14 Feb Fertility and Pregnancy Acupuncture in Hood River
I am thrilled to bring my women’s health acupuncture practice to Hood River. As of February 2025, I am offering acupuncture in both Portland and Hood River. My family and I lived in North Portland for 13 years and relocated to Hood River in the summer of 2022. Hood River welcomed us with open arms and our family is thriving in the small town life. I do miss all the wonderful people and places in PDX so I am grateful to continue to practice in St Johns twice a week.
For nearly two decades I have supported pregnant folks and their families through all the transitions that come with building a family. I currently offer fertility acupuncture, prenatal acupuncture, birth prep acupuncture, acupuncture and moxibustion for breech babies, pregnancy and birth support sessions and postpartum acupuncture. You can find appointments specific to many of these offerings on my online schedule.
Fertility Acupuncture
Whether you have just started trying to conceive after years on birth control or have been actively trying for a year, acupuncture can help support you. Acupuncture increases blood flow to the uterus and ovaries, reduces stress, and helps you connect with your body. After a thorough intake we will make a custom treatment plan that includes lifestyle suggestions, supplements, and education so you can feel in control and in tune with your own body. Trying to get pregnant can be an emotional roller coaster and it can be extremely helpful to have a dedicated space and support person to be there for you. I work closely with several Portland area fertility clinics and am a Fellow of The Acupuncture and TCM Board of Reproductive Medicine (ABORM). You can find more details about my fertility practice here.
Prenatal Acupuncture
Acupuncture is safe at all stages in pregnancy. It is a safe and effective way to deal with many common complaints of pregnancy. Acupuncture is also extremely effective at soothing the nervous system which helps increase your resilience to the physical and emotional discomforts that pregnancy may bring. For folks who feel great in pregnancy, acupuncture can be helpful for immune support, relaxation and preparing your body for birth. Anytime in pregnancy is the right time for prenatal acupuncture. You can read more about that here.
Birth Prep Acupuncture
For most pregnant folks I recommend weekly acupuncture beginning around 35 weeks. Many people call asking about “induction acupuncture” and it is important to note that labor induction is a medical procedure used to stimulate labor for medical reasons or a prolonged pregnancy. Acupuncture can often nudge someone into labor but this is most effective when someone has already been getting regular acupuncture. Acupuncture works on a cumulative level, meaning it is rarely a one time fix and instead builds on the momentum of past visits. Weekly sessions beginning at 35 weeks are ideal to prepare your body and mind for labor. If you haven’t been receiving weekly acupuncture and find yourself at 41 weeks facing a medical induction acupuncture can still be worth a try. Going into labor is a complex process involving signals form your baby, your baby’s position, your cervix and even your mind. Ina May Gaskin, known as the mother of modern home birth midwifery, describes the cervix is a sphincter which responds to stress and perceived danger by closing up (just as many folks trying to have a bowel movement in a public restroom might know!). Acupuncture is effective at soothing the nervous system out of “fight or flight” into a more relaxed state which sometimes is all a person needs to let labor hormones take over.
Acupuncture and moxibustion (moxa) for a Breech Baby
Finding out your baby is breech (not head down which is the right position for vaginal birth) can be extremely difficult news to process. Only about 3% of babies are breech coming into the final weeks of pregnancy. Depending on the type of breech position (feet or bottom presenting for example) your provider will offer the choice of a planned cesarean birth or a manual version. A manual version is a physical attempt by your medical provider to push the baby into a head down position from outside the mother’s body. Manual versions are typically offered around 37 weeks. If you have found out you baby is breech before that acupuncture and moxibustion (also known as moxa) can be a great option. Moxa is essentially a giant incense stick of an herb called mugwort that you will burn near you pinky toe for ten days to encourage fetal movement. During those ten days I recommend three acupuncture sessions to help make your body an inviting place for baby to flip and to help manage stress during this challenging time. I also typically recommend breech positions such as those from Spinnging Babies. Often people don’t find out their baby is breech until 37 weeks when your provider does a quick ultrasound to confirm position. I recommend you start asking your provider to palpate your belly for baby’s position around 32 weeks so you can know what baby is up to and avoid the last minute surprise of a breech baby. The ideal time for moxa and acupuncture to help encourage a breech baby to flip is between 34 and 36 weeks.
Pregnancy and Birth Support Sessions
Are you curious about doula support but not sure it is for you? A pregnancy and birth support session can be a great choice. I started working as a doula in 2008 and have been in the birth world ever since. I absolutely love empowering families with information and physical and emotion support! Support sessions are tailored just to you and can include anything from what to look for in a provider to options for natural pain management in labor. You can read more about pregnancy and birth support options here.
Postpartum Acupuncture
Pregnant folks tend to do an excellent job taking care of themselves with exercise, self care appointments, nourishing food and rest. Then suddenly a baby comes with full time needs and and new parents often struggle to care for themselves. Whether it’s recovering from a difficult or prolonged birth, lack of sleep, surgery or just hanging on as postpartum hormones fluctuate, stepping away for self care can be very powerful. You can’t pour from an empty cup and self care is essential. During a first postpartum visit we often talk birth story and small but powerful strategies for self care. Acupuncture itself can help with stress, overwhelm, healing and regulating the menstrual cycle when it returns. Cupping can be incredible for the postpartum nursing hunch and is often integrated in to our sessions. Anytime is a good time for postpartum support – time is precious postpartum so if you have a specific condition you wonder if acupuncture can help, please reach out).
I am so excited to bring pregnancy acupuncture, fertility acupuncture and my other offerings to Hood River. In my Portland practice I meet many folks during their fertility or pregnancy journeys and then continue to support them through the challenges and joys of life for years to come. It is the biggest honor to walk alongside folks as they build their families.