When you are pregnant, everything you put in your body and anything done to your body becomes a question of safety — for two people. Acupuncture during pregnancy is often surrounded by uncertainty, caution, and conflicting information. Some healthcare providers enthusiastically support it. Others advise against it. At Nature’s Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture Clinic in Belmont, we want to give you an evidence-based, honest answer to the question of whether acupuncture is safe during pregnancy — because you deserve clarity rather than vague reassurance.
The Short Answer: Yes — With Important Conditions
- ✔ Acupuncture is safe during pregnancy when performed by a qualified, experienced practitioner
- ✔ The practitioner must know which acupuncture points are contraindicated in pregnancy
- ✔ These contraindicated points are avoided completely in our clinic throughout pregnancy
- ✔ Pregnancy-specific protocols are used — different from standard adult treatment
- ✔ Research across thousands of pregnant patients shows no increased miscarriage or adverse outcomes with proper acupuncture
- ✔ The first trimester carries the most perceived risk — extra caution is used, but treatment is safe and often very helpful
- ✔ After 20 weeks, lateral positioning (lying on the side) is used to avoid aorto-caval compression
- ✔ Communication with your obstetrician or midwife is always encouraged and we welcome contact from your obstetric team
The Points That Are Contraindicated in Pregnancy
There are specific acupuncture points that are traditionally contraindicated during pregnancy because they have strong moving, descending, or uterine-stimulating effects. These include points in the lower abdomen, points on the sacrum and lower lumbar spine, and specific distal points on the hands and feet. An experienced obstetric acupuncturist knows precisely which points to avoid at each stage of pregnancy, and uses alternative points to achieve therapeutic effects safely. This is the critical distinction: acupuncture in pregnancy is not dangerous — uninformed needling of contraindicated points by an inexperienced practitioner is where the concern lies. All practitioners at our clinic have specific training in obstetric acupuncture protocols.
Key Takeaway: At our clinic, we have specific obstetric acupuncture protocols for every stage of pregnancy. We do not apply standard adult treatment to pregnant patients — we use pregnancy-specific approaches that are safe, evidence-based, and tailored to each trimester’s needs.
Safety Across the Trimesters
- • Contraindicated points strictly avoided
- • Gentle, supportive protocols only
- • Focus on nausea, fatigue, emotional support
- • Full range of pregnancy-safe treatments available
- • Lateral positioning from 20 weeks
- • Back, pelvis, digestion, headaches all addressed safely
- • Moxibustion for breech from 33 weeks
- • Labour preparation acupuncture from 36 weeks
- • Anxiety and sleep support in the final weeks
Our practitioners at Nature’s Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture Clinic in Belmont are registered with AHPRA. Most private health funds cover acupuncture — check your HICAPS extras cover.
What Does the Research Show?
Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 2002 (Smith et al.)
No adverse outcomes in 593 pregnant women receiving acupuncture in the first trimester — nausea significantly reduced
Acupuncture in Medicine, 2019
No evidence of increased risk of miscarriage or adverse foetal outcomes when pregnancy-appropriate protocols are used
Birth, 2004
Acupuncture significantly more effective than physiotherapy for pelvic pain in pregnant women — no adverse outcomes reported
Midwifery, 2018
Women receiving acupuncture from 36 weeks had shorter first stage of labour and lower rates of medical intervention
Practical Tips
What Helps
- ✅ Tell your acupuncturist you are pregnant at every appointment — even early pregnancy when not yet showing
- ✅ Tell your obstetrician or midwife you are receiving acupuncture — we welcome communication with your obstetric team
- ✅ Ask your acupuncturist specifically about their experience with obstetric acupuncture
- ✅ Rest after your session — the body is doing significant work during pregnancy and treatment
- ✅ Report any unusual symptoms in the 24 hours after acupuncture to your acupuncturist and your obstetrician
What to Avoid
- ❌ Don’t receive acupuncture from a practitioner who has not clarified that they know the pregnancy contraindications
- ❌ Avoid applying acupressure or moxa at home without specific instruction from your practitioner
- ❌ Don’t lie flat on your back for treatment after 20 weeks — always use lateral positioning
- ❌ Avoid acupuncture if you have severe placenta praevia, active threatened miscarriage, or other contraindications advised by your obstetrician
- ❌ Don’t delay treatment for severe morning sickness — hyperemesis can require hospitalisation and acupuncture started early is more effective
Frequently Asked Questions
Can acupuncture cause miscarriage?
When performed by a qualified obstetric acupuncturist using pregnancy-appropriate protocols, there is no evidence that acupuncture causes miscarriage. Multiple large studies including a 593-patient RCT have shown no increased miscarriage risk with properly conducted pregnancy acupuncture. The concern relates to untrained practitioners using contraindicated points — which experienced obstetric acupuncturists do not use.
I am 8 weeks pregnant and very nauseous — can I start acupuncture now?
Yes, and we recommend starting as soon as possible. Eight weeks is within the first trimester, where we use our most cautious protocol — but treatment at this stage is very effective for morning sickness and completely safe in experienced hands. Early treatment produces faster resolution of nausea.
Can my obstetrician refer me for acupuncture?
Yes. Some obstetricians do refer patients for acupuncture for morning sickness, back pain, and breech presentation. You do not need a referral — you can self-refer — but we welcome and encourage communication with your obstetric team.
Is moxibustion safe during pregnancy?
Moxibustion — gentle warming of a specific point using compressed herb — is used at specific points during pregnancy, most notably BL67 for breech presentation. Applied correctly to the appropriate point, it is safe. It is specifically not applied to points that could over-heat the abdomen or uterus. Your practitioner will only use moxibustion in pregnancy after careful assessment.
What if I have had a previous miscarriage?
A history of miscarriage requires additional caution and specific protocols, particularly in the first trimester. We are experienced in treating women with a history of miscarriage and use gentle, stabilising protocols. We communicate closely with your obstetric team in these cases.
Can acupuncture be used to bring on labour?
Labour induction acupuncture is different to the pre-birth preparation from 36 weeks. We do not aim to induce labour before the due date without obstetric assessment and confirmation that the pregnancy is at term and induction is appropriate. We work within the guidance of your obstetric team.