Seahorse Families

a sensitive, supportive and affirming space

open to everyone

acupuncture support through the whole or part of your journey into parenthood, including optimising fertility, conception and IVF/ICSI support, pregnancy and birthing support, post natal care and through the years into parenthood

 

Welcome, I’m glad to have you here

While creating and nurturing your family, the care I offer is rooted in whole systems East Asian medicine, informed by bio-medical knowledge, current research and traditional practices, while also being deeply attentive, collaborative and inclusive.

We can start working together at any point in your journey into parenthood, gently encouraging and supporting you and your body towards the health and family you would like. My care of parents continues after their children join their families, whether that’s after giving birth, after being supported by a surrogate, or while fostering or adopting, and at any point extra support, care and nurturance is needed with your health and wellbeing.

I have worked with a wide range of people with different backgrounds and needs, with treatment emphasis on sperm, follicle, menstrual or hormonal health, and/or birthing support including:

solo parents in their late 30's/early 40's optimising their health in preparation for egg collection and embryo storage

queer, trans, intersex, non-binary and global majority couples (including trans women of colour) while trying to conceive, in preparation for labour and for induction

women trying to conceive and during their pregnancies who have physical conditions and disabilities such as spina bifada

black and/or global majority couples wanting someone who invests in working towards greater safety, especially in maternity care

trans masculine people on gender affirming HRT wanting support around their hormonal health, who also want to start a family in the future

men who need to improve their sperm health to support conception

couples with trauma histories or complex health conditions who need to work with someone with specialist knowledge and experiences

some kind feedback from clients

  • "I started seeing Orley following a miscarriage and a few failed embryo transfers. I was undergoing IVF as a solo parent in my 40’s so it was an extremely difficult time. I had struggled working with another acupuncturist early in my treatment whose approach I found unempathetic and judgmental. I found working with Orley a breath of fresh air. They are warm and open and at no time did I feel judged or told how I should feel or approach things. Orley helped me to become more in tune with my body leading up to and throughout the IVF treatment. Not only did they provide physical support with acupuncture, but Orley takes a holistic approach to treatment and I felt very supported emotionally as I went through a second miscarriage and other personal difficulties.

    I am now 16 weeks pregnant after working with Orley for around 10 months. I would not hesitate in recommending Orley to anyone who needs support in their fertility journey."

  • “I have experienced multiple sessions with Orley- through pregnancy, induction and postpartum. I feel so lucky to have had them as a core person in my support system throughout this time. I am a queer, trans non-binary person and I was struggling with most of the antenatal/birth related spaces I was finding myself in. Being with Orley allowed me to feel at ease, understood, and so safe. Their energy is gentle and infinitely knowledgeable. Multiple times I’ve arrived to them anxious with a fried nervous system and one session has regulated me completely. 

    For the birth of my kid, I was in a state of shock and 3 days of labour showed me that my body needed to feel safe to birth. We were planning to give birth at home and I wanted this so much for us all. We were 4 days after the due date and I visited Orley for an induction treatment, they treated my shock state and also worked with the induction points. My waters broke 30 minutes later and we had a smooth, safe homebirth. Without their support and skills I would have likely given birth in hospital, with very different memories of this precious moment. 

    I am a bodyworker and I recommend Orley to all my pregnant clients, I can’t state enough how valuable they have been in mine and others’ birth and health journeys. Thank you Orley for everything you give!”

After working with hundreds of people during their fertility and pregnancy journeys over the last 10+ years, I now only work with a very small number at any one time. please get in touch to see if there is a current space or one becoming available in the near future.

be in touch and let me know how you’d like help