Pregnancy & Childbirth



Antenatal and postnatal

Miriam has a special interest in acupuncture and acupressure in pregnancy; antenatal and postnatal. Miriam has attended home births and has undertaken a lot of her Continued Professional Development study in the area of pregnancy and childbirth. Miriam feels that acupuncture has a lot to offer women during pregnancy, childbirth and afterwards.

Active Birth with Acupressure Workshops

New for 2012! Next date – Saturday 17th March, 1pm-6pm
The workshops are aimed at pregnant women and their birth partners. This workshop is good for couples who have done birth preparation classes or hospital classes. It focuses on the natural physiological labour and birth and on how to keep it that way. There is an emphasis on positive ways in which the birth partner can support the labouring woman.

Ideal for women during early 3rd trimester, also as a refresher for 2nd or subsequent babies and for those hoping for a vaginal birth after caesarean.

Topics covered include:

  • Optimal Foetal positioning
  • Stages of labour
  • Labour environment
  • Hormones in labour
  • Positions for labour and birth
  • Acupressure points for labour
  • Massage and aromatherapy
  • Importance of the 1st hour after birth
  • Breastfeeding

The workshop is led by Lola Alcaraz Perez and Miriam Alcaraz-Stapleton.
Lola is an Active Birth Teacher, Childbirth Educator and Doula. She has been supporting labouring women and their partners for over 15 years. She is also a YogaBirth teacher -http://www.yogabirth.org/ – and teaches yoga for pregnancy in London.

Miriam is an acupuncturist in Portsmouth with a special educational interest in treating women during pregnancy. She is a Member of the British Acupuncture Council and  has run workshops on acupressure for labour and attended homebirths.

Venue: The Nuffield Health Centre, Alex Way, Northern Parade, Portsmouth, PO2 9PB – Just off the A3 and easy access to the M27 -free parking available

Cost: £80 per pregnant woman, £135 per couple

Time & Date: Saturday 17th March, 1pm-6pm

To book a place on a workshop or for info on future courses call or email:

Lola on: 07969 549 881 or Lolaxav@hotmail.co.uk

Miriam on: 07946 409 703 or Miriam@yinyangacupuncture.co.uk

Acupuncture during pregnancy

Shoreditch Spa Pregnancy Clinic

As well as practising in Portsmouth, Miriam has worked at London’s first ever Multi-bed Acupuncture Pregnancy Clinic: www.shoreditchspa.org.uk. For appointments at Shoreditch Spa please contact the Spa directly on 0844 225 2054.

She worked with and was mentored by 2 very experienced acupuncturists in the field of pregnancy and labour – Magdalena Lius and Jani White (www.naturechild.co.uk).

Many women seek out alternatives to Western medication or interventions during pregnancy and acupuncture can offer a safe and effective alternative.

Acupuncture has a role to play in all stages of pregnancy:

  • Conception and fertility
    Acupuncture can help improve your chances of conceiving either on it’s own or alongside medical fertility treatments. Acupuncture can be used to regulate your menstrual cycle and prepare your body to be able to conceive and maintain a pregnancy.
  • Pregnancy
    Acupuncture can be very effective in treating pregnancy related problems including, but not limited to: morning sickness and nausea, heartburn, tiredness, anxiety, piles, constipation, pelvic pain, back pain, ligament pain and Breech presentation.
  • Preparation for labour
    A course of pre-birth acupuncture can be given on a weekly basis from week 37 or 38 until delivery with the aim to prepare your body and mind for the labour experience. Pre-birth acupuncture can help to ripen the cervix and prepare the pelvis, calm anxiety or fear and promote a more efficient labour. If you go over your due date or are booked in for a medical induction acupuncture can be used to help induce labour.
  • Acupressure during labour
    This is an easy and effective form of pain relief but also used to promote an efficient labour. Miriam will teach you and your birthing partner how to locate and use specific acupressure points for during the labour. It is non-invasive and feedback from women using acupressure is very positive.
  • Postnatal
    Now is the time to recuperate your energies and rest. Acupuncture can be used to help with common post-natal issues and problems with lactating or breastfeeding. These include, but are not limited to: afterpains, persistent uterine bleeding, piles or haemorrhoids, night sweats, post-natal depression, insufficient lactation and mastitis.