Women's health · Pregnancy
Does this sound familiar?
The TCM view
From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, pregnancy places new demands on the body's Qi and Blood. Dr. Kristina considers how your digestion, sleep, energy and emotional state are adapting, and selects pregnancy-appropriate points with that whole picture in mind.
The medical view
In biomedical terms, care focuses on symptom relief and comfort: nausea, musculoskeletal strain from changing posture and ligament laxity, sleep disruption and stress. Treatment uses pregnancy-safe point selection and positioning, and avoids points traditionally contraindicated in pregnancy.
Your care at Seven Medicine
How long care usually takes
Some patients come weekly through a difficult stretch such as first-trimester nausea; others schedule periodic visits through pregnancy. Frequency is discussed at your consultation and adjusted as your needs change.
01
Point selection, positioning and session length are adjusted for each stage of pregnancy. Side-lying and supported positions keep you comfortable.
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Where appropriate, gentle techniques and moxibustion may be used. Dr. Kristina explains each option before using it.
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Practical, pregnancy-appropriate suggestions around meals, rest and recovery — never in conflict with your prenatal team's advice.
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Dr. Kristina asks about your prenatal care and any complications, and will recommend contacting your OB or midwife when something needs medical attention.
Research
Reviewed October 2026. Research describes groups of people, not guarantees for any individual. Explore the research →
For pelvic and low-back pain in pregnancy, single studies suggest acupuncture may help, with minor, short-lived side effects (exercise has the most consistent evidence). For breech presentation, a 2023 Cochrane review found moderate-certainty evidence that moxibustion plus usual care probably reduces non-head-first presentation at birth. For nausea in early pregnancy, evidence for acupuncture is limited.
Patient experiences
Individual experiences vary. Testimonials reflect personal experiences, not typical or guaranteed results.
Meet your practitioner
DAcCHM, M.CM, L.Ac., Dipl. Ac.
Dr. Kristina completed her Doctorate in Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine as valedictorian, summa cum laude, after earning master’s degrees in both acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Her clinical training spans hospital and rehabilitation settings in Minnesota and clinical study in Zhengzhou, China.
She explains your care in both TCM and familiar medical terms, so you understand what she’s seeing, why she recommends what she does, and how you’ll know if it’s working.
Dr. Kristina holds a clinical doctorate in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. She is a licensed acupuncturist, not a medical physician (MD/DO), and works alongside — not in place of — your medical team.
FAQ
When performed by a trained, licensed acupuncturist using pregnancy-appropriate technique, acupuncture is generally considered low-risk. Dr. Kristina avoids points traditionally contraindicated in pregnancy and adjusts positioning for comfort. Always let your prenatal provider know you're receiving acupuncture.
Patients can begin at any stage. Dr. Kristina will review your history and any pregnancy complications at your consultation; for some situations she may ask you to check with your OB or midwife first.
Moxibustion at a specific point on the little toe has been studied for breech presentation, with mixed results. It is only offered when appropriate for your pregnancy and in coordination with your provider — never in place of obstetric care.
No. Acupuncture is a complement to prenatal care, not a substitute for it. Seek urgent medical care for bleeding, severe pain, reduced fetal movement, severe headache or vision changes.
Still have questions?
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