Postpartum Recovery — Marylebone, London

Acupuncture for sleep, energy, or mood can start once you feel ready — many women come in from week 2 onwards. MLD over a caesarean or perineal repair starts only after surgical clearance, usually 4 to 6 weeks post-delivery and never over an open or infected wound. Anyone with red-flag postnatal symptoms (heavy bleeding, severe headache, leg pain/swelling, severe mood disturbance) should see their GP or the postnatal pathway first.

Yes — acupuncture is safe during breastfeeding, and the herbal element is adapted to avoid herbs that pass into breast milk in concerning concentrations. We confirm the breastfeeding picture at intake and review the plan at every session if your feeding pattern changes.

Postpartum hair loss (telogen effluvium) is a hormonal phenomenon that resolves over 6 to 12 months in most women. We support it nutritionally — iron, vitamin D, B12, omega-3, protein adequacy — and rule out other causes (postnatal thyroiditis, severe iron deficiency) by recommending appropriate GP testing where the picture is unusual.

Not usually if you are exclusively breastfeeding — periods often return once feeding frequency drops, sometimes 6 to 18 months after delivery. If you are formula-feeding or breastfeeding less and your cycle has not returned by 6 months, that is worth a GP review. We support cycle return as part of the wider postpartum care plan; we never recommend stopping breastfeeding to drive it.