Prenatal & Postpartum

Prenatal & Postpartum Acupuncture in San Francisco

During pregnancy, I see patients for nausea, back pain and disrupted sleep. After birth, care may focus on bladder symptoms, breastfeeding, pelvic pain or mood. Your stage of pregnancy or recovery, symptoms and obstetric care guide the treatment plan.

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Trained and practised in Beijing Fewer needles Modern acupuncture

Dr Deb Ma, PhD, LAc, OMD · 1640 Valencia St, San Francisco

17 years, most of them in BeijingPhD from Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, then a maternity hospital's postpartum programme: 60 percent of a caseload of 45 to 60 patients a week.

Obstetrics referred, acupuncture treatedTen of those years working with OB/GYNs, neurologists and psychologists on shared patient care.

Fewer needlesPoint selection is deliberate and minimal, and after a birth the first tool is often heat on points rather than a needle at all.

Pregnancy care starts with the symptoms making daily life difficult

Nausea, back pain and broken sleep are reasons patients come in during pregnancy. Tell me how many weeks along you are and anything your OB or midwife has flagged, so we can discuss where acupuncture fits in your care.

For persistent morning sickness, treatment may use points on the wrist, upper belly and leg. For a breech baby, the technique is warmth from a mugwort stick near the little toe, rather than a needle, alongside your OB's plan.

Dr Deb, in a white coat and mask, working on a baby lying on its front on a treatment table in a Beijing hospital, the mother holding the baby steady and two parents watching. — Dr Deb during her prenatal and postpartum work at the best international OB/GYN hospital in Beijing, Beijing United Family Hospital.

A pregnant woman lying on her side on a treatment table, eyes closed and smiling, a white towel over her hips, while a practitioner in a cream uniform works with both hands along her lower back.

Postpartum treatment changes as recovery progresses

The first days after birth bring different concerns from the months that follow. Whether the birth was vaginal or caesarean, I work alongside your obstetric care and adapt treatment to how you are recovering.

In the maternity hospital, obstetricians assessed patients before referring them for Chinese medicine. That collaboration informs how I practise here.

Chinese medicine considers depletion after birth

Qi and blood are Chinese-medicine terms used to describe the body's resources after birth. I use that framework alongside your symptoms and medical assessment, rather than treating every postpartum concern as the same problem.

Time since birth	Symptoms patients bring	Treatment approach
The first 72 hoursThe bladder	Difficulty emptying the bladder (urinary retention), afterpains, milk supply and changes in mood.	Difficulty passing urine needs urgent assessment by your maternity team first. Acupuncture, heat or herbs are possible adjuncts only after evaluation; they must not delay bladder drainage or other medical treatment.
Days 3 to 42The milk and the mood	Low milk supply, breast discomfort, constipation or low mood that has not lifted by two weeks.	Lactation or medical assessment guides care. Acupuncture may be considered alongside feeding support; any herbs need a separate breastfeeding and medication review.
Around the postpartum checkThe pelvic floor	Leaking with coughing or running, urgency, persistent pubic or low-back pain, or low mood.	After assessment, we discuss whether acupuncture could help alongside pelvic-floor rehabilitation. The symptoms and recovery guide the technique and course length.
The year afterPersistent symptoms	Persistent stress incontinence, pain that began after birth, or changes in the menstrual cycle.	Reassess symptoms that persist. If we try electroacupuncture for leaking, we track episodes and pad use alongside the pelvic-floor plan.

If you cannot pass urine after birth, contact your maternity team urgently rather than waiting for an acupuncture visit. Postnatal bladder-care guidance calls for assessment if you have not passed urine within six hours of delivery or catheter removal, or cannot empty well. A bladder scan and catheter may be needed.

A 2026 Chinese hospital trial studied acupuncture and electrical stimulation after postpartum urinary retention was diagnosed, with routine care in every group. It does not support delaying assessment or trying home treatment first. The stages above are a guide to common concerns, not deadlines for seeking care.

Postpartum recovery in three stages, each with a line drawing of a mother. Stage 1, week 1: recovery focus, support healthy postpartum discharge and milk production; nutrition, keep meals light, choose less salt and oil, add protein, and avoid over-supplementing. Stage 2, weeks 2 to 3: recovery focus, support uterine recovery and healthy digestion; nutrition, as pain eases, try sesame-oil dishes prepared without alcohol. Stage 3, after week 3: recovery focus, restore uterine and ovarian function, ease back soreness and postpartum hair shedding; nutrition, this is the time for nourishing foods; if breastfeeding or prone to excess body heat, avoid alcohol-based dishes.

This illustration reflects traditional postpartum food advice. The weeks are approximate, and the food suggestions are not proven to restore ovarian function or prevent hair shedding. Your recovery, appetite and feeding needs guide the plan.

Herbal prescriptions depend on recovery and breastfeeding

I sometimes discuss a herbal formula for symptoms between visits, after medical assessment where needed. Sheng Hua Tang is used in traditional postpartum care, but it is not a routine prescription for everyone after birth. Breastfeeding safety data are limited, and each ingredient needs review alongside your medicines. If I do not think you need herbs, I will say so.

Chinese angelica root, dried root slices

Dāng guī Chinese angelica root

An ingredient in Sheng Hua Tang. It is not a proven milk-supply treatment; LactMed advises avoiding it while breastfeeding.

chuanxiong rhizome, dried rhizome slices

Chuān xiōng chuanxiong rhizome

Another traditional ingredient in Sheng Hua Tang. A new postpartum headache needs assessment, not an automatic herbal prescription.

Hóng huā safflower

Used in some traditional formulas. Changes in postpartum bleeding need assessment before considering a formula.

Bái sháo white peony root

Traditionally paired with licorice in formulas for cramping. The pairing is not a fixed treatment for the first fortnight after birth.

Fú líng poria

Used in traditional formulas selected for the overall symptom pattern, rather than prescribed to every mother with poor sleep.

Gān cǎo licorice root

An ingredient in several traditional formulas. It can affect blood pressure and potassium, and is not a general breastfeeding supplement.

Photographs: Fumikas Sagisavas (CC BY 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons. Each is a round crop from the source photograph.

These are examples of traditional ingredients, not a self-treatment list. Sources: Guangdong drug-safety information on Sheng Hua Tang; LactMed on dong quai and licorice.

A 2017 trial in 504 women with stress incontinence found that leakage fell by 9.9 grams with electroacupuncture, compared with 2.6 grams with placebo needling, after six weeks. Their average age was 55; this was not a postpartum trial.

For postpartum leaking, we discuss a treatment course and track changes with a pad count, alongside pelvic-floor care.

Breastfeeding support includes low supply and the transition to weaning

A 2024 review of 19 trials found higher exclusive-breastfeeding rates in acupuncture groups, but rated the evidence critically low in quality. The result is promising, not a reliable prediction of an individual mother’s milk supply.

I also see mothers who are reducing or ending breastfeeding, including after a return to work or a loss. If there is a medical reason to change feeding, that decision belongs with your medical team.

We discuss breast discomfort and how the transition is going, including whether you need care from your obstetric or lactation team.

Acupuncture for postpartum mood sits alongside therapy and medication

Broken sleep, overnight feeds and the amount of help at home all matter when we talk about mood after birth. I ask about those circumstances as well as your symptoms.

In Chinese medicine, I also look for patterns connecting mood with sleep, tension and exhaustion. That assessment guides the choice of acupuncture points and tuina, a form of hands-on treatment.

Acupuncture runs alongside the therapy and medication your doctor recommends. A 2024 review of 13 trials reported benefits in some combined-treatment groups, but found the evidence too weak for a strong recommendation. New fathers can also struggle with mood; the illustration below describes some of the pressures they may face.

Can dads get postpartum depression? Potential contributors to paternal prenatal and postpartum depression, drawn as a line figure of a father holding a baby with a tangled thought above his head. Five pressures are listed under masculine gender role stress: pressure around physical capability, pressure to suppress emotions, fear of being subordinate to women, intellectual inadequacy, and fear of failure or poor performance.

Food and movement advice changes as pregnancy progresses

What you can tolerate in the first trimester may be different from what feels comfortable in the third. I adapt food advice to your appetite, digestion and daily routine.

In San Francisco, I often suggest warm, cooked meals such as soup, oatmeal and roast vegetables. That is an individual recommendation, not a rule that every pregnant woman must eat the same way. Review herbs and supplements with your prenatal clinician rather than adding them as a general tonic.

Early pregnancy, drawn as a line illustration: a woman resting in a chair with her eyes closed, a bowl of simple food and a glass of water beside her.

Middle pregnancy, drawn as a line illustration: a woman walking in comfortable clothes, with greens, citrus and a balanced plate around her.

The examination guides treatment; after birth, I can work away from the belly

How can Chinese medicine help after a birth? Four panels with line drawings. Manual therapy: gentle hands-on care can release tension and improve mobility. Acupuncture: targeted treatment can ease discomfort and support circulation. Herbal medicine: personalized formulas can nourish the body and restore balance. Therapeutic exercise, drawn as a bridge pose: simple movements strengthen the core and support stable movement.

Cheek acupuncture reaches a sore pelvis or pubic bone without a needle near the belly

Cheek acupuncture uses a standardised map of shallow points on the face for pain elsewhere in the body. It is different from cosmetic facial acupuncture. I hold the Level 3 certificate and explain the point choice and sensations before treatment.

After birth, I use cheek acupuncture for pelvic or pubic pain while keeping needles away from the belly. In a 2026 trial of postpartum pubic symphysis separation, the median movement-pain score at one week was 4 out of 10 with cheek acupuncture plus a pelvic belt, versus 7 with the belt alone. Participants knew which treatment they received.

How cheek acupuncture works

FSN combines shallow needling with movement for muscle pain

Illustration of the muscles of the upper back seen from behind, with an FSN needle entering at the top of the shoulder. An enlarged cross-section beside it shows the needle lying flat in the myofascial layer between the skin and the muscle. — FSN uses a shallow needle placed in the tissue beneath the skin, above the muscle.

Cross-section of skin comparing two needles. A traditional acupuncture needle goes straight down through epidermis, dermis and myofascial layer into the muscle. The FSN needle enters at a shallow angle and stops in the layer above the muscle. — FSN uses a shallow needle placed in the tissue beneath the skin, above the muscle.

FSN is Fu's Subcutaneous Needling. The needle goes in at a shallow angle and stays in the loose layer under the skin, above the muscle. I sweep it gently side to side while guiding you through specific movements, then re-test pain and range of motion. I hold the FSN certificate.

Whether I use it during pregnancy or after birth depends on the assessment, your obstetric care and which positions are comfortable.

How FSN needling works

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it hurt?

Less than people expect. The needles are about the width of a human hair, and I use fewer of them than most practices. Most people describe a dull heaviness at the point rather than pain. New mothers usually fall asleep on the table, and I let them.

Is it safe while I am pregnant?

Treatment needs to be adapted to your stage of pregnancy and medical history. Tell me your due date and anything your OB or midwife has flagged. We discuss positioning, point selection and whether acupuncture is appropriate; if a symptom needs your obstetric team first, I will send you there.

How soon after the birth can I start?

Timing depends on your symptoms and recovery. Difficulty passing urine needs urgent maternity-team assessment first, not an acupuncture appointment. For feeding, pelvic-floor symptoms or mood, we coordinate with your obstetric, lactation or mental-health care. You do not need to wait for a six-week check to report a problem. I offer postpartum home visits within San Francisco at $420 a session when appropriate after assessment.

Can I come while I am breastfeeding?

Yes. Tell me you are breastfeeding and bring a list of your medication and supplements. Any herbal prescription needs an ingredient-by-ingredient review for breastfeeding; herbs are not automatically suitable because they are natural. Bring the baby if you need to.

Do I keep taking my medication?

Yes, unless the person who prescribed it says otherwise. That includes an antidepressant and anything your OB or midwife has prescribed. I do not adjust prescriptions and nothing here is a reason to stop one. If reducing a medication is the goal, that is a conversation with your prescriber, and I am glad to write to them with what I am seeing.

How many needles?

Fewer than you are imagining: a handful when we use needles. Some early postpartum care uses heat on points instead. I explain the approach and where any needles would go before we start. If needles worry you, say so.

What does it cost?

The first consult is free. A new patient visit is $255 for 75 minutes and follow-ups are $205 for 60 minutes. Current rates are on the pricing page.

Tell me how many weeks along, or how many days since the birth

The consult is free. We go through your history, what you are taking, and whether acupuncture is a reasonable thing to add. If it isn't, I will tell you.

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