Acupuncture
Fine needles, chosen after we talk
Acupuncture is the placing of thin, single-use needles at points on the body. Your acupuncturist first asks about your days, what you take and what your doctor has planned, then chooses points to match. We offer it alongside your OB or reproductive clinic, never in place of it.
Who usually comes
People whose OB or reproductive doctor mentioned acupuncture
People in the weeks between clinic visits
People who want one quiet hour in a crowded medical calendar
What a visit is like, in order
- 01
Step 1: We talk
About 20 minutes the first time: what you take, what your doctor has planned, how you are sleeping and eating, and what you would like from the visit.
- 02
Step 2: You get comfortable
You lie on a padded table, covered with a blanket. Shoes come off. Clothes stay on, so wear sleeves and pant legs that roll up.
- 03
Step 3: Needles go in
A handful of points, usually on the arms, legs, back or abdomen. We never place needles near the eyes or the face. Tell us if anything stings and we adjust.
- 04
Step 4: You rest
Needles stay in for 20 to 30 minutes. Many people doze. A call button is within reach.
- 05
Step 5: We plan the next step
Needles out, a glass of water, and a short plan for the next visits, written down and matched to your clinic's calendar.
Tell us first
Tell us first, so we can plan around it
Say so when you book, and again at the visit. None of these means no. They change what we do.
You are pregnant, or might be
We choose points and visit length with that in mind, and we ask you to check with your OB or midwife first.
You take a blood thinner, or bleed or bruise easily
Needles can leave a small bruise. We use fewer points and press longer afterward.
You have a pacemaker or an implanted device
We don't use electro-stimulation with one. Tell us before the visit.
You have had lymph nodes removed
We keep needles out of the arm or area on that side.
Needles worry you
Say so. We can start with fewer points, explain each one, or begin with ear seeds, which use no needles.
Your doctor has a procedure planned
Tell us the date. We schedule around it and ask your clinic if they have instructions.
How it ends, and what it does not do
What you may feel afterward
Most people feel relaxed or sleepy. Some feel a light soreness at a point, or find a small bruise a day later. Drink water and go easy for the rest of the day if you feel tired.
How many visits people plan for
Most people plan a series of visits timed to their clinic's calendar, then check in with us every few visits. That is your plan with us, not a promise, and results vary.
What it does not do, and when to see a doctor instead
Acupuncture doesn't replace your doctor, a test, a medicine or a procedure. See your doctor first, or call 911 in an emergency, for heavy bleeding, severe or one-sided belly pain, fever, fainting, or pain or bleeding if you are or might be pregnant.
Book a first visit
Bring the list from your doctor's office. Fees are explained before you book.