Pregnancy is a time of incredible change, and you deserve care that feels safe, calm, and supportive. As a licensed acupuncturist with advanced training in perinatal care, and a mom of two myself, I focus on helping people feel their best throughout pregnancy and beyond. Acupuncture is a gentle, natural way to support your body and mind through all three trimesters, and every treatment is tailored to where you are in your pregnancy. Your comfort always comes first, with supportive positioning and a quiet, unhurried space to rest.
Keep Reading ↓
✷ Acupuncture through the trimesters
✷ What to expect during your appointment
✷ Perinatal resources
✷ Frequently asked questions
Acupuncture during Pregnancy
Support Through the Trimesters
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First Trimester
Early pregnancy can sometimes bring nausea, fatigue, and a lot of new emotions. Acupuncture offers gentle support to help ease these symptoms and calm your nervous system as your body adjusts.
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Second Trimester
As your body grows and changes, you may notice new aches like back or hip pain, headaches, heartburn, or trouble sleeping. Treatment during this stage focuses on keeping you comfortable and feeling your best.
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Third Trimester
In the final weeks, we shift toward preparing your body for birth, with support for swelling, rest, and relaxation. If your baby is breech, we can also use moxibustion to help encourage them to turn head-down.
What to expect during your appointment
Each appointment begins with a check-in about how your pregnancy is going and how you’re feeling that day. At your first visit, we’ll also go over a detailed health intake, and you’ll receive a full treatment in the same session. Appointments last about 55 minutes total, with rest on the table occurring for 35-45 minutes.
Your comfort is a priority, so I’ll adjust the table to fit your needs that day. Depending on where you are in your pregnancy, treatment can be done lying on your side, flat on your back, or at a gentle incline.
Throughout pregnancy, my approach stays gentle and supportive, focusing on healthy circulation to the uterus and relief from whatever symptoms you’re experiencing. I have extended training in pregnancy safety, which means certain points and techniques are avoided entirely until you’ve reached full term and your care team is comfortable with labor preparation. Even then, those treatments are kept gentle.
At-home moxibustion routine
Open the hips.
Before each session, move through 10 to 20 rounds of cat-cow to create more space in the pelvis for your baby to turn.
Apply the moxa.
With the help of a partner or support person, warm the Bladder 67 point on each pinky toe for about 10 minutes per side. Use a "sparrow pecking" motion, gently moving the lit stick toward and away from the toe, so the area feels warm but never too hot. Lighting the stick from a candle works well, and you can snuff it out in a fire-safe container to reuse next time. Work in a well-ventilated room, as moxa does produce smoke.
Rest.
Afterward, lie on your side for a little while to give your baby room to move.
Repeat.
Continue nightly for up to one week, and check in with your midwife or OB to confirm your baby's position.
How I Can Help
Pairing moxibustion with acupuncture during this window may increase its effectiveness. In a session, I'll show you exactly how to use moxa at home, send you off with everything you need, and support your body and nervous system through this stage of pregnancy. If you'd like to book an appointment or a free consultation, please reach out.
Please check with your prenatal care provider before starting moxibustion or any new treatment during pregnancy, to make sure it's right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Often there’s no clear reason. Most babies settle head-down on their own by around 37 weeks. Breech is more common with twins or multiples, when a baby arrives early, or when the shape of the uterus leaves less room to turn.
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The research is encouraging. A 2023 Cochrane review, which looked at 13 studies and more than 2,000 pregnant people, found that moxibustion added to regular prenatal care probably lowers the chance of a baby still being breech at birth. It doesn’t work for every baby, but it’s a gentle option that many people find worth trying.
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Earlier is better. The research supports starting before 37 weeks, and I usually recommend beginning around 33 to 35 weeks, while your baby still has room to move. If you’re further along, reach out anyway and we can talk through whether it still makes sense for you.
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Yes. Moxibustion is designed to be done at home with help from a partner, family member, or friend. I’ll show you both exactly how to do it safely during our first visit, so you feel confident before you try it on your own.
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Most people notice their baby moving more, and some feel mild tightening or contractions. The main thing to watch for is holding the stick too close, which can cause a small burn. If anything feels off, stop and check in with me or your provider. Often, people feel deeply relaxed during the session and a sense of calm for a few hours after they leave.
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Yes, and I often recommend it. Acupuncture can support the process, and moxa works well alongside chiropractic, massage, and physical therapy. If your provider has suggested an external version, where a doctor turns the baby by hand, moxibustion can be used in the weeks leading up to it.
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Every pregnancy is different, but most people come in for one to three visits over the course of one to two weeks. Your first appointment is the most important, since that’s where you’ll learn how to do moxibustion at home and leave with everything you need. From there, follow-up acupuncture sessions can help support the process while you continue moxa each night. Once your provider confirms your baby’s position, we can talk about whether more visits would be helpful or whether you’d like to shift our focus to preparing for birth.
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No, you’re welcome to book your first appointment online right away. Since timing matters with a breech baby, I’d encourage you not to wait. If you have questions first or aren’t sure whether moxibustion is right for you, I’m always happy to set up a free consultation. Just reach out and we’ll find a time to talk.
Coyle ME, Smith C, Peat B. Cephalic version by moxibustion for breech presentation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023;5(5):CD003928. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003928.pub4
Cardini F, Weixin H. Moxibustion for correction of breech presentation: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 1998;280(18):1580-1584. doi:10.1001/jama.280.18.1580
Vas J, Aranda-Regules JM, Modesto M, et al. Using moxibustion in primary healthcare to correct non-vertex presentation: a multicentre randomised controlled trial. Acupunct Med. 2013;31(1):31-38. doi:10.1136/acupmed-2012-010261
Schlaeger JM, Stoffel CL, Bussell JL, et al. Moxibustion for cephalic version of breech presentation. J Midwifery Womens Health. 2018;63(3):309-322. doi:10.1111/jmwh.12752
Morris S, Geraghty S, Sundin D. Moxibustion: an alternative option for breech presentation. Br J Midwifery. 2018;26(7):440-445. doi:10.12968/bjom.2018.26.7.440
I’m Elizabeth Fuqua, L.Ac., a nationally board-certified and Virginia-licensed acupuncturist with advanced training in pregnancy and postpartum care. As a mom of two, I know firsthand how demanding pregnancy can be, especially while balancing work, family, and everything else life asks of you. I try to make care simple and supportive for my pregnant clients, with practical tools you can easily use at home. I’m also a proud member of A Brighter Birth, a collective of perinatal care providers serving Richmond-area families.