Pregnancy brings a wide range of physical changes, and many expectant mothers look for complementary therapies to manage discomfort in order to avoid medication. Acupuncture during pregnancy has become one of the most heavily researched modalities in this area, with a growing body of clinical evidence researching both benefits and safety during pregnancy.
What Is Acupuncture and How Is It Used in Pregnancy?
Acupuncture is the application of thin, sterile, one use needles into the body in order to assist with neurological and endocrine, hormone, balance. It commonly used to promote muscle release, pain relief, digestive improvements, all common symptoms during pregnanc. In addition it is also used in later stages of pregnancy to assist in birth preparation.
Benefits of Acupuncture for Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea and vomiting affect a large share of pregnancies due to morning sickness, particularly in the first trimester. A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis (1) examined acupuncture and moxibustion for morning sickness found that acupuncture appears to be a safe treatment option for pregnant women in early pregnancy. This adds to a growing body of overview-level research synthesizing multiple reviews on the topic (Frontiers in Endocrinology).
Benefits for Pregnancy-Related Back and Pelvic Pain
Low back and pelvic pain are common pregnancy complaints, driven by rapid changes in body position, muscle relaxation and mobility. A meta-analysis of 12 randomized controlled trials involving 1,302 patients (2) evaluated acupuncture’s efficacy and safety for pregnancy-related low back pain. It concluded acupuncture is widely used in clinical practice for this condition. A related network meta-analysis of 864 patients (3) in addition found supportive evidence that acupuncture was able to ease pregnancy-related pelvic pain, with adverse events generally limited to needling discomfort or bleeding in minimal cases.
Acupuncture and Labor Induction
Acupuncture for encouraging spontaneous labour has traditional been seen as a viable option. A 2024 meta-analysis (4) published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM found no statistically significant difference between acupuncture and sham acupuncture across key labour outcomes, however sham acupuncture has been shown to have a therapeutic effect meaning it is not an adequate control. In addition, this review identified acupuncture as a relatively safe treatment overall, with adverse events limited to minor issues like pain, inflammation, or bleeding at the needling site.
Is Acupuncture Safe During Pregnancy?
Across these reviews, acupuncture consistently has a favorable safety profile when performed by a licensed, appropriately trained practitioner. In Australia this means registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency under Acupuncture. Reported side effects are generally mild and localized, if at all. That said, certain acupuncture points are traditionally avoided during pregnancy due to a theoretical association with uterine stimulation, which is why it’s essential to work only with a registered acupuncturist.
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Alayna Gay is an acupuncturist who’s focus is to help uncover your very best self.
She loves working with women’s health, stress management and pain conditions.
References
- The Efficacy and Safety of Acupuncture and Moxibustion for the Management of Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnant Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (2024). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024004705
- Efficacy and Safety of Acupuncture for Pregnancy-Related Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023056475
- Acupuncture for the Treatment of Pregnancy-Related Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/372641531_Efficacy_and_safety_of_acupuncture_for_pregnancy-related_low_back_pain_A_systematic_review_and_meta-analysis
- Zamora-Brito, M., et al. (2024). The Role of Acupuncture in the Present Approach to Labor Induction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM. https://www.ajogmfm.org/article/S2589-9333(23)00414-7/fulltext
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