Pregnancy
Prenatal acupuncture
A prenatal visit is a quiet hour. I use fine, single-use needles at a small number of points, with you propped on pillows or lying on your side so you are comfortable the whole time. Your midwife or OB-GYN stays in charge of your care, and I work alongside them.
People come in for rest, for sleep, for aches in the back, hips and pelvis, and for a calm hour before the baby comes. I don't promise that any of it will change, and I will say so if I think another kind of care fits better.
Side-lying or propped on pillows
Fine, single-use needles
Your midwife or OB-GYN stays in the lead
You can stop at any time
A visit, in order
What a visit is like
A visit takes about 50 minutes after the first.
- 01
Step 1: We talk
I ask how you are, what your midwife or doctor has said lately and everything you take.
- 02
Step 2: I find a position
Side-lying or propped on pillows, with a blanket, so nothing pulls or presses.
- 03
Step 3: Needles, then rest
A few fine needles, left in for about 20 minutes. You rest, and I stay close and check on you.
- 04
Step 4: Tea and a plan
A cup of tea, a few words on what to watch for at home, and a time for your next visit if you want one.
Before you book
A few things to know
What you may feel afterward
Most people feel sleepy or calm. Some have light soreness where a needle was, or a small bruise. A few feel light-headed when they stand, so I help you up slowly.
Tell me first
Please say if any of these apply, and tell me about everything you take.
How far along you are, or if you might be pregnant
Blood thinners, or a bleeding disorder
A pacemaker, if electro-stimulation is suggested
Lymph node removal on either side
Fear of needles: say so and we go slowly
How many visits
Many people start with a visit every week or two and look again after a few. It is my plan for you, never a promise, and you can change it.
Being honest
What it doesn't do, and when to see a doctor instead
Acupuncture does not replace prenatal care, and it does not replace your midwife, your OB-GYN or any medicine you take. I can't tell you what is happening in your pregnancy, and I won't try.
Call your midwife or doctor first, or go to an emergency room, for bleeding, severe pain, fluid leaking, a fever, a bad headache with changes in vision, or if your baby moves less than usual. In an emergency, call 911.
Ready for a first visit?
Tell me who is in your care and when you are free.