this. Low mood can be a natural outcome of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy which in itself may worsen the physical symptoms (ii).

There is growing evidence of using acupuncture in patterns of nausea and vomiting. A recent review of over 2000 pregnant women, found that it helped with the symptoms of nausea, vomiting in early pregnancy (iii) . Acupuncture is recognised as an effective treatment for symptoms of nausea and vomiting with good clinical evidence from more than 40 randomised controlled trials that acupuncture has some effect in preventing or attenuating nausea and vomiting (iv).

In Chinese medicine, the symptoms of nausea and vomiting can be caused by rebellious Qi, leading to digestive imbalance. This is a result of the close connection between the stomach and the uterus in Chinese medicine, encompassing one of extraordinary vessels in Chinese Medicine. called the Chong Mai. The use of acupressure bands (originally called sea bands - used for motion sickness) on pregnant women’s wrists, is a very important point on Chinese medicine reaching the extraordinary vessel - the Chong Mai, through the point being an access point of the meridian (Neiguan (PC6)). Acupuncture treatment for pregnancy and vomiting, often uses this point to calm the nervous system, reducing anxiety and stress can help to alleviate nausea. An Acupuncture treatment will be tailored to you, based on how you are feeling.

Pelvic girdle pain can be debiliitating and affect quality of life during pregnancy. A study in 2001 found that acupuncture relieved the symptoms of back pain and pelvic girdle pain in pregnant women (v) pain intensity decreased over time in 60% of patients in the acupuncture group and in 14% of those in the control group and was safe and effective in later pregnancy.

I have found effective treatment for women suffering with Pelvic girdle pain, through applying channel theory of acupuncture, this means that points can be used distally from the pelvis, but have effect on the pelvis. The theory of acupuncture includes a channel which is like a belt around your lower waist, by accessing this channel (through points on your hand and foot!) can help to rebalance energy and manage pain in the pelvis.

Moxibustion is the practice of burning moxa (Mugwort or Artemisia Vulgaris) on or near the body. In China and Japan breech presentation is routinely treated by daily stimulation of the point “Zhiyin” also known as “Bladder 67”, using a moxa stick. Moxibustion is easy to apply, and following an acupuncture session with me, I will show mothers how to self-treat this point at home, providing the required moxa to enable this.

Bladder 67 is at the outer corner of the little toe nail. Bladder 67 is a point believed to have a strong energy changing capacity, which has been shown to turn a breech foetus. Bladder 67is a sensitive point and is thus usually treated with moxa rather than needling. Moxa has very moving properties, and has the ability of penetrating the channel, promoting nourishment and circulation of“qi” (chee) energy, and blood and moving stasis. This is said support the movement of mother’s qi and blood, which in turn encourages foetal movement

The British Journal of Midwifery (BJM) promotes the use of moxibustion with acupuncture, following a review of the maternal outcomes.

The results confirmed the use of moxibustion to turn a breech fetus, and found that in combination with acupuncture, moxibustion decreases the rate of caesarean section Syntocinon use before and during labour for women who had a vaginal birth, as well as slightly decreasing instrumental use at birth. Moxibustion was safe and well accepted by women. Please contact me to find out more and discuss your needs.

Acupuncture for Labour Preparation

More than half of births in Great Britain now involve medical intervention — a figure that has risen by 10% since the last report in 2018 (BMJ, 2025). As a result, many women are turning to complementary therapies to help support the natural onset of labour.

How Acupuncture Can Help

Acupuncture throughout pregnancy is a safe complementary therapy that promotes relaxation and wellbeing. As your due date approaches, many women seek support to help prepare both physically and emotionally for labour — and both are important factors that acupuncture can support.

It's worth understanding that a pregnant woman's body is designed to slow labour down if she doesn't feel safe. Feeling calm and being in a relaxed, secure space is central to promoting the hormone pathways needed for labour, including cervical ripening.

What the Research Shows

Studies suggest acupuncture may support cervical ripening, with some evidence pointing to a more favourable cervical state within 24 hours. No safety concerns were identified in the trials reviewed, though research in this area remains limited. Read the Cochrane review

The Role of Hormones

The hormone oxytocin begins releasing several weeks before labour, initially stimulating uterine contractions at night before increasing to support the transition into labour itself. Stress hormones such as adrenaline and noradrenaline can directly inhibit the natural release of oxytocin — meaning stress can, in turn, inhibit contractions.

By integrating acupuncture as part of individualised care, we can support emotional harmony and help enable the natural hormone cascade needed for cervical ripening, contractions, and the onset of labour (Betts, 2006).

My Approach

Preparing for birth calls for a holistic view. In my clinic, I offer three sessions in close proximity after 37 weeks, designed to support the release of key hormones, promote relaxation, and build energy for a natural birth.

If you'd like to discuss this further, please get in touch and we can talk through how best to support you.

For further info relating to the content, please read Debra Betts - 2006 http://researchgate.net/publication/228804647_Inducing_Labour_with_Acupuncture-Crucial_Considerations

References

(i) Hassanzadeh Bashtian M, Latifnejad Roudsari R, Sadeghi R. Effects of Acupuncture on Anxiety in Infertile Women: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Journal of Midwifery and Reproductive Health. 2017; 5(1): 842-848. DOI: 10.22038/jmrh.2016.7949

(ii)Chou, F.-H., Lin, L.-L., Cooney, A. T., Walker, L. O., & Riggs, M. W. (2003). Psychosocial factors related to nausea, vomiting, and fatigue in early pregnancy. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 35(2), 119–125. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1547-5069.2003.00119.x 

(iii) Hu, Y., Yang, Q., & Hu, X. (2024). The efficacy and safety of acupuncture and moxibustion for the management of nausea and vomiting in pregnant women: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Heliyon, 10(2), Article e24439. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24439 

(iv) Streitberger, K., Ezzo, J., & Schneider, A. (2006). Acupuncture for nausea and vomiting: An update of clinical and experimental studies. Autonomic Neuroscience, 129(1–2), 107–117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autneu.2006.07.003 

(v) Kvorning, N., Holmberg, C., Grennert, L., Åberg, A. E., & Åkeson, J. (2004). Acupuncture relieves pelvic and low-back pain in late pregnancy. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 83(3), 246–250. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0001-6349.2004.0215.x