Postpartum Care
Postpartum care is just as important as prenatal care. The process of delivery and childbirth is hard work; it's called labor for a reason.
The effects can often leave the mother’s body deficient, fatigued, and vulnerable as her body has been “opened to the core.” All the while, she is beginning the physically and emotionally demanding role of mothering a newborn.
Caring for your health is crucial during these weeks and months of recovery and adaptation. In some cases, when complications arise during and after childbirth, it becomes even more important to continue postpartum care. This time period is an opportunity to literally ‘rebuild’ your body and constitutional health.
The healing, replenishing, strengthening, and nurturing benefits of Traditional Chinese Medicine can help ensure that you are at your optimal level of health at such an important time in your life.
A particular practice called “mother-roasting” is a postpartum tool used by many cultures around the world to warm and care for the health of the mother and newborn. Traditionally, fire was used to directly or indirectly warm a mother’s lower back and abdomen immediately following childbirth. In TCM, a special herb called “Moxa,” or Chinese Mugwort (Folium Artemisiae), is burned slowly near the surface of the skin to gently warm this area of the body called “Ming Men,” or “Life Gate” after delivery. This practice relaxes and soothes the mother, reduces after-pains and blood loss, firms up the abdomen and helps the uterus to shrink, promotes lactation, increases strength and confidence, and builds immunity.
Women can benefit from this treatment anytime in the first year postpartum, but generally the earlier and more frequent the treatments are in the immediate postpartum, the better.
Acupuncture safely and effectively helps to restore balance, prevent complications, decrease stress, promote healthy lactation, and can benefit the following conditions after childbirth:
Breast Feeding Problems
Insufficient Lactation
Blocked Ducts
Mastitis
Cracked or Sore Nipples
Postpartum Discomfort
Back Pain
Body and Joint Pain
Abdominal / Pelvic Soreness
Headaches
Recovery from Cesarean Section
Postoperative Healing
Baby Blues
Postpartum Depression
Uterine Prolapse
Persistent Lochiorrhea (continues for more than 2-3 weeks)
Urinary Incontinence & Retention
Bowel Irregularities, Hemorrhoids
Fatigue & Exhaustion
Insomnia
Hormonal Imbalance