Acupuncture & Diet Therapy in the Final Month of Pregnancy
The final month of pregnancy is such a special and powerful time. As your body prepares for birth, many women look for ways to support a smoother transition into labour and recovery. One part of my job that I feel truly privileged to be a part of is supporting women in these final weeks, helping them feel prepared, nourished, and confident for the journey ahead.
What is Pre-Birth Acupuncture?
Pre-birth acupuncture is a gentle, supportive treatment series in the last weeks of pregnancy. Treatments usually begin from 36 weeks, once a week until birth. If your baby is breech, we recommend starting a little earlier, ideally from 34 weeks.These sessions can:Encourage your baby to move into the optimal position for birth.
Calm the mind and ease late-pregnancy anxiety
Gently ripen the cervix
Support the body in promoting a natural and efficient labour
Treatments are tailored to each woman’s individual needs, and can also help with common late-pregnancy symptoms such as backache, constipation, and restless sleep.
Nourishing Your Body Through Diet
Alongside acupuncture, Chinese medicine places great importance on diet therapy during pregnancy and postpartum. Due to the increased nutritional demands of pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding, a deeply nourishing diet is essential, not only to support labour, but also to aid recovery afterward. In these final weeks, we encourage warming, easy-to-digest foods such as soups, stews, and congee. These meals build strength, keep digestion running smoothly, and prepare the body for the energy needed in birth and postpartum.
Bone Broth
One of my favourite foods to recommend at this time is bone broth. Highly nutritious and easily absorbed by the body, it is an excellent addition to the diet in pregnancy and postpartum.According to Chinese medicine, bone broth nourishes qi and blood, which are often depleted during childbirth and are essential for producing an adequate supply of breast milk. From a nutritional perspective, it is an excellent source of protein, amino acids, collagen, gelatin, vitamins, and minerals. Bone broth can:Reduce inflammation
Support healthy gut function
Improve joint health
Support sleep and brain function
You can drink it warm on its own, or use as a base for soups, stews, and congee.Here’s a simple recipe to try at home:
SIMPLE BONE BROTH RECIPE
INGREDIENTS:
1–2kg bones (beef, chicken, or pork)
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 onion, quartered
1 stick celery
2 carrots
Sea salt to taste
Optional additions to help nourish Qi & Blood: Angelica root, Astragalus root, Chinese red dates.
METHOD:
Heat oven to 180°C. Roast bones and onions for 30 minutes.
Transfer to a large stock pot and cover with 2–3 litres of water.
Add carrots and celery. Bring to the boil.
Once boiling, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 2–4 hours.
Remove from heat, season to taste, and allow to cool.
Strain into glass jars.
Bone broth will keep up to 5 days in the fridge, or 3 months in the freezer. You can also reboil the bones to make a second, lighter batch.
A Gentle, Supportive Approach
Acupuncture and diet therapy in the final weeks of pregnancy aren’t about forcing the body, they’re about creating the right conditions for a healthy, supported birth and recovery. By preparing both body and mind, and nourishing yourself with foods like bone broth, you can enter this next stage of motherhood feeling strong, grounded, and cared for. If you’re in the Margaret River or Vasse area and are interested in pre-birth acupuncture, I’d love to support you in these final weeks of pregnancy. You can [book an appointment here] or reach out if you have any questions.
