Pregnancy and Postpartum Acupuncture in West Hollywood, Los Angeles
Supporting you from the first trimester through the fourth, and beyond
Pregnancy and Postpartum Acupuncture
Pregnancy is one of the most transformative experiences of your life. It is also one of the most physically and emotionally demanding.
At Michelle Malloy Acupuncture and Wellness, we offer acupuncture throughout every stage of pregnancy, labor preparation, and postpartum recovery. Our goal is to keep you feeling as well as possible throughout your pregnancy, prepare your body for labor, and support your recovery and transition into motherhood with the depth and nourishment your body deserves.
ACUPUNCTURE DURING PREGNANCY Safe, gentle, and effective support at every stage
Acupuncture has been used safely throughout pregnancy for thousands of years. It is one of the few truly integrative tools available to pregnant women, offering meaningful relief from common pregnancy symptoms without pharmaceutical intervention, and addressing the root cause of discomfort rather than simply managing symptoms.
We tailor every treatment to where you are in your pregnancy, what your body needs, and what your provider has recommended.
FIRST TRIMESTERWeeks 1 through 13
The first trimester is often the hardest. Your body is undergoing a seismic hormonal shift, and the symptoms can be overwhelming — especially when you are still keeping the pregnancy private and navigating it largely alone.
Acupuncture in the first trimester can help with:
Nausea and morning sickness : one of the most well-researched applications of acupuncture in pregnancy, with strong clinical evidence supporting its effectiveness at reducing severity and frequency
Fatigue and exhaustion: supporting your body's energy reserves during a period of extraordinary physiological demand
Headaches and migraines: safely addressing pain without medications that are contraindicated in pregnancy
Anxiety and stress : regulating the nervous system during a time of significant emotional adjustment
Insomnia: supporting deep, restorative sleep when your body needs it most
Miscarriage prevention support : for patients with a history of recurrent pregnancy loss, acupuncture can support uterine blood flow and progesterone stability in the critical early weeks
SECOND TRIMESTER Weeks 14 through 27
The second trimester brings relief for many but also a new set of physical demands as your body grows and shifts. Acupuncture continues to play an important supportive role.
Conditions we commonly treat in the second trimester:
Heartburn and acid reflux: regulating digestive function as the growing uterus puts pressure on the stomach
Constipation: promoting healthy gut motility safely and effectively
Low back pain: one of the most common complaints in pregnancy, responding very well to acupuncture
Hip and rib side pain: addressing the structural and muscular changes that come with a growing belly
Pelvic girdle pain: stabilizing the pelvis and reducing inflammation around the sacroiliac joint
Fatigue: nourishing Qi and Blood to sustain energy through the second trimester
Headaches and migraines: continued support without medication
Anxiety and insomnia: supporting the nervous system as the reality of approaching parenthood sets in
THIRD TRIMESTER Weeks 28 through 40
The third trimester brings significant physical demands — and for many women, real discomfort. Acupuncture is particularly valuable in these final weeks, both for symptom relief and for preparing the body for labor.
Conditions we commonly treat in the third trimester:
Sciatica: addressing nerve compression and inflammation as the baby descends
Pelvic pain and symphysis pubis dysfunction: reducing pain and improving mobility
Swelling and edema: promoting fluid metabolism and circulation in the legs, feet and hands
Carpal tunnel syndrome: a surprisingly common pregnancy complaint that responds well to acupuncture
Low back and hip pain : continued structural support as the body prepares for birth
Insomnia: helping you rest when sleep becomes increasingly elusive
Heartburn and constipation: continued digestive support
Anxiety and stress: grounding the nervous system as your due date approaches
Breech presentation: a classical Chinese Medicine technique using specific acupuncture points, used to encourage optimal fetal positioning before birth
LABOR PREPARATION Starting at 36 weeks
Beginning at 36 weeks, we offer a dedicated labor preparation protocol designed to prepare your body and mind for birth.
Research suggests that acupuncture in the final weeks of pregnancy may help:
Ripen and soften the cervix: supporting natural cervical readiness for labor
Encourage optimal fetal positioning
Boost endorphins: your body's natural pain-relieving hormones
Reduce the need for medical interventions: studies have shown that women who receive acupuncture in the final weeks of pregnancy have shorter labors and lower rates of medical intervention
Calm the nervous system: helping you approach labor from a place of groundedness rather than fear
We typically recommend weekly sessions from 36 weeks, increasing to twice weekly from 39 weeks. Every protocol is individualized based on your history, your provider's recommendations, and where your body is in its preparation for birth.
POSTPARTUM RECOVERY The fourth trimester
In Chinese Medicine, the postpartum period is considered one of the most important windows of a woman's life and one of the most vulnerable. What happens in the weeks and months after birth has profound implications for your long-term health, energy, hormonal balance, and vitality.
Western culture moves new mothers through the postpartum period far too quickly. Chinese Medicine takes a different view one that centers deep nourishment, rest, and rebuilding as non-negotiable.
What we address postpartum:
Fatigue and exhaustion: the most universal postpartum experience. Acupuncture combined with specific Chinese herbal formulas helps restore Qi and Blood lost during childbirth, replenish minerals, and rebuild the foundational reserves your body needs to recover
Postpartum hormone rebalancing: supporting the dramatic hormonal shift that occurs after birth, particularly the drop in estrogen and progesterone that can leave new mothers feeling depleted, emotional, and unrecognizable to themselves
Postpartum depression and anxiety: acupuncture has meaningful clinical evidence for supporting mood regulation postpartum, working on the same neurotransmitter pathways as antidepressants without the side effects. We work alongside your medical team and are not a replacement for psychiatric care when that is needed
Night sweats and insomnia: addressing the Yin deficiency and Blood deficiency patterns that drive postpartum sweating and sleep disruption
Milk supply and breastfeeding support: acupuncture and herbal medicine can support healthy milk production and help with engorgement and mastitis
Postpartum hair loss: one of the most distressing postpartum symptoms, driven by Blood deficiency and the hormonal drop after birth. Herbal medicine is particularly effective here
C-section recovery: supporting scar tissue healing, reducing inflammation, and restoring circulation to the abdominal area after surgical birth
Rebuilding and replenishment: our postpartum herbal formulas are specifically designed to promote circulation, nourish the Blood, replace minerals lost during childbirth, and restore the deep reserves that pregnancy and birth drew upon
OUR POSTPARTUM HERBAL FORMULAS
Chinese herbal medicine has a 2,000-year history of postpartum care. Our postpartum formulas are specifically selected and customized to each patient's constitution and presentation. They work to:
Promote healthy circulation and resolve stasis from childbirth
Nourish Blood and replenish the deep reserves drawn upon during pregnancy
Replace minerals and nutrients lost during birth
Support hormonal rebalancing and emotional stability
Restore energy and vitality for the enormous work of new motherhood
Herbal medicine is prescribed based on your specific TCM pattern diagnosis — because no two postpartum bodies are the same, and your formula should reflect that.
WHO WE WORK WITH
You might be the right fit if any of this sounds familiar
Pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy looking for safe, integrative symptom support
Women preparing for labor starting at 36 weeks
New mothers in the days, weeks, and months after birth, whether vaginal or cesarean
Women experiencing postpartum depression, anxiety, exhaustion, or hormonal imbalance
Breastfeeding mothers needing support with supply or mastitis
Women who want to rebuild their health intentionally after the demands of pregnancy and birth
HOW CHINESE MEDICINE VIEWS PREGNANCY AND POSTPARTUM
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, pregnancy is a time of extraordinary Blood and Essence demand. The mother's resources are continuously drawn upon to nourish and grow new life. By the time birth arrives, her reserves have been significantly depleted — and birth itself involves further loss of Blood, fluid, and vital energy.
Postpartum recovery in TCM is therefore not optional. It is a clinical imperative. The weeks after birth are viewed as a window during which deep nourishment can set the foundation for decades of health — or, if neglected, can leave lasting deficiencies that manifest as fatigue, hormonal dysregulation, premature aging, and chronic depletion.
This is why we don't just treat symptoms postpartum. We rebuild.
Supporting you through every stage of this extraordinary journey, from the first weeks of pregnancy through the fourth trimester and beyond.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pregnancy and Postpartum Acupuncture
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Yes, when performed by a licensed acupuncturist with training in obstetric acupuncture, acupuncture is safe throughout pregnancy. We are trained in which points to avoid and how to position you safely at every stage.
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You can start at any point in your pregnancy. Many patients come in during the first trimester for nausea and fatigue, others join us in the third trimester for labor preparation. The earlier you start, the more we can do but it is never too late.
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Ideally within the first few weeks after birth, when the body is most receptive to rebuilding support. That said, we see postpartum patients at any point whether you are one week out or six months out and still not feeling like yourself.
Meet the Acupuncturist
Our practice is founded and led by Michelle Malloy, a licensed acupuncturist and Chinese Medicine practitioner, and a Fellow of the Acupuncture and TCM Board of Reproductive Medicine (FABORM) a distinction held by a select group of acupuncturists with advanced training in reproductive endocrinology and integrative fertility care.
Michelle specializes in fertility and women’s health, with a focus on supporting patients through IVF, hormone balance, digestive health, and autoimmune conditions. Her approach combines the depth of Traditional Chinese Medicine with a modern, Integrative functional Medicine understanding of the body.
Each treatment is personalized to your unique health history and goals, ensuring that every session is deeply supportive throughout your fertility through postpartum journey. We work closely with patients undergoing treatment at fertility clinics throughout Los Angeles to align care with each phase of the IVF process.
Our Clinic in West Hollywood
Our clinic in West Hollywood has a cozy and calm atmosphere designed to put your mind and body at ease. Our patients receive:
A comprehensive consultation to understand your unique health and fertility, pregnancy and postpartum goals on the first visit
A personalized integrative health treatment plan crafted to meet your health and fertility needs
Guidance on lifestyle and dietary adjustments to enhance the benefits of your holistic fertility and pregnancy journey
Maintenance schedule to maintain the benefits of your fertility and pregnancy support treatment
