Proper postpartum care will benefit a mother the rest of her life.
The days and weeks following the birth of a new baby can be some of the most magical in a woman’s life. They can also be some of the most exhausting.
Little room is carved out in our culture to nurture and tend to new moms as they adjust to life with their new baby- whether it be her first or her fourth child. Many women are expected to be up and about within days of delivering and back into the normal rhythm of their lives.
Golden Month
According to Chinese Medicine tradition, the Golden Month is a precious time in a mother and baby’s life when they are able to bond together while other family members tend to the day-to-day household duties. Mom isn’t expected to do anything but snuggle and feed her new baby, rest, eat special foods, recover and replenish her body.
While a full month in bed is not feasible for most families, we encourage new moms to come in for treatment whenever they can during these early postpartum weeks for the care that they so deeply need. Remember, you can not pour from an empty cup. A mother who finds the time to take care of herself, has more to give to her new baby.
Treatments are often directed at restoring a new mother’s Blood, Qi (energy), Yin, and Yang- all of which are lost in high amounts during pregnancy and delivery. These gentle treatments will also harmonize hormones and emotions, and support healthy lactation. Additionally, we will provide nutrition and self-care recommendations to support Blood, Qi, Yin, and Yang production.
Restoring Blood, Qi, Yin, and Yang is vital to future fertility and the viability of subsequent pregnancies.
Even if you’re not able to make it in for treatments during the Golden Month, we recommended establishing a regular acupuncture and self-care regimen in the months following the birth of your child.
This is especially true if you plan on more pregnancies in the years to come.
A truth not widely discussed in our Western culture is that fully recovering from pregnancy and childbirth can take between 6 months and 2 years depending upon the woman.
I encourage mothers to avoid unrealistic expectations of what “bouncing back” looks like. Every pregnancy and post-natal period is different. What is consistent, however, is the need to nourish, restore and replenish the new mother.
