By Dr. Monee Dulay, DACM, AEMP | Rooted Flow Wellness
Pregnancy is one of the most extraordinary experiences a person can go through — and one of the most physically demanding. From morning sickness to an aching back, and everything else in between, pregnancy can sometimes feel more like a marathon. That’s why more expecting parents are turning to acupuncture as a way to find relief, restoration, and a little bit of calm along the way.
Is It Actually Safe During Pregnancy?
This is usually the first question — and a very reasonable one. The reassuring answer is: yes, acupuncture is widely considered safe during pregnancy when performed by a qualified, experienced practitioner. This is backed by major medical organizations, such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), who lists acupuncture as a reasonable treatment option for pregnancy-related conditions [1]. It is important to note that a small number of acupuncture points are either avoided or used only in specific circumstances during pregnancy — particularly specific points on the lower abdomen, shoulders, lower back, ankles and hands that may stimulate uterine contractions. A practitioner trained in prenatal acupuncture will know exactly which points to use, and which to skip, at each stage of your pregnancy.
What Can Acupuncture Help With During Pregnancy?
Quite a lot, and here’s a trimester-by-trimester look at what the research supports.
First Trimester: Nausea, Fatigue & Emotional Balance
Morning sickness affects the vast majority of pregnant women, and it can range from mildly annoying to completely debilitating. A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis found that acupuncture combined with standard care may be more effective at reducing nausea and vomiting in pregnancy than medication alone [2]. Stimulation of the point Pericardium 6, located on the inner wrist, has been particularly studied for this purpose. Beyond nausea, acupuncture can also help with the profound fatigue that often hits in early pregnancy as well as the emotional ups and downs that come with a big life transition. Many women describe leaving their first sessions feeling notably calmer and more grounded.
Second Trimester: Pain, Headaches & Round Ligament Discomfort
As your belly expands, your body shifts to accommodate the changes. Back pain, pelvic girdle pain, sciatica, and round ligament discomfort are all common concerns of the second trimester. Acupuncture has demonstrated effectiveness for lower back pain in pregnant women across multiple systematic reviews, including studies published in Heliyon in 2023 [3]. A Cochrane review examining acupuncture for pelvic and back pain during pregnancy found no adverse effects on pregnancy outcomes — and significant benefit for many women [4].
Acupuncture can help relax tense muscles, improve circulation, and address the musculoskeletal imbalances that contribute to these aches — often providing relief that’s hard to find elsewhere when many pain medications are not an option.
Third Trimester: Sleep, Anxiety, Breech Position & Labor Preparation
Sleep becomes harder to come by as your bump grows, and anxiety about the birth itself often intensifies. Acupuncture aids in improving sleep quality and duration, helping you get the rest you genuinely need. It can also assist with fluid metabolism to ease puffiness of swollen feet and ankles.
One of the more fascinating applications is helping to turn a breech baby. When combined with moxibustion (the burning of the herb mugwort near specific acupuncture points), studies have shown promising results in encouraging babies to move into the correct head-down position — ideally starting around 32–34 weeks [5].
In the final weeks, acupuncture sessions are aimed at supporting the body’s preparation for labor — helping the baby settle into an optimal position, supporting cervical ripening, and calming pre-birth anxiety. Research suggests that women who receive pre-birth acupuncture tend to have shorter labours and lower rates of medical induction [6]. Interestingly, ACOG has specifically approved acupuncture for managing labour pain [1].
Emotional Wellbeing Throughout
Pregnancy is an emotional journey, and the hormonal shifts, life changes, and anticipatory anxiety that come with it are real. Acupuncture has a calming effect on the nervous system that many clients describe as deeply settling — a sense of being brought back to themselves. For those navigating prenatal anxiety, mood swings, or simply the general overwhelm of impending parenthood, regular sessions can offer a genuine sense of grounding.
How Often Should I Go?
This depends on what you’re treating and what stage of pregnancy you’re in. For managing active symptoms like morning sickness or back pain, weekly sessions are typical. Your specific treatment plan will be discussed during your initial session and adjusted accordingly throughout the pregnancy.
One session can be helpful, but acupuncture works cumulatively — each treatment building on the last. Many women who start in the first trimester continue throughout their pregnancy, finding that regular sessions help them feel more settled in their changing body.
A Final Thought
Pregnancy is a time when you want to feel supported — body, mind, and spirit. Acupuncture offers something genuinely valuable: a safe, evidence-informed, deeply relaxing form of support that honors the wholeness of what you’re going through.
At Rooted Flow Wellness in Issaquah, WA we know no two pregnancies are alike. Therefore we strive to provide individualized and tailored treatments to unlock optimal health and pregnancy success. If you have questions about prenatal acupuncture and are looking for support with your pregnancy journey, book a session with us today, and let us guide you in discovering natural and compassionate paths to wellness during this precious time.
References
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Complementary and Integrative Approaches in Obstetrics and Gynecology. October 2021. https://www.acog.org
- Liu T, et al. “Effectiveness and safety of acupuncture in treatment of pregnancy-related symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis.” PMC/NIH, published February 2024. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10774725/
- Li R, et al. “Efficacy and safety of acupuncture for pregnancy-related low back pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis.” Heliyon, 9(8), 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18439
- Cochrane Review on acupuncture for pelvic and back pain in pregnancy. Referenced in: Fifth Avenue Fertility Wellness. https://fifthavenuefertilitywellness.com/blog/acupuncture-during-pregnancy
- Neri I, et al. “Acupuncture plus moxibustion to resolve breech presentation: a randomized controlled study.” The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine, 15(4), 2004. https://doi.org/10.1080/14767050410001668644
- 6. Zamora-Brito M, et al. “The role of acupuncture in the present approach to labor induction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.” American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM, 2023; 6