Gentle, evidence-informed TCM support for North Shore mums through every stage — from first trimester discomfort to post-natal recovery.
Book a Pregnancy Consult Ask a QuestionPregnancy acupuncture at Health Therapies Clinics draws on more than two thousand years of Traditional Chinese Medicine practice, refined through modern clinical research. Our Lane Cove practitioners provide safe, compassionate support for women throughout all three trimesters — and into the post-natal period — helping to ease common pregnancy discomforts and encourage your body's natural capacity to adapt.
We understand that pregnancy is not simply a physical experience. Hormonal shifts, anxiety about birth, physical discomforts and the profound emotional weight of becoming a parent all converge. Acupuncture addresses body, mind and constitution together, making it well suited to the complexity of pregnancy care.
Our practitioners work in close collaboration with your obstetrician, midwife or GP, and we always request details of your current care plan at your initial consultation. We support women across Lane Cove, Artarmon, Chatswood, Willoughby and surrounding North Shore suburbs, and are experienced with high-risk pregnancies where acupuncture may form part of an integrative care team.
Initial Consultation: $200 / 90 minutes
Follow-up: $175 / 60 minutes
Telehealth / Herbal: $95 / 30 minutes
Hours: Monday – Sunday, 9am – 9pm
Location: Suite 1, Level 1, 141 Longueville Road, Lane Cove NSW 2066
Private Health: HICAPS available — Medibank, BUPA, HCF, NIB, HBF, AHM
Book OnlineThe body's needs change dramatically week by week during pregnancy. Our practitioners tailor point prescriptions and treatment frequency to your specific trimester, symptoms and constitution.
One of the most researched applications of Traditional Chinese Medicine in obstetric care is the use of moxibustion at acupuncture point BL-67 (Zhiyin), located at the outer corner of the little toenail, to encourage a breech baby to turn to the head-down (cephalic) position.
Moxa involves the gentle warming of this point using a moxa stick made from dried mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris). The warming stimulation is thought to increase foetal movement and encourage spontaneous version. Treatment is typically recommended from around 34 weeks gestation, as this is when there is still sufficient space for the baby to turn.
The evidence base for moxibustion in breech presentation includes several clinical trials and systematic reviews. While results vary, many practitioners and obstetricians now regard it as a reasonable first step before considering external cephalic version (ECV). We will always advise you to discuss this with your obstetrician or midwife before beginning treatment.
Importantly, we also teach partners to apply moxa safely at home between clinic sessions, maximising the cumulative effect of daily stimulation over two to three weeks.
From 36 weeks, weekly acupuncture sessions are used to prepare the body for labour. Pre-birth acupuncture focuses on softening and ripening the cervix, encouraging optimal foetal positioning, supporting the pelvis and perineum, and calming the nervous system in preparation for the work of birth.
Point selections at this stage typically include SP-6, BL-32, BL-60, GB-21 and LI-4 — many of which are considered "forbidden points" in earlier pregnancy but are actively used at term precisely because of their descending and moving actions. Research by Debra Betts and colleagues in New Zealand has suggested that women receiving weekly pre-birth acupuncture from 36 weeks may have lower rates of medical induction and caesarean section, though individual outcomes vary considerably.
Post-natal acupuncture is equally important — supporting recovery from birth, encouraging milk supply, addressing post-natal mood changes and helping new mothers rebuild energy and vitality in the weeks after delivery.
Many pregnant women arrive having read online warnings about acupuncture points that are "forbidden in pregnancy". This is a reasonable concern that we address openly and honestly.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, certain acupuncture points are traditionally avoided in pregnancy because of their strong descending, moving or stimulating actions — particularly in the first trimester when the pregnancy is most vulnerable. Points such as SP-6, LI-4, BL-60, GB-21 and several others on the lower limbs carry this traditional caution.
However, "forbidden" does not mean permanently off-limits. These points are avoided at inappropriate times (e.g. first trimester) and used intentionally when their actions are desired (e.g. pre-birth preparation at 36+ weeks). A qualified, pregnancy-trained acupuncturist understands the distinction clearly. Our practitioners have completed specific post-graduate training in obstetric acupuncture and do not apply a blanket avoidance that would deprive you of effective treatment options at the right time.
Pericardium 6 (Neiguan), located on the inner forearm, is perhaps the best-researched acupuncture point in Western medicine — thanks largely to its effectiveness for nausea. It is also the point targeted by acupressure wristbands commonly sold in pharmacies for travel sickness and morning sickness.
Research including Cochrane reviews has examined PC-6 stimulation for nausea and vomiting in various contexts, including pregnancy. Combined with Stomach 36 (Zusanli) for digestive support and energy, these points form the core of our first-trimester nausea protocols. Treatment is gentle, brief and well tolerated even in the nauseated mother.
Your initial pregnancy acupuncture consultation at our Lane Cove clinic runs for 90 minutes and is comprehensive. Here is what the session typically involves:
We take a thorough medical and obstetric history, including your current care team, any complications, previous pregnancies and miscarriages, and your primary concerns for this pregnancy. We review your blood work, ultrasound reports and any specialist notes you can share.
We assess your TCM constitution through tongue and pulse diagnosis — examining how your body's Qi, Blood, Yin, Yang and Fluids are distributed. This informs a treatment plan that is uniquely yours, not a generic protocol. Pregnancy affects the pulse and tongue considerably, and your practitioner is trained to interpret these changes accurately.
You will lie comfortably on a treatment table — often on your side from the second trimester — while fine, sterile, single-use needles are inserted. Sessions are calm and restful; many women sleep through them. We use the fewest needles needed to achieve a therapeutic effect, particularly in the first trimester.
Following your first session, we will recommend a treatment frequency appropriate to your trimester and goals. First-trimester visits may be weekly to address acute symptoms; second-trimester sessions often reduce to fortnightly; pre-birth preparation returns to weekly from 36 weeks. Post-natal sessions are scheduled as needed.
When performed by a qualified, pregnancy-trained practitioner, acupuncture is generally considered safe during pregnancy. Our practitioners hold relevant qualifications, complete ongoing professional development in obstetric acupuncture, and follow evidence-based safety guidelines including avoidance of traditionally contraindicated points at inappropriate gestational stages. We recommend you inform your midwife or obstetrician that you are receiving acupuncture.
This depends on your trimester and symptoms. For morning sickness, most women notice improvement within two to four sessions. For pre-birth preparation, we recommend weekly sessions from 36 weeks until labour. Breech moxibustion protocols typically run for two to three weeks. Your practitioner will give you a personalised recommendation at your first consultation.
Acupuncture needles are extremely fine — far thinner than a hypodermic needle — and most women report little to no discomfort on insertion. You may feel a brief sensation of heaviness, tingling or warmth at the needle site, which is the sensation of Qi arriving and is considered a positive sign. Many pregnant women find sessions deeply relaxing and fall asleep during treatment.
Yes. We use HICAPS for on-the-spot claiming with Medibank, BUPA, HCF, NIB, HBF and AHM. The rebate amount depends on your policy and level of cover. We recommend contacting your insurer before your appointment to confirm your acupuncture entitlements.
Acupuncture can be a valuable part of post-natal support, and we work with new mothers experiencing mood changes, anxiety, exhaustion and the difficult adjustment to parenthood. Post-natal care may also include referral to our psychotherapy practitioner where appropriate. Please note acupuncture is not a substitute for professional psychological or psychiatric care.
We can support women with complex or high-risk pregnancies, but we do so only in communication with your obstetric care team. Please bring relevant medical documentation to your first appointment. Some high-risk conditions may require us to modify treatment significantly or advise that acupuncture is not appropriate at this time.
Our Lane Cove clinic is open seven days, 9am–9pm. Serving North Shore mums from Chatswood, Artarmon, Willoughby, St Leonards and beyond.
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