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How to Enjoy Sound Healing and Reiki Safely During Pregnancy

A pregnant friend recently asked me about attending sound healing sessions, and I realised it’s probably a question on many expecting parents’ minds — and even some newer practitioners. The short answer: yes, you can attend sound healing sessions and Reiki while pregnant, but there are some things to understand, consider, and adjust.


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Why Sound Healing and Reiki Can Help

Many people find sound baths and one-to-one sessions deeply restful and grounding. Soft singing bowls, chimes, harp, gentle percussion, and calming vocals can help reduce stress, support relaxation, and provide a nurturing pause in your day. Reiki is a gentle, energy-based modality that doesn’t involve loud noise or strong vibrations, making it generally safe during pregnancy. Potential benefits include relaxation, mood support, and a deeper sense of connection to your baby.

However, research on sound exposure during pregnancy is limited, which is why health authorities, including the NHS and UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), recommend caution — particularly with infrasound, very loud sounds, low frequencies, and whole-body vibration.

UK Guidance & Instruments

  • The NHS advises avoiding prolonged exposure to very loud noise.

  • The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) recommends caution with low-frequency sound or infrasound (below 20 Hz), which supports careful use of instruments like large gongs, deep bass drums, or bigger Himalayan bowls that produce low-frequency vibrations (below ~250 Hz) felt in the body.

  • HSE guidance highlights risks from whole-body vibration, which also highlights the need to avoid sessions where instruments are placed on the body, like sound massage, because there just isn't enough research to know the effects.


By contrast, some crystal singing bowls, metal singing bowls, chimes, harps, voice, and light percussion produce gentler vibrations that are less likely to transfer strongly to the body, making them more comfortable and generally safer for pregnant participants.

Practical Tips for Pregnant Participants

  1. Consult your healthcare professional first, especially in the first trimester, in the final few weeks, or if you have a high-risk pregnancy.

  2. Inform your facilitator about your pregnancy and how far along you are so adjustments can be made.

  3. Manage volume & distance: Sit further from loud or deep instruments, avoid direct placement on the body, and potentially choose sessions with gentler instruments.

  4. Listen to your body: Step outside, sit up, or leave if you feel uncomfortable.

Reiki-Specific Tips

  • Let your practitioner know you are pregnant.

  • Sessions should be adapted for comfort — for example, side-lying positions later in pregnancy.

  • Reiki complements prenatal care but is not a replacement for medical advice.

How We Support You at Found in Sound At Found in Sound, we:

  • Ask about health and pregnancy at booking.

  • Follow professional standards and safety guidance (we are UK Reiki Federation & IPHM accredited)

  • Adapt sessions — adjusting instrument choice, placement, or volume.

  • Keep records in line with UK data protection law to ensure safety and accountability.

Final Takeaway

Sound healing and Reiki can be beautiful, supportive experiences during pregnancy, helping you rest, connect, and nurture your wellbeing. The key is balance, awareness, and listening to your body, alongside open communication with your facilitator and healthcare team.


For more questions and answers like this, see our FAQ page for a deeper dive.

References:

  1. NHS. (n.d.). Complementary and alternative therapies in pregnancy. https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/complementary-and-alternative-medicine/

  2. UK Health Security Agency (formerly HPA). (2010). Health Effects of Exposure to Ultrasound and Infrasound (RCE-14). https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ultrasound-and-infrasound-rce-14

  3. RCOG. (2021). Complementary and alternative medicine in pregnancy. Green-top Guideline No. 74. https://www.rcog.org.uk/guidance/browse-all-guidance/green-top-guidelines/complementary-and-alternative-medicine-in-pregnancy-green-top-guideline-no-74/

  4. CDC / NIOSH. (2024). About Noise and Reproductive Health. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/noise/about/reproductive-health.html

  5. Krueger, C., Wall, S., Parker, L., Nealis, R., & Doheny, L. (2012). Safe sound exposure in the fetus and infant. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing, 41(2), 166–170. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1552-6909.2011.01331.x

  6. Movalled, K., et al. (2023). The impact of sound stimulations during pregnancy on fetal development: A review. BMC Pediatrics, 23:233. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-023-03923-7

  7. Skröder, H. M., et al. (2020). Maternal occupational exposure to whole-body vibrations and risk of preterm birth and small-for-gestational-age: A nationwide cohort study in Sweden. BMJ Open, 10(8):e036732. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-036732

  8. Skröder, H. M., et al. (2021). Maternal occupational exposure to whole-body vibrations and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Environmental Health, 20:46. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-021-00734-7

  9. Gagnon, R., Hunse, C., Carmichael, L., & Fellows, F. (1989). Effects of low-frequency vibration on human term fetuses. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 160(6), 1562–1567. https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9378(89)90906-8

  10. Nieuwenhuijsen, M. J., et al. (2017). Noise pollution and human health: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Environmental Health, 16:123. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-017-0319-6

  11. Academy of Sound Therapy. (2023). Is Sound Bath Meditation Safe During Pregnancy? https://academyofsoundtherapy.ie/latest-news-blog/is-sound-bath-safe-in-pregnancy/

  12. Healthline. (2022). Are Gong Baths Safe During Pregnancy? https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/gong-bath

  13. HSE – Health and Safety Executive – Occupational Noise and Vibration Guidance: https://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/



 
 
 

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