The Acupuncture Pregnancy and IVF Support Clinic

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The Acupuncture Pregnancy and IVF Support Clinic

Trusted since 2008 for fertility, IVF, pregnancy & reproductive acupuncture.

Our warm & experienced AHPRA-registered Chinese medicine practitioners offer integrative care across Sydney (Alexandria, Westmead, CBD), Central Coast, Melbourne & Mornington. We are an Integrative traditional Chinese Medicine clinic dedicated to IVF support, Reproductive and Women's health, and Pregnancy and Postnatal care. Our 6 Clinic locations include:
Sydney City - Level 1, 343 George St 02 92991311
Sydney, Alexandria - level 2, 15 Bowden St Alexandria 0403180611
Sydney Westmead- 35/163 Hawkesbury Rd Westmead 02 9689 1614
East Melbourne - 8/228 Clarendon St 03 9078 5759
Gosford - Suite 3, 215 Albany St 0481 202881
Mornington- 1A, 346 Main St Mornington VIC 3931 (02) 59160182

For more information, inquiries and bookings please go to:
www.acupuncturepregnancy.com.au

03/09/2025

🌿 Women’s Health Week 2025 🌿
During Women’s Health Week, we’re focusing on care for anyone who needs gynaecological, reproductive, or hormonal support.

For too long, many people navigating hormonal and reproductive health have felt unheard. Whether it’s endo, PCOS, postpartum anxiety, or perimenopause, the message has often been: "It’s just a part of being person with a uterus or being a person who menstruate ". But we know better now.

The reality:
▪1 in 7 live with endometriosis, often waiting up to 8 years for diagnosis
▪PCOS affects 1 in 10, with long delays to care
▪Perimenopause starts in the 30s for many—but is still poorly understood
▪Postnatal mental health issues affect 1 in 5 new parents

✨ But there’s progress:
▪11 new endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics now open
▪Medicare is funding longer specialist consults
▪Research is expanding—from acupuncture and herbal medicine to medicinal cannabis
▪The Women’s Health Research & Translation Network is connecting leaders nationwide

Meanwhile, we’re drawing from one of the world’s oldest medical systems—Traditional Chinese Medicine, which began documenting gynaecological care over 3,000 years ago. Gynaecological texts described syndromes like painful periods, postpartum depletion, and infertility for thousands of years. Herbal formulas and acupuncture have long been used to support:

▪Menstrual health and hormonal balance
▪Fertility
▪Pregnancy and postnatal recovery
▪Perimenopausal transitions

🌈 All bodies with cycles – however they look, however they feel
💚All parents healing and finding their rhythm after birth
💛 Everyone navigating hormones, identity, or health changes
📚 The researchers and policy-makers working to make care better
💪 Those speaking up and asking questions
🏳️‍⚧️ All genders and identities—deserving of safe, respectful care

And we’re thinking of:

🧑‍⚕️ The midwives, GPs, acupuncturists and allied health professionals advocating for holistic care
🤰 Those navigating fertility, IVF, pregnancy, postpartum or hormonal transitions
🗣️ Anyone who’s ever said: “Something’s not right—and I deserve support.”

We see you.
We’re with you.
We’re proud to support you—then, now, and always.

28/08/2025

Feeling flat, foggy or constantly run-down? You’re not alone and low iron could be part of the picture.

🩸 Iron is essential for oxygen delivery, hormone balance, immune support and energy. But many people especially women don’t realise just how common iron deficiency is, or how much it can affect physical (including reproductive health) and emotional wellbeing.

Signs your iron may be low:
▪Ongoing fatigue or depletion
▪Brain fog or forgetfulness
▪Low mood or increased anxiety
▪Hair thinning or loss
▪Feeling cold or slow to recover from illness

Why it matters more for women:
▪Heavy periods (affecting 1 in 10) are one of the most common causes of iron loss and often go unnoticed.
▪Pregnancy increases iron needs to more than 3x that of men, especially in the third trimester.
▪Breastfeeding continues to place high demand on iron stores.
▪Female athletes may lose extra iron through sweat and roughly one-third also experience heavy bleeding.
▪Surgery with low haemoglobin (under 10) carries higher risk. Pre-op iron correction is essential.

Did you know?
✔Your body contains around 3,000–4,000mg of iron most of it in red blood cells and muscle. Only 1–2mg is absorbed daily, and most is recycled so intake must be consistent.
✔Ferritin is your body’s storage form of iron, and a ferritin above 80 may be needed to support hair growth.
✔Supplement iron is poorly absorbed (~10%) and can raise hepcidin, a liver hormone that blocks further absorption for 24–36 hours.

Our Naturopath can to support you if you have chronically low iron that doesnt budge with:
🌿 Dietary advice to improve absorption (what to eat, when and how)
🌿 Functional testing including ferritin, haemoglobin, B12, and vitamin D

Our Chinese medicoscs can help too with

🌿 Dietary recommendations for getting intake during Fertility, IVF and pregnancy

🌿 Tailored Chinese herbs that may support energy, recovery and menstrual health

If you’ve been told your iron is low or you suspect it we are here to support you getting back on track with iron, energy, mental clarity and overall wellbeing.

Book a consult with our team via acupuncturepregnancy.com.au

Tap the link in bio to read the Iron Blog.

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25/08/2025

💚 You deserve to feel informed and supported on your fertility journey.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine may be used alongside fertility treatments, including IVF, to support cycle health and wellbeing. Our approach is gentle, personalised, and designed to complement your medical care.

What the research suggests:
Some studies have found that acupuncture used with IVF may improve certain measures such as blood flow to the reproductive organs, regulation of menstrual cycles, and hormonal balance. There’s also research exploring its potential role in supporting uterine lining development and reducing stress levels during treatment. Results can vary and more research is still needed.

Potential benefits of integrating acupuncture and herbal medicine include:
🌿 A sense of calm and reduced stress or anxiety
🌿 Support for hormonal balance and menstrual regularity
🌿 Improved blood flow to the uterus and ovaries
🌿 A supportive environment for embryo implantation

Whether you’ve already started acupuncture or are curious about it, we can work with you to create a treatment plan that aligns with your fertility goals and medical care.

📄We’ve shared more about this in our blog: Can Chinese Herbal Medicine Support Fertility and IVF?

📍Alexandria | Sydney CBD | Westmead | Central Coast | East Melbourne | Mornington

🌿Online naturopathy available Australia-wide

Save this post so you can revisit it later, and follow us for more research-informed fertility support.

18/08/2025

Feeling anxious more often than not? You’re not alone.

Anxiety is something most of us experience but when it begins affecting sleep, digestion, mood, your quality of life or your ability to cope, it’s time to get support.

🌿 How can Chinese medicine help?
Acupuncture takes a holistic approach. Instead of treating just the symptoms, we look at the whole system: sleep, digestion, stress, hormones to gently regulate the nervous system and support your wellbeing.

✨ Research shows acupuncture may help:
▪ Regulate stress hormones (ACTH, cortisol)

▪ Calm the limbic brain (the emotional centre)

▪ Improve sleep and memory

▪ Reduce symptoms of panic and overwhelm

Many of our patients tell us they feel more like themselves again after a course of acupuncture.

✔️ Suitable alongside counselling and medication
✔️ Tailored plans for generalised anxiety, panic, and stress
✔️ Gentle and deeply calming support

📍Available at all our clinics across Sydney (CBD, Westmead, Alexandria), Central Coast and Victoria (Melbourne and Mornington)

🔗 Book your consult or learn more at the link in bio.

08/08/2025

Cold Back, Cold Womb?
Here’s One TCM Tip You Don’t Want to Miss This Winter 🔥

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), your Kidneys are the foundation of fertility and they don’t like the cold.

That’s why we always ask: Are you keeping your lower back warm?

Your Kidney meridian runs right through your lower back and lower abdomen. When that area is exposed to cold (like sitting near a draft, wearing cropped tops in winter, or walking barefoot on tiles), it can impact blood flow, hormone regulation, and even ovulation.

🔎 What can this look like?
▪Painful, crampy periods
▪Low libido or energy
▪Poor egg quality or thin uterine lining
▪Trouble conceiving especially in colder months

🧣 Try these small shifts (that make a big difference):
✔Wrap a scarf or blanket around your lower back when seated
✔Choose high-waisted, belly-covering winter layers
✔Use a warm (not hot!) heat pack on your belly before bed

💡 These warm habits nourish your Kidney Yang, support uterine blood flow, and help your cycle run more smoothly whether you're trying to conceive naturally or during IVF.

🌿 Our team supports you with acupuncture, herbs, and personalised seasonal care. We'll guide you with diet, lifestyle, and cycle-based strategies for winter fertility wellness.

📍 In-clinic care in Alexandria, Sydney CBD, Westmead, Central Coast, East Melbourne & Mornington

💻 Telehealth available Australia-wide
🔗 Learn more: https://acupuncturepregnancy.com.au

01/08/2025

🌿 YIN + PINS + SOUND 🌿

A Deeply Restorative Afternoon of Yin Yoga, Acupuncture & Sound Healing
Sunday 10 August | 🕐 1.30–3.30pm
Botannix Yoga & Pilates .yoga.pilates
Book via www.botannixyogastudio.com

Join Emmalene Sliwka and our very own Charlie Foust this August 10 for a nourishing two-hour journey to support your system and honour this seasonal transition.

Through the grounding stillness of Yin Yoga, the balancing support of Acupuncture, and the deep resonance of live Sound Healing, this workshop is designed to help you:

✨ Awaken the Liver and Gallbladder meridians (Wood element – Spring in TCM)
✨ Gently clear stagnation and support renewal
✨ Reconnect with your own rhythm and vitality
✨ Ease stress, bolster immunity, and nourish yin energy

Open to all levels, and perfect for those new to Yin, Acupuncture, or Sound Healing, this evening invites your body to soften and your mind to still.

New to Acupuncture or Sound Healing? Charlie and Emmalene will guide you through each step, ensuring you feel safe, supported, and deeply relaxed.

01/08/2025

Struggling with Irregular or Painful Periods? TCM Looks at More Than Just Hormones

Short cycles. Long cycles. Painful bleeds. No period at all.

If your menstrual cycle feels out of sync, you're likely wondering why and what you can do about it. At The Acupuncture Pregnancy Clinic, our Chinese medicine practitioners and naturopaths work together to explore the whole picture, not just the symptoms.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), menstrual issues are often signs of internal imbalances. For example:
- Liver Qi Stagnation may contribute to premenstrual tension, mood swings, and cramps
- Blood Stasis can cause sharp, clotty, painful periods
- Spleen Qi Deficiency might show up as spotting, fatigue, or cycle irregularity

◾These often overlap with gut issues, stress, and hormonal shifts

What support looks like with us:
- Acupuncture to regulate your cycle and ease pain
- Chinese herbal medicine and supplements, tailored to your symptoms and cycle phase
- Naturopathic support for gut and hormone health, often key in conditions like PCOS or endo
- Sleep, stress and lifestyle strategies to rebalance your nervous system and improve outcomes over time

Patients often ask: "Do I need a diagnosis like PCOS or endometriosis to start care?"

Not at all. Whether you’ve had a diagnosis or are simply noticing irregular, painful, or confusing cycles, we’re here to help make sense of what your body is telling you and create a plan that fits.

📍 Consults available in Alexandria, Sydney CBD, Westmead, Central Coast, East Melbourne & Mornington

📎 Learn more or book: https://acupuncturepregnancy.com.au

30/07/2025

Happy World Embryologist day! Absolutely unsung Hero’s 🦸‍♀️ 🦸 behind the scenes.

29/07/2025

✨ Feeling a bit off? It could be your Qi.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qi (pronounced “chee”) is the vital energy that flows through your body’s meridians - like a network of rivers that nourish your organs, hormones, digestion, and mood.

Qi is what powers your day-to-day energy, but also your body’s ability to heal, rest, and function smoothly. When Qi is balanced and flowing well, everything in the body feels more aligned.

You might notice:
✔️ Clearer thinking and emotional steadiness
✔️ A calm nervous system and deeper sleep
✔️ Warm hands and feet, regular digestion
✔️ Steady energy throughout the day
✔️ A greater sense of ease and connection to yourself

But when Qi is blocked, depleted or disrupted, you may feel tired, tense, unwell and or just not quite yourself.

Acupuncture helps guide Qi back into flow, supporting your body’s ability to regulate, repair, and rebalance, gently and naturally.

📍Appointments available in Sydney CBD, Alexandria, Westmead, Central Coast, East Melbourne and Mornington.

🔗 Learn more or book at acupuncturepregnancy.com.au

25/07/2025

🧣 Feeling more tired, cold or flat than usual this winter? You’re not alone—and your body might be telling you your Yang energy needs support.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yang is the warming, activating energy that fuels circulation, metabolism, and reproductive function. It supports everything from progesterone and ovulation to digestion and mood.

But winter is the most Yin time of year—cold, dark, and still. Yang naturally recedes, which means we’re more vulnerable to feeling depleted, cold or emotionally low.

✨ In TCM, winter is a time to slow down, store energy, and rest—just like nature does.
That means:
▪Going to bed earlier and getting more sleep
▪Eating warm, nourishing meals
▪Avoiding over-exertion and overstimulation
▪Gently supporting your body’s internal warmth

🍲 Warming Foods to Support Yang:
▪🐑 Lamb stews or soups with ginger and cinnamon
▪🍗 Roast chicken with rosemary and sage
▪🐟 Salmon or sardines, rich in warming fats
▪🍚 Sticky rice or rice porridge with cinnamon, nutmeg and goji berries
▪🥔 Pumpkin, sweet potato and parsnip roasted with cumin and olive oil
▪🥜 Toasted walnuts, peanuts, and sesame seeds to build warmth and strength

🧘‍♀️ Lifestyle Tips for Preserving Yang:
▪Stay warm—especially your lower back, abdomen and feet
▪Wear layers made from wool or natural fibres
▪Avoid cold drinks, raw salads and iced foods
▪Choose gentle movement like yoga or tai chi
▪Prioritise rest and reduce screen time at night
▪Soak feet in warm water before bed for extra grounding

🌿 Herbal Support can also be used and is often used to help with fatigue, low immunity, and recovery after illness or burnout—but it’s not one-size-fits-all.

💬 Want personalised guidance on herbs, foods or acupuncture support? Our degree-qualified Chinese medicine practitioners are here to help.

📍 Find us in Sydney CBD, Alexandria, Westmead, Central Coast, East Melbourne & Mornington
🔗 acupuncturepregnancy.com.au

22/07/2025

🤧 Catching every cold going around? Feeling a bit depleted this winter?

We see it all the time in clinic. From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, this kind of lowered immunity and lingering fatigue often points to Qi deficiency—when your body’s energy reserves are running low and struggling to keep things in balance.

🌿 One herb we often reach for is Astragalus (Huang Qi).

Used traditionally to support the immune system and build Qi, Astragalus can be especially helpful if you’re dealing with:
✔️ Frequent colds or lingering recovery
✔️ Low energy or that run-down feeling
✔️ Spontaneous sweating
✔️ Mild prolapse or feeling like everything’s just a bit ‘heavy’

It’s known in TCM for helping to 'lift the Qi'—raising energy levels and supporting the body’s ability to hold everything in its proper place.

Not every herb suits every person though. If you’re curious whether Astragalus might help you feel more robust this winter, we’re here to guide you.

💬 Book a consult with our qualified practitioners to explore tailored Chinese herbal support at acupuncturepregnancy.com.au

Link in Bio.

18/07/2025

🍯 Fertility-Safe Winter Remedy for Immune Support

Cold and flu season is well and truly here—and many of you have asked what you can safely do when you’re trying to conceive, pregnant, or going through IVF.

While we often prescribe individualised Chinese herbal formulas in clinic, we know some people prefer gentle, food-based remedies to use at home. Especially if you come home with a nasty cough or cold. This can be used as an immune tonic ( to try prevent getting sick) but TBH it kind of has a particular odour but something you wont mind at all when sick with cold and flu. It helps clear mucus and boost the immune system.

This is one of our go-to kitchen staples.

🌟 Honey & Onion Immunity Tonic

A classic home remedy to support respiratory health, ease sore throats, and build resilience during winter.

How to Make It:
1️⃣ Dice one organic onion
2️⃣ Add 3 tbsp raw, non-heat-treated honey
3️⃣ Mix and cover in a glass jar or Pyrex cup
4️⃣ Let sit 3–5 hours (longer = stronger)
5️⃣ Strain and store syrup in the fridge (up to 1 month)

How to Use It:
▪Take 1 tsp daily for prevention
▪Or 1 tsp up to 3x daily if you’re feeling unwell

🧄Optional Boost: Add a clove of chopped garlic for extra immune support

▪Why it works?
Honey has antibacterial and antiviral properties. Onion supports the lungs, eases mucus, and may help reduce inflammation. Together, they’re a gentle but effective duo.

💛 If you're navigating fertility or pregnancy, this can be a gentle way to support your system—alongside rest, warm meals, and professional care where needed.

🔗 For personalised Chinese medicine or herbal advice, book a consult with us in clinic or online. If you are sick at home- we do phone consults and send herbs and supplement goodies too you. Super easy!

📍 Alexandria, Sydney CBD, Westmead, Central Coast, Melbourne & Mornington

📝 *As always, please check with your practitioner if you’re pregnant, undergoing treatment, or taking medication.

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Https://acupuncturepregnancy.com.au/contact-us/

2000

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+61424984337

Website

https://acupuncturepregnancy.com.au/contact-us/

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Our Story

The Acupuncture Pregnancy clinics (incorporating the original Acupuncture IVF Support clinics) in Sydney and Melbourne and the Central Coast are the first of their kind in Australia. The first clinic was established in 2008 in response to evidence from clinical trial results which demonstrated some benefits of acupuncture for IVF patients. Since then we have seen more than 12,000 patients.

Professional integrity, best practice and offering appropriate clinical programs are a priority for us – in a field where patients can sometimes be very vulnerable. We see couples or single women who are trying to conceive, whether with IVF or naturally. Many of our patients, once they conceive, like to be looked after during their pregnancies and helped with labour preparation too.

Sydney City, Level 7, 300 George St City 02 8964 6887 Sydney East, Specialist Day Hospital, 15 Bowden St, Alexandria 0403 180 611 Sydney West, Daher Centre, Suite 35, 163 Hawkesbury Rd Westmead 02 689 1614 Melbourne East, 228 Clarendon St 03 9078 5759 Central Coast, Suite 3 215 Albany St North Gosford 2250 0481 202 881

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