If you’ve ever been acupuncture-curious but had no idea what it’s actually doing in the body, this episode is for you. In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Christine San Miquel, a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a medical qigong practitioner, and a research professor. Together we break down how acupuncture can support women through so many major phases of life — from trying to conceive, to pregnancy, labor prep, and postpartum recovery.

We talk about why so many women turn to acupuncture for fertility support, what it may help regulate in the body, and the most common reasons women seek it out during early pregnancy (hint hint it works wonders for 1st trimester symptoms). We also get into what “labor prep” acupuncture really means, whether acupuncture can actually induce labor, and what it can realistically support in those final weeks before birth and into the postpartum phase.

Whether you’re trying to conceive, currently pregnant, newly postpartum, or simply curious about holistic support for women’s health, this episode is full of grounded, helpful insight.

What We Discuss:
• How acupuncture supports balance through individualized patterns and point combinations
• Why you can feel calmer after a session and how benefits can last
• What to look for when choosing an acupuncturist for fertility, pregnancy, or postpartum
• Fertility support for irregular cycles, ovulation, PCOS patterns, and IVF protocols
• First trimester help for nausea, fatigue, sleep, and miscarriage prevention support
• The difference between labor induction and an invitational labor prep series
• Simple labor acupressure points partners can use for pain and progression
• Postpartum support for healing, mood, digestion, capacity, and long-term hormone health
• Milk supply regulation and why acupuncture research is hard to standardize
• When you can start acupuncture after birth and how baby support can work for colic