Can You Have Sound Healing or Reiki During Pregnancy?

Updated July 2026 with Laura’s personal experience of practising sound healing and Reiki during pregnancy.

Pregnancy can be a time of profound change—physically, emotionally and inwardly. It can also bring an understandable question for anyone drawn to complementary therapies: can you safely attend a sound bath or receive Reiki while pregnant?

When I first wrote this article, I was responding as a trained sound therapy and Reiki practitioner who had welcomed pregnant clients into our sessions. Since then, several people have joined us at different stages of pregnancy—some with only days or weeks to go before their babies were due.

I am now pregnant myself and have continued working with sound and practising Reiki regularly throughout my pregnancy. This has given me a new personal perspective on the question, alongside my professional training and the available safety guidance.

Research specifically examining sound baths and Reiki during pregnancy remains limited. Limited research does not automatically tell us that something is either safe or unsafe; it means there are questions we cannot yet answer with certainty.

My intention with this article is not to add to the fear that can already surround pregnancy. It is to share the available evidence, explain the precautions we take at Found in Sound and offer my experience as both a practitioner and a pregnant person. From there, you can make an informed decision in conversation with your practitioner and maternity team.

This article is for general information and is not a substitute for individual medical advice.

My Personal Experience of Sound and Reiki During Pregnancy

Throughout my pregnancy, I have continued facilitating sound healing and Reiki sessions, working with gongs, Himalayan and crystal singing bowls, drums, percussion and my voice.

I have also given myself Reiki regularly. For me, this has offered quiet time to rest, tune into my body and connect with my baby. Pregnancy can bring so many physical sensations, emotions and thoughts about the future, and these moments of stillness have felt particularly valuable.

Music is a significant part of my other work too. I have continued performing at and attending music events, including drum and bass festivals, while remaining conscious of my comfort, positioning and overall exposure.

So far, I have experienced a healthy pregnancy without sickness, food aversions or illness, and our baby is healthy and growing well. This is, of course, only my personal experience. It cannot tell us whether sound or Reiki has influenced the course of my pregnancy, nor does it mean someone else will have the same experience. Nevertheless, I think it is interesting and worthwhile to share.

One thing I have noticed during pregnancy is how easily caution can become fear. Where research is limited, the conversation can sometimes move quickly towards avoiding something altogether, even when there is no clear evidence that it is harmful. I am not sharing my experience to make claims the evidence cannot support, but to contribute another perspective and help people make informed, empowered decisions.

I have supported my wellbeing through good nutrition, movement, rest and other forms of self-care too. It would be impossible—and inappropriate—to attribute my experience to one practice alone. I see these things as part of a wider, holistic picture of caring for myself and my baby.

What I can say is that sound and Reiki have felt like meaningful parts of my emotional, spiritual and physical self-care throughout pregnancy. They have helped me pause, listen, rest and deepen the developing relationship I feel with my baby.

What Does The Research Actually Tell Us?

Research specifically examining gong baths, singing bowls and multi-instrument sound healing during pregnancy remains extremely limited. However, UK medical and safety authorities do not specifically advise pregnant people to avoid therapeutic sound. Most official precautions concern prolonged occupational noise, extremely loud environments and sustained mechanical vibration—not carefully facilitated sound sessions.

It is important to remember that none of us moves through pregnancy in silence. We encounter traffic, construction work, trains, aircraft, music and raised voices. A brief or gently played sound is different from sustained exposure, just as a singing bowl played softly from across a room is not equivalent to an intensely played gong or strong vibration directly beside the body.

Some directly relevant research is beginning to emerge. A small 2026 study involving 30 women reported reduced anxiety following sound-healing sessions during the final weeks of pregnancy. However, because it had no control group, it cannot tell us whether sound healing itself caused the improvement. A separate preliminary gong project also reported positive experiences, but has not been published as a peer-reviewed clinical trial.

There is a stronger body of evidence concerning music. Several systematic reviews of randomised trials suggest that music interventions may reduce anxiety during pregnancy, with some studies also reporting improvements in stress, sleep or mood. However, these interventions generally involved recorded music or music therapy rather than gongs, singing bowls or multi-instrument sound baths.

Research also confirms that sound from outside the body can reach the developing baby, with maternal tissues altering and reducing it and lower frequencies passing through more readily. This supports thoughtful attention to intensity, proximity and physical vibration, but does not demonstrate that sensitively delivered therapeutic sound is harmful.

Evidence specifically examining reiki during pregnancy is also beginning to emerge. Two small randomised trials have explored reiki during the third trimester, with mixed but potentially encouraging findings relating to wellbeing and breastfeeding confidence. However, both were conducted by the same research team, involved relatively small groups and do not establish benefits or safety throughout pregnancy. More generally, reiki has not been shown to cause harmful effects, although its effectiveness as a treatment for health conditions remains unproven.

Where direct research is limited, responsible practitioners must work with appropriate caution—for everyone’s safety and in accordance with their training and professional insurance. This does not mean assuming sound healing or reiki is dangerous. It means considering the intensity, duration, distance and vibration involved, making appropriate adaptations and working with each person’s individual circumstances. This is also why extra precaution is taken in the first trimester which we'll talk about now.

A Note About The First Trimester

The first trimester is a sensitive stage of pregnancy, when early development is taking place and miscarriage is more common. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists states that around one in five women will experience a miscarriage during the first three months following a positive pregnancy test, often for no apparent reason. This is one reason additional precaution is commonly taken during this period.

Because research specifically examining sound healing and Reiki during the first trimester remains limited, many practitioners, training organisations and insurers adopt a precautionary approach. This does not mean that either practice has been shown to cause miscarriage or to be harmful during early pregnancy; it reflects the limited evidence and the particular care taken during this stage.

At Found in Sound, our professional insurance also requires us to welcome pregnant clients to sound baths and one-to-one sessions from the second trimester onwards, again, as a precautionary measure.

My personal experience has been different. As a trained practitioner, I chose to continue working with sound and giving myself reiki throughout my first trimester. This was a personal decision based on my knowledge, circumstances and how I felt in my body, but it does not change the professional conditions under which we work with clients.

Attending a Sound Bath While Pregnant Always let the facilitator know that you are pregnant and how many weeks pregnant you will be on the date of the session. This allows them to explain their approach, make suitable adjustments and tell you about any restrictions relating to their training or insurance.

Comfort becomes increasingly important as pregnancy progresses. As lying flat is not recommended later in pregnancy, you may want to lie on your side with support beneath your bump and between your knees, rest in a supported semi-reclined position or sit in a chair to prevent hip pain and tension. Bring enough pillows and cushions to support your back, hips, knees and bump, particularly as you approach your due date, or ask the facilitator if they can provide extra pillows for you.

You should always feel able to change position, sit up, move farther from an instrument or step outside if you feel uncomfortable, dizzy, overheated or overwhelmed. A good facilitator will welcome these adjustments rather than expect everyone to remain in the same position throughout the session.

If you are attending close to your due date, tell the practitioner in advance. Although it would be unusual for someone to give birth during a sound bath, contractions could begin or their waters could break.

Keep your maternity unit’s contact details accessible and have a plan for travelling home or seeking advice. If your waters break during a session, the facilitator should pause the session, offer privacy and help you contact your maternity team.

Most importantly, feel free to ask questions, understand what the experience involves, listen to your body and work with practitioners who take your comfort and individual circumstances seriously.

Attending a One-to-one Sound Healing or Reiki Session While Pregnant

At Found in Sound, we can offer gentle, pregnancy-adapted one-to-one sessions from the second trimester. These may include reiki, voice and softly played crystal or Himalayan singing bowls around the body, with the emphasis on rest, comfort and connection rather than intensive on-body vibrational work.

Reiki can be given through light touch or with the hands held just above the body, depending on your preference. You remain fully clothed and can receive either practice while lying on your side, resting in a supported semi-reclined position or sitting in a chair. We have a pregnancy pillow and additional cushions to support your bump, back, hips and knees, and you are welcome to bring any supports you already know feel comfortable.

Both sound and reiki have been meaningful parts of my own pregnancy. They have felt peaceful, calming and deeply connecting, particularly because of the gentle way we work with sound and the intention brought to each practice. Noticing how my baby responds to different sounds has helped me feel more in tune with her and deepen our developing bond. These practices have also created space for me to become still, listen to my body and release some of the fears and emotions arising around pregnancy, birth and becoming a parent.

Every pregnancy and every experience of sound or reiki is individual. We encourage you to listen to your body, change position or pause whenever needed and let us know if anything feels uncomfortable. Please speak with us before booking so that we can understand what you are looking for and discuss any appropriate adaptations.

If you are booking with another practitioner, ask what the session involves, whether instruments will be placed directly on your body, how the treatment will be adapted during pregnancy and whether their training or insurance imposes any restrictions. One-to-one sound treatments vary considerably, from gentle relaxation-focused sessions to more intensive vibrational work, so it is important to understand what is being offered and feel comfortable asking questions.

Sound healing and reiki are complementary practices rather than treatments for pregnancy symptoms or complications. They may offer valuable space for rest, reflection and emotional or spiritual wellbeing alongside appropriate antenatal care.

Making The Choice That Feels Right For You

There is no single answer that applies to every pregnancy, practitioner or session. Sound healing and Reiki can offer meaningful space for rest, reflection and connection during pregnancy, but the type and intensity of the experience, your individual circumstances and your own comfort all matter.

Ask questions, listen to your body and choose a trained and insured practitioner who is willing to adapt the experience and work collaboratively with you. If you have any concerns about your pregnancy or whether a particular session is appropriate, speak with your midwife or maternity team.

If you would like to attend a Found in Sound sound bath or explore a gentle, pregnancy-adapted one-to-one session, we would be happy to discuss your needs before you book.

This article shares Laura’s personal experience and is intended for general information only. It is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have questions about your individual pregnancy, speak with your midwife, GP or maternity team.

Further Reading

• Mitchell L. Gaynor, MD, The Healing Power of Sound: Recovery from Life-Threatening Illness Using Sound, Voice, and Music. Includes a discussion of research into music therapy during late pregnancy, labour and neonatal care, particularly on pages 89–90.

• Eileen Day McKusick, Tuning the Human Biofield: Healing with Vibrational Sound Therapy. Includes method-specific guidance that pregnancy may be contraindicated for Biofield Tuning because of the possibility of an intense response, described by the author as detoxification

• Penelope Quest, Reiki for Life: The Complete Guide to Reiki Practice for Levels 1, 2 & 3.

• Diane Stein, Essential Reiki: A Complete Guide to an Ancient Healing Art.

• Garry Malone, The Essence of Reiki 1: Usui Reiki 1 Manual.

References

1. HSE: Protecting Pregnant Workers and New Mothers - Common Risks

2. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists - Early Miscarriage

3. Reducing Mothers’ Anxiety Before Normal Labour With Sound Healing Therapy

4. Benefits of Gong Sound Therapy for a Pregnant Woman—Preliminary Practitioner-led Project

5. Systematic Review of Music Interventions During Pregnancy

6. Prenatal Sound Stimulation and Fetal Learning

7. Reiki in The Third Trimester: Randomised Controlled Trial

8. Reiki in Higher-Risk Pregnancies: Randomised Controlled Trial

9. Fetal Exposures to Sound and Vibroacoustic Stimulation

10. The Acoustic Environment and Physiological Responses of the Fetus

11. Music Interventions to Reduce Stress and Anxiety in Pregnancy: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

12. Music Interventions For Anxiety in Pregnant Women: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis