Prenatal Acupuncture, Chiropractic, and Massage on Long Island
Bodywork and complementary therapies for pregnancy, at our center in Hewlett.
Birthing Center Long Island
Therapies that work alongside your prenatal care
Pregnancy asks a lot of your body. Sleep gets harder, your center of gravity shifts, and aches show up in places that never used to ache. Alongside your regular prenatal visits, we offer acupuncture, craniosacral therapy, chiropractic care, and massage adapted for pregnancy.
These are supportive therapies. They sit alongside your prenatal care rather than replacing any part of it, and your care with our midwives continues as normal. Most people book them for comfort, rest, and help with the physical demands of a growing pregnancy.
Prenatal acupuncture
Acupuncture uses very thin, sterile, single-use needles placed at specific points on the body. In traditional Chinese medicine, this is described as supporting the flow of qi, or energy, through the body. Sessions are quiet and most people find the needles far less uncomfortable than they expect.
During pregnancy, people most often come to us for:
- Nausea and vomiting in the first trimester
- Low back, hip, and pelvic discomfort
- Trouble sleeping
- Stress and general tension
- Feeling more comfortable as the third trimester gets heavier
Responses vary from person to person, and acupuncture is not a substitute for prenatal care. Sessions are provided by a licensed acupuncturist experienced in working with pregnant patients, and certain points are approached differently or avoided during pregnancy. If you are thinking ahead to comfort during labor, water immersion during labor is another option we offer.
Craniosacral therapy during pregnancy
Craniosacral therapy is a very gentle form of hands-on bodywork. The practitioner uses light contact, usually at the head, along the spine, and around the pelvis, and works slowly. You stay fully clothed. Sessions are quiet and unhurried, and many people find them deeply restful.
People generally come to us for craniosacral work when they want:
- Deep relaxation and a break from a busy nervous system
- Help with tension held in the neck, jaw, shoulders, and lower back
- A very low-intensity option when deep tissue work or adjustment feels like too much
- Time to slow down during a demanding stretch of pregnancy
We want to be straightforward with you about this one. The research on craniosacral therapy is limited, and it is best thought of as a comfort-focused therapy rather than a treatment for a specific medical condition. Many of our clients value it for exactly that. If you have a symptom you are worried about, start with your midwife.
Prenatal chiropractic care
Chiropractic care works with the joints, muscles, and ligaments, with particular attention to the spine and pelvis. Pregnancy changes your posture, loosens your ligaments, and moves your center of gravity forward, and a lot of the discomfort that comes with that is musculoskeletal.
People usually come to us for:
- Lower back and hip discomfort
- Sciatic pain down the leg
- Neck, shoulder, and upper back tension
- Staying mobile and comfortable through the third trimester
Prenatal visits use modified positioning and lighter technique that accommodates a growing belly. Let your midwife know you are receiving chiropractic care so your whole care team has the full picture.
Prenatal and postpartum massage
Prenatal massage is adapted for a pregnant body. That means side-lying positioning with bolsters and pillows rather than lying face down, pressure adjusted for where you are in your pregnancy, and areas approached differently than they would be in a standard massage.
Most people book it for:
- Muscle tension in the lower back, hips, and shoulders
- Heaviness and swelling in the legs and feet
- Difficulty sleeping
- An hour that belongs to them and nobody else
Tell us about any medical history that matters before your session, including blood pressure concerns, a history of blood clots, or anything your midwife has flagged. That lets the therapist plan the session appropriately. If you are unsure whether massage is a good idea right now, ask your midwife first. Our pediatric care team looks after your baby during the same stretch.
Who these sessions are for
These sessions are open to anyone who is pregnant or postpartum, whether or not you receive your prenatal care with us. If you are already our client, you can often schedule a session on a day you are coming in anyway.
There is no minimum number of visits and no package requirement. Book one session or come regularly, whichever suits you.
Booking, sessions, and payment
To book, call the office during business hours, Monday through Thursday, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and we will find a time that works. We will confirm session length and pricing when you book.
Does insurance cover these services
Complementary therapies like acupuncture, chiropractic care, and massage are often not covered by pregnancy and maternity benefits, and coverage varies considerably by plan. Some plans include an acupuncture or chiropractic benefit that applies separately from maternity coverage. Check with your insurer, and if you have questions about how your plan works with our care, our insurance covers what we accept.
Serving Hewlett, Nassau County, and the surrounding area
Bodywork sessions are held at our Hewlett center, the same place you see your midwife. If you are already coming in for a prenatal visit, that often means one trip instead of two, which matters more than it sounds like it does in the third trimester.
Most of the people we see for these sessions come from the Five Towns and the surrounding parts of southwestern Nassau, though we are an easy drive from further out along the South Shore.
This keeps the geography but hangs it on something only this page can say: these appointments happen where your prenatal care happens. The town naming is lighter and the framing is different from whatever your other pages are doing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is acupuncture safe during pregnancy?
Acupuncture is generally considered low risk during pregnancy when it is provided by a licensed practitioner experienced in treating pregnant patients. Certain points are approached differently or avoided at particular stages, which is why prenatal experience matters. As with anything you add during pregnancy, mention it to your midwife so your care team knows.
When can I start prenatal massage?
Practices differ on first-trimester massage, and some prefer to wait. Tell us how far along you are when you book, and we will confirm what is appropriate for where you are.
What does a craniosacral session actually feel like?
Very light. You stay fully clothed and lie on a treatment table while the practitioner makes gentle contact, usually at the head, along the spine, and around the pelvis. There is no adjustment, no deep pressure, and no cracking. Most people describe it as restful, and some fall asleep.
Is chiropractic care safe in the third trimester?
Prenatal chiropractic uses modified positioning and lighter technique, and third trimester visits are common. Tables and supports are set up to accommodate a growing belly. Let your midwife know you are receiving chiropractic care, and tell the chiropractor about anything that has come up in your prenatal visits.
Can these therapies help me prepare for labor?
People often ask this, and we want to answer it carefully. These are comfort and wellbeing therapies. Feeling more rested, sleeping better, and carrying less muscle tension in late pregnancy are worthwhile in themselves. We do not make claims about shortening labor or making birth easier, because the evidence does not support them. If you want to prepare for labor specifically, our childbirth education classes are built for that.
How much does a session cost, and will insurance cover it?
Coverage for complementary therapies varies by plan and is often separate from maternity benefits. Check your acupuncture, chiropractic, or massage benefit directly with your insurer. Call us and we will confirm current pricing.
Reviewed by Judy Ribner, DNP, CNM, on September 3, 2026
The information on this page is for general education and is not medical advice. Acupuncture, craniosacral therapy, chiropractic care, and massage are supportive therapies that work alongside your prenatal care, not in place of it. Talk with your midwife or physician before starting any of them, and contact your care provider directly if you have a symptom that concerns you.