Family Tree Acupuncture provides assistance pregnancy, birth & beyond addressing fertility concerns, common pregnancy conditions, birth preparation and breastfeeding support in this woman’s health specialty. Lainey Pedley is a midwife, acupuncturist & doctor of Chinese medicine, who has worked as a clinical midwife educator and lecturer in a birthing centre run by midwives at a large hospital in Melbourne. She works with women wishing to achieve a natural birth (including water births) after an uncomplicated pregnancy and those with more challenging pregnancies. She is able to assist with:

• Preconception Care
• Natural Fertility Support
• Sub fertility & IVF support
• Pregnancy advice
• Birthing Workshops
• Postpartum care
• Lactation Support

Lainey has worked as a midwife for over 18 years, in pregnancy, labour and birth. In addition she has extensive experience working with women whose pregnancies are considered high risk. She has a close rapport with a number of obstetricians who find her work with couples of benefit and provide a large referral base.

Lainey provides preconception and pregnancy advice to improve health at conception and throughout the course of pregnancy. She assists couples facing any fertility concerns, maintaining pregnancy after recurrent miscarriage and maintains health and wellness during the progression through their pregnancies. She will give accurate and comprehensive advice and treatment to aid cervical ripening, induction and improving baby’s position for birth. She prepares couples extensively for their birth journey during her weekend Birthing Workshops.

She is certified in advanced lactation and has assisted many women whilst establishing breastfeeding and dealing with any conditions related to poor attachment, mastitis or engorgement.

Midwifery and TCM acupuncture are her passions and go hand in hand, allowing her to provide the best possible assistance during this joyful, yet sometimes challenging event in life.

Private health rebates are available through most health funds for both her acupuncture treatments and birthing classes.

Pre-Conception Care

Enhance your fertility naturally

• Cease Oral Contraceptive Pill as soon as possible, it is poison to natural fertility
• Address menstrual irregularities sooner rather than later
• Space your children, allowing adequate time for post natal recovery and recuperation
• Reduce stress, practice relaxation, yoga, meditation, have a holiday
• Avoid cold, raw foods and fluids, processed and junk food
• Regular exercise that is appropriate to your fitness level
• Stop smoking
• Avoid or restrict alcohol intake
• Keep your reproductive organs warm, wear a singlet or a tummy warmer to protect your midriff read more

Pregnancy Health

Family Tree Acupuncture can recommend natural and practical steps to contribute positively to a healthy pregnancy. We believe healthy people make healthy babies and consequently your health, lifestyle and environment take on even more significance during pregnancy.

You are what you eat – a principal never so important as during pregnancy. For example, we know that if your diet is lacking in certain B vitamins, and/or iron, that the quality of your blood will suffer and you may become anaemic. We also know that exposure to certain toxic substances can cause cellular damage – possibly affecting your fertility and the health of your baby.

Good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle before and during pregnancy can read more

Common Pregnancy Complaints

There is a wealth of research to validate the potential uses of acupuncture in the treatment of many common pregnancy complaints. These include morning sickness, constipation and heartburn. Please refer to the research  page if you would like to read more about the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of pregnancy discomforts.

Common Pregnancy concerns and complaints:

• Threatened Miscarriage
• Fatigue
• Morning sickness
• Nausea & vomiting
• Anaemia
• Constipation
• Muscle and joint pain, ( shoulders, back, symphysis pubis)
• Pelvic instability read more

Birth Preparation

Factual information about preparing for birth is essential for a woman to achieve the best outcome during labour, birth and beyond.

No one has a crystal ball to predict how a labour might turn out. What every pregnant woman has at her disposal, however, is the power to prepare herself mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually for giving birth. Appropriate education can help women gain confidence so that she can more toward birth free of fear.

Postnatal Health

Acupuncture has techniques to promote recovery; these include “mother warming” treatments that can be given by her partner, advice on diet and use of specific strengthening and blood building herbs.  In Chinese medicine the post-natal period is merely a point on a continuum which actually starts up to 12 months prior to pregnancy as part of the preparation for producing strong, healthy, robust mothers and babies.

The health of your baby relies fundamentally on the health of yourself. As we know this wonderful new addition to your family brings not only joy and wonder, but sometimes mental and emotional read more

Breastfeeding Support

At Family Tree Acupuncture we will assist with any breastfeeding issues using acupuncture and herbal treatments.

Choosing whether to breastfeed or formula feed your baby is one of the first decisions expectant parents will make. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends breastfeeding as best nutrition for babies. Breastfeeding helps defend against infections, prevent allergies, and protect against a number of chronic conditions.

The general medical consensus is that babies should be breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months with further breastfeeding until at least 12 months or longer if both the mother and baby are wanting to.

Although experts believe breast milk is the best nutritional choice for infants, breastfeeding may not be possible for all women. For many women, the decision to breastfeed or formula feed is based on their comfort level, lifestyle, and specific medical considerations that they might have. There are many strong views of breastfeeding which can leave new mums feeling conflicted, confused and under unnecessary pressure. Overwhelming feelings of guilt accompany those who, for whatever reason, have decided to formula feed.

When coming from a midwifery background, it is in the read more