Acupuncture in pregnancy
Whether you struggled to get pregnant or were one of the lucky ones who conceived the very first month you tried, you’re here now, at the beginning of an amazing 40 week journey.
Perhaps you had acupuncture whilst trying to conceive, or maybe you’re just looking into whether it can be helpful during the next 9 months. Either way, this little guide is here to help you decide.
Should you have acupuncture when you’re pregnant
The truth is that if you’re happy, healthy, eating well and pain and anxiety free, you don’t actually NEED acupuncture. But it can be an amazing resource if you’re suffering from classic symptoms such as
- morning sickness
- backache
- feeling exhausted or anxious
- not sleeping very well
… or if you’re just feeling stressed or in need of an energy boost.
Most women prefer to stay away from over-the-counter medicines whilst they’re pregnant to protect their baby. Acupuncture is a safe, gentle and drug free, alternative and alongside dealing with conditions arising from the pregnancy itself, it can safely treat those miserable real-world issues such as headache or hay fever.
What to expect from your treatment
Your treatment would be based on a Chinese diagnosis of your own energetic imbalances, so ‘your’ points are likely to differ from another person. Having said that, there are famous, commonly used points for morning sickness or turning a breech position baby. There are also points that are traditionally prohibited in pregnancy.
In case you’ve never had acupuncture, the needles are made of stainless steel, hair fine, sterile and single use. You hardly feel them go in – and you don’t need to look if you don’t want to!
Acupuncture support per Trimester
Most women sail through their pregnancy with no real problems beyond the infamous morning sickness, but each trimester can bring a variety of challenges as the baby grows
Change of trimester and ‘happy baby’ treatments
There’s a tradition of treating the mother and baby at the end of each trimester. This is said to ‘nourish the baby in the womb’ and ensure that it has only mild attacks of the usual childhood illnesses. In theory, it should also be born a good natured and happy baby!
1st Trimester
Morning sickness
The thing I see most in the first trimester is morning sickness. There is a range of morning sickness from mild nausea to hyperemesis gravidarum – the kind of perpetual sickness Princess Catherine suffered from with her pregnancies. This is a serious condition which can lead to dehydration and malnutrition, as you can’t keep anything down and it shouldn’t be treated with acupuncture without the say-so of your consultant.
Otherwise, acupuncture can be extremely effective in controlling nausea and vomiting, without any side effects. Alongside the famous point on the inner wrist(Pericardium 6) there are several other specifically helpful points, and ear seeds or small magnets can be useful take-aways after treatment.
Depending on how bad your morning sickness is, you will probably require 4-6 treatments
Tiredness and fatigue
Although nothing is apparent to the naked eye, your body is going through big changes during this first three months and you will probably expect to still be living the life you always did. This is tiring!
Acupuncture can really help restore your energy, reduce stress and anxiety and help you feel more able to cope.
Spotting
About 25% of pregnant women have some spotting in early pregnancy. It’s often completely benign, but can be terrifying as you worry about a miscarriage.
First and foremost, it’s essential to see your GP or midwife if you have any bleeding at all whilst you’re pregnant, especially if its more than a spot.
Once your medical team has given the all-clear, acupuncture can be incredibly supportive for calming your anxiety and what Chinese medicine traditionally calls a “restless foetus.”
Miscellaneous symptoms
Headaches and constipation are not at all uncommon in these first few months as hormones change, and acupuncture can really help with both.
2nd Trimester
The second trimester is actually ‘the best’! Most women feel healthy and happy, their energy is coming back, the morning sickness has passed and you’ve settled into your new reality.
None the less, a variety of aches and pains can raise their heads. Think about it, everything in your abdomen is moving over to make room for the baby and the expanding bump presses down on the pelvic bowl and up into the diaphragm.
Digestive and bowel issues
Digestive issues such as heartburn and indigestion can be quite distressing and put you off eating. Basic self help steps include eating smaller, simpler, more frequent meals and not eating too close to bedtime.
Constipation can be really uncomfortable and add to a general feeling of fatigue. Make sure you get adequate fluid to help keep the stool soft and traditional remedies like prune juice can be helpful. A word of warning, although fibre is a really important for a healthy bowel, don’t suddenly go fibre mad, as too much can cause bloating.
Too much straining when you go to the toilet can also contribute to haemorrhoids (piles) which are not great if you’ve already got several kilos of baby and uterine contents pressing downward.
Muscle and joint pains
As the baby gets bigger, you might start to get a variety of physical aches and pains such as back ache, hip pain, pain in the ribs and symphysis pubis pain (the join in your pubic bone.
How can acupuncture help
Acupuncture can treat many of these discomforts without harming the baby, and In general, if you’ve got a bothersome symptom such as a headaches, urinary tract infection, hay fever, feeling itchy, it’s always worth checking with your acupuncturist to see if they can help. But as ever, check in with your midwife or consultant first.
3rd Trimester
By this time the baby is really quite big and taking up loads of space and your body is working really hard to carry the extra weight. As a result, it’s incredibly common to experience a mix of physical fatigue, structural aches, and a bit of late-stage anxiety.
Acupuncture can be a wonderful, drug-free resource to support both you and your baby through this phase.
Supporting Your Body and Mind
Common 3rd trimester challenges include:
- Physical Discomforts: Helping to ease structural strains like leg cramps, abdominal tightness, lower back pain, fluid retention (oedema), and carpal tunnel syndrome caused by late-pregnancy swelling.
- Systemic Support: Addressing systemic exhaustion, managing pregnancy-induced anaemia, and calming the mind to combat insomnia and late-stage anxiety.
- Baby’s Growth: Traditional treatments can also be used to support optimal blood flow and nourishment if a baby is measuring small for date.
Baby upside down – turning a breech position baby
Sometimes babies don’t manage to get themselves into quite the right position for birth.
There’s a simple traditional Chinese medicine treatment, using a warming herb called moxa, which can be very effective in encouraging these babies to turn into a head down position. It involves 10 daily treatments starting around week 35. After the initial treatment, it’s something you can do at home. It’s safe, non-invasive, drug free, and honestly, a bit mysterious!
Preparing for Birth
Pre-birth acupuncture can help you be in the best possible place come your due date.
Beginning around week 36, weekly treatments can help:
- Calm “pre-performance” nerves and anxiety.
- Help you go into labour ‘on time’
- Ripen the cervix and establish efficient contractions, which can considerably reduce the length of labour (especially for first-time mothers).
- Reduce the likelihood of medical interventions or need for medical induction.
- Prepare your body and mind beautifully if you have a planned Caesarean section.
The 4th Trimester – Post natal recovery
After the birth your emotions can run the gamut from elation to deep vulnerability, all whilst dealing with physical exhaustion.
According to Chinese medicine, this delicate transitional state is the perfect time for acupuncture. It is wonderful for “calming the shen” (your spirit and emotional centre) and gently helping you get back to feeling like yourself again.
Acupuncture and traditional care be a tremendous support across a few key areas of your recovery:
1. Emotional Well-being & Rest
The sudden hormonal shift combined with sleep deprivation can take a heavy toll.
Treatment focuses on soothing the nervous system to help with:
- The “baby blues”, anxiety, and post-delivery stress.
- Deep exhaustion and mild postnatal depression.
- Improving the quality of whatever precious sleep you can get.
2. Physical Healing & Uterine Recovery
Your body has been through a monumental physical event. Acupuncture helps encourage efficient physical healing by addressing:
- Persistent after-pains and strengthening the uterus.
- Managing standard postnatal discharge (lochia) and night sweats.
- Easing urinary problems and perineal soreness from tears or cuts.
- Specialised scar tissue treatments to aid recovery after a Caesarean section.
3. Breastfeeding Support
If you choose to breastfeed, the early weeks can sometimes be challenging as your supply establishes. Acupuncture can help smooth out the bumps by:
- Encouraging a plentiful milk supply if you are experiencing a lack of milk.
- Relieving the painful discomfort of engorged breasts, blocked ducts, or early-stage mastitis.
Mother Roasting
Many cultures have a tradition of ‘warming’ the mother after childbirth. In Chinese medicine this is often called ‘mother roasting’.
Using a smouldering herb called moxa, warmth is gently applied to specific acupuncture points on the abdomen and lower back. It is an intensely soothing, and rewarding post natal ritual which, beyond protecting your own health, acknowledges the trials of childbirth and welcomes you into the world of motherhood
A bit about Eating for pregnancy
Nutrition is a vast subject, so for no-nonsense Western dietary guidelines, I highly recommend checking mainstream resources like the NHS or RCOG healthy eating pages.
It’s completely natural that most of the focus in pregnancy falls on the baby, but your own health is just as important. If you are healthy and vital, your baby will be too. Eating a regular, well-balanced diet provides the nutrients needed for your growing baby, alongside the energy you will need for labour and early motherhood.
The colourful Chinese approach to eating for pregnancy
In Chinese medicine, a pregnancy diet is all about creating balance and harmony between the organs and energies supporting you both.
The Five Elements theory uses a wonderfully simple “five colour foods” system as a rule of thumb. When you are tired or out of patience, simply trying to get a mix of these five colours onto your plate across the day is an easy way to ensure you are getting a broad spectrum of essential vitamins and minerals.
This is a really basic list, and you mustn’t lose sight of getting enough protein and good fats. Again, refer to the NHS or RCOG sites for that kind of info.
| Elements/organs | Food colour | Focus in pregnancy | Example foods |
| Liver | Green | Ensures the smooth flow of Qi and regulates Blood as your physical blood volume expands. | Spinach, brocolli, avocados, beans |
| Heart | Red | Nourishes the Blood and calms the Shen (spirit), supporting vascular changes and emotional peace. | Berries, tomatos, pomegranate, red pepper |
| Spleen/stomach | Yellow/orange/brown | Supports Post-Heaven Qi and Blood production; strengthens digestion to lift and hold the pregnancy. | Whole grains, sweet potato, peppers, ginger |
| Lungs | White | Moistens the lungs and protects Wei Qi (immunity), supporting your body’s defensive boundaries. | Apples, pears, onions, garlic, tofu |
| Kidneys | Dark (eg black purple) | Nourishes Jing (essence) and Kidney Yin—the foundational reservoir for fetal development. | Plums, Aubergines, beetroot, dark beans |
It is also fascinating how many Chinese herbs are already sitting in your kitchen. Ginger, for example, is a absolute marvel—brilliant for easing morning sickness, and equally helpful for recovering if you catch a cold.
Chinese rules for sensible eating
Beyond what you eat, Chinese medicine places huge importance on how you eat. To protect your digestive energy, try to follow these simple guidelines:
- Eat warming, easily digestible foods: Favour cooked meals over raw ones. Soups and stews are fantastic—especially bone broth if you are an omnivore.
- Avoid cold or cooling foods: Limit raw foods and avoid drinking large amounts of chilled fluids with your meals.
- Slow down: Take your time, chew your food well, and try not to eat when you are stressed or rushing.
- Keep it light: Avoid over-eating, and go easy on heavy, fatty foods or excessive dairy.
🍃A note on taking herbs & supplements
While everyday kitchen herbs like ginger are wonderful, please do not self-medicate with medicinal herbs or high-dose supplements without discussing it with your midwife, GP, or a qualified practitioner.
Just as certain acupuncture points are prohibited during pregnancy, some herbs are far too ‘moving’ or strong for this delicate time. Stick to standard pregnancy vitamins and always check first.
I hope you found this little guide helpful and I wish you all the best as you sail through your happy, healthy pregnancy
