Postpartum, also known as confinement period in Chinese medicine prospective, refers to the first 30 days after child delivery. In Greek culture, the confinement period goes up to 40 days. No matter which family birth custom you identify with, professional care for both the mum and the bub is essential to assist in postnatal recuperation.
Plan ahead
It is best for the mum-to-be to engage with an acupuncturist and Chinese medicine herbalist before childbirth. Allow your practitioner to spend some time with you and understand your lifestyle, preference, health condition for a better postpartum care plan.
A Postpartum care plan is very important in case you are not able to visit your acupuncturist and herbalist right after childbirth. A new mum may not be aware of a normal recovery process and symptomatic complications. Common health complications in postpartum could be excessive bleeding, fatigue, lactation difficulties, mastitis, stomach acid reflux, urination problems, and anxiety. When these circumstances arise, please contact your acupuncturist and herbalist for assistance.
Care for yourself before the bub
Women tend to forget about themselves when they become mums. Having nutritious food is a basic for postpartum recovery even on a busy day. Small meals with higher frequent eating is highly recommended for mums who have poor digestion. According to Chinese Medicine five elements philosophy, having food whose colours are black, red, yellow, white and green are nutritive and good for energy balance within the body. A simple way to prepare such a nutritious meal is multi grain and bean soup. Breastfeeding is an intimate moment for both the mum and the bub, however, could be painful too. Acupuncture and herbal tea may help soothe the pain and promote milk production. While there is not right or wrong about the breastfeeding period, a mum breastfeeding for an extended period of time would also take a longer time for postnatal recuperation. Talk to your acupuncturist and herbalist to discuss a smooth weaning process without too much hassle and pain.
Seek help from others
Childbirth is the big day and postpartum care is an ongoing process. Women’s bodies change after childbirth and certainly deserve extra care. Contact your acupuncturist and herbalist in 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks and 10 weeks after birth for a health and mental evaluation, to work out the best solutions together for a better postnatal recuperation.
When you come to see Josephine for acupuncture therapy, feel free to ask for a dietary advice report based on your individual health conditions. It is advisable to get everything sorted in the last trimester.
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