Acupuncture for Pregnancy and Nutrition Support
How do you build a new human? With good nutrition, care and lots of love! If you're a mom-to-be, here's how we can support you.
Your body is doing something amazing!
Let us support you throughout this journey.
Acupuncture and nutrition can:
- Increase fertility and likelihood of conception
- Relieve anxiety pre-conception and during pregnancy
- Reduce symptoms during pregnancy
- Improve health of mom and baby
- Help with labour induction
- Reduce likelihood of birth interventions
- Improve recovery time after birth
- Increase breast milk production
HOW WE CAN HELP
Acupuncture for Pregnancy, Pre and Postnatal Support in Toronto and the GTA
You're growing a whole new person. We can help every step of the way.
- ✔ Conception
- Discover acupuncture for fertility
- ✔ Anxiety, pre-pregnancy and during pregnancy
- Acupuncture for anxiety is very effective
- Acupuncture can be safely administered during pregnancy
- ✔ Nausea
- If you are experiencing daily nausea that prevents you from nourishing your body and your baby, acupuncture treatments 2–3 times per week may be necessary until symptoms become manageable.
- If symptoms are mild and you can continue your typical daily routine, weekly treatments are often sufficient to reduce nausea and improve appetite.
- ✔ Hemorrhoids
- Helpful when pain medications are not suitable
- Can control other types of pain
- Can be effectively combined with other treatments
- No side effects — acupuncture is a safe treatment option
- Needles are not inserted at or near the affected area
- ✔ Breech baby
- Acupuncture combined with moxibustion can help turn a breech-positioned baby
- Moxibustion uses gentle heat from herbal sticks to stimulate the uterus
- Treatments are most effective between weeks 32–36 of pregnancy, when there is more room for the baby to turn
- ✔ Preparation for labour & delivery
- Regular acupuncture from week 36 until delivery can help prepare the body and promote relaxation and restful sleep
- Before labour begins, acupuncture may help prepare the cervix, release oxytocin, and encourage a more natural, efficient labour
- ✔ Labor induction
- Once the due date has passed, acupuncture for natural labour encouragement can be of help.
- Acupuncture naturally enhances the labour process; it is gentle and safe.
- If medical induction is still needed, acupuncture may help the process go more smoothly.
- ✔ Lactation
- Acupuncture can significantly boost breastmilk quantity
- Can help with lack of lactation, insufficient supply, breast swelling, and breast abscesses
- May reduce inflammation in cases of blocked ducts or mastitis
- ✔ Post-partum depression and anxiety
- Postpartum acupuncture can offer calming treatments and reduce feelings of anxiety and depression
- Can complement other forms of support you may be using during this time
- ✔ Post-partum aches and pains
- You may still experience pregnancy-related aches, as well as upper back and arm pain from holding your baby
- Postpartum acupuncture can treat muscular pain and help the body adjust to its new demands
- ✔ Re-starting your cycle after giving birth
- Acupuncture combined with moxibustion gently warms the lower abdomen to rejuvenate the uterus and support the return of the menstrual cycle
- Moxibustion may help the uterus contract to its pre-pregnancy size, reduce blood loss, boost energy, and feel deeply relaxing
- This treatment can also support lactation
Ready to Get Started?
Click to book your acupuncture for pregnancy session.
Have questions? Arrange for a No-cost 10-minute Discovery Call and speak directly with Eileen to learn more.
Nutrition for Pregnancy, Pre and Postnatal Support in Toronto and the GTA
A Complete Nutrition Plan Every Step of the Way
- ✔ Recipes and meal ideas rich in protein, iron, folic acid, omega-3s, iodine, and other vital nutrients
- ✔ Supplementation advice — how to find the right prenatal vitamin for you
- ✔ Support for pregnancy symptoms — nausea, heartburn, constipation, fatigue, and anxiety
- ✔ Herbs to avoid during pregnancy
- ✔ Safe herbal teas to drink during pregnancy
- ✔ Herbs to prepare for labour
- ✔ Herbs for lactation
- ✔ Herbs for postpartum care (e.g., sitz baths, hemorrhoids, etc.)
Leaning into the Cravings
There are many old wife’s tales about pregnancy, such as: if you have heartburn, your baby will be born with lots of hair.
Also, if the baby sits very low, it’s a boy or possibly a girl, I forget which.
My favorite is one from Italian culture: if you don’t eat what you are craving during pregnancy, then the baby will be born with a birthmark in the shape of that food.
If you have a lot of cravings during pregnancy or if you have food aversions, the best thing you can do is just go with it.
It’s not worth the added stress of trying to force yourself to eat what you think you “should'' eat.
Instead, we can help you work with what you want to eat and then adjust it to ensure you get all the nutrients needed.
Even if you’re craving something unsafe for pregnancy (like sushi), we can help you find alternatives!
Nutrition Consulting
Click to book your nutrition session for pregnancy support..
Have questions? Book a Free 10-minute Discovery Call with Kirsten or Eileen and get your questions answered!
Your Questions Answered
Yes, acupuncture can help to relieve nausea during pregnancy. We also have some nutrition tips to help with nausea, you may be surprised to discover that saltines aren’t always the answer!
Yes, nutrition can help with both the management and prevention of gestational diabetes, including carbohydrate intake management, glucose management and ensuring the specific intake of vitamins and minerals needed for both pregnancy and gestational diabetes. Diet and Healthy Lifestyle in the Management of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
Acupuncture and moxibustion have been shown in clinical studies to have a positive effect on turning breech babies. We recommend contacting our clinic as early as 32-34 weeks, as this timeframe will increase the likelihood for success.
Moxibustion is a part of Traditional Chinese medicine like acupuncture (and often accompanies acupuncture). It involves using burning mugwort leaves (a Chinese herb), 1-2 inches above the skin surface, to gently warm and stimulate the qi – life force or energy that flows through the body. The warmth generated by moxa feels relaxing. Moxibustion has many multiple applications, including turning a breech baby.
You’ve probably heard of postpartum depression, but perinatal depression and anxiety are also quite common. It’s normal to feel anxious and stressed during pregnancy, especially if this is your first baby. Acupuncture has been shown to reduce anxiety during pregnancy and help those with a history of depression. Nutrition can also help to reduce cortisol levels and we can recommend certain herbs and supplements safe for pregnancy to reduce anxiety.
Acupuncture has been shown to improve blood flow and reduce pain and swelling due to hemorrhoids. Studies have also shown it is also effective in post-operative pain management if the hemorrhoids need to be removed. You may also be happy to know the acupuncture needles are not inserted anywhere near the rectum. Nutrition and herbs can also help with hemorrhoids, particularly by keeping stools soft.
If you are pregnant, acupuncture should only be performed by an acupuncturist specifically trained for treatment during pregnancy, such as Eileen Fauster, Registered Acupuncturist.
Yes, both acupuncture and nutrition can help with lactation. Studies have demonstrated that acupuncture can augment breast milk production and you may be pleased to know that the needles are placed nowhere near the nipples! Many nutrients and herbal remedies have also been shown to help with breast milk supply.
Schedule a FREE 10-minute Discovery Call