The big moment has arrived: after nine months of carrying your growing baby, they are finally here! Now is the time to bond with your precious little one and learn how to care for them, all while recovering from one of the most physically and emotionally challenging experiences you will ever go through.
While it’s natural for infants to receive most of the attention and care during this time, the first month or two after birth is also a very special phase in your life. After all, part of you literally went into creating your baby!
In many other cultures, family members, friends, and even wider community members band together to help new mothers as they recover from pregnancy and childbirth and slowly regain their strength. While this can prove challenging in today’s demanding, fast-paced world, it’s still possible to create a network that’s uniquely tailored to your needs.
Start seeking out help—many people in your life truly want to be there for you and your baby, and there are so many postpartum resources available to you! With a little effort, you can build a support system that feels right for you. You don’t need to do it all on your own.
How Acupuncture Can Help During the Postpartum Phase
We will go over how East Asian medicine can help you to recover and re-energize so that you can navigate this time with greater ease and well-being. Here are some of acupuncture and moxibustion’s potential benefits to you as a new mother:
- Regulates hormone levels after childbirth, soothing symptoms like postpartum depression, mood swings, insomnia, and night sweats.
- Reduces anxiety and stress by enhancing the production of serotonin and dopamine, neurotransmitters associated with well-being.
- Relieves common post-birth pains like back pain, perineal discomfort, and breast engorgement by stimulating the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers.
- Reduces inflammation and speeds up recovery from labor and delivery, including c-section surgery and scarring.
- Aids the uterus in shrinking back to its pre-pregnancy size by promoting blood flow to the uterus.
- Enhances milk production and addresses issues like clogged ducts and mastitis by increasing blood flow to the breasts and regulating hormones associated with breastfeeding like prolactin.
- Reduces water retention by stimulating kidney and bladder functions.
- Improves digestive issues such as gas, bloating, and constipation by improving blood flow to digestive organs, and tonifying the stomach and spleen.
- Improves fatigue and boosts energy by improving circulation, stimulating endocrine function, and stabilizing thyroid function.
How to nourish yourself postpartum
According to East Asian medicine principles, new mothers should consume energetically warming, cooked, blood-replenishing foods in order to restore blood production and flow after giving birth. Prioritizing your health and nutrition not only supports your recovery, but also aids in your baby’s development—especially if you’re breastfeeding, which is highly demanding on your body. Read on to learn about how incorporating these specific foods into your diet can have significant benefits for you and your little one.
Foods that support new mothers:
- Bone broth is rich in amino acids and gelatin, is a great source of nutrients for postpartum recovery that is ideal for replenishing, repairing tissue, replacing blood, aiding lactation and supporting stable emotions. We recommend trying Mama Tong’s, our favorite local bone broth company. Click here to check them out. They also offer already prepared soups that are delicious.
- Nourishing soups can provide the body with essential minerals and support healing (we have included a yummy recipe below!).
- Ginger is warming, nourishing, aids digestion, and moves the blood. For women experiencing heavy bleeding, use only in small amounts.
- Black sesame is traditionally used as a qi and blood tonic and can help increase lactation. It is rich in essential fatty acids, B vitamins, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and tryptophan, which can help stabilize mood. However, if you are experiencing weak digestion, it is recommended to consume only a small amount of black sesame.
- Black vinegar is a warming and nourishing ingredient that purifies the blood and aids circulation, digestion, and constipation. It can also encourage perspiration, which is an avenue for eliminating toxins and additional fluid after birth. Additionally, it contains amino acids that aid in tissue repair and growth and can pair beautifully with bone broths.
- Eggs nourish the yin, benefit the heart, kidneys, liver, and spleen. They contain a lot of amino acids.
- Mineral-rich leafy greens such as kale, collard greens, arugula, and spinach are also great options for replenishing the body.
- Healthy fats such as avocado, olive oil, ghee, and coconut oil, can help with hormone regulation and promote healthy brain development in your baby.
- Beets contain iron, which can help with blood building, and they also help balance blood sugar levels, which can be especially beneficial for new mothers. Additionally, beets have been found to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which can help improve cardiovascular health.
- is very important while breastfeeding, so drinking plenty of water is essential.
By incorporating these nutrient-rich foods into your diet, you can support your postpartum recovery and provide your baby with the nourishment they need to thrive.
Easy East Asian Medicine Tips that Keep You Happy and Healthy as a New Mom:
- Staying warm by dressing warmly, eating cooked foods, and drinking warm liquids.
- Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.
- Rest! Avoid strenuous activities and overexertion.
- Practice gentle postpartum movement when the time is right.
- When you can, lean on others for much-needed care and support.
You deserve the care and support that will help you flourish during this special time.
We are here for you as part of your care team, offering the gentle, holistic support you need to heal and restore balance to your body, mind, and spirit during this beautiful, transformative phase of adjusting to life with your new baby.
If you are ready to experience the benefits of acupuncture or need guidance on postpartum nutrition, please reach out!
Testimonials:
“In the postpartum period, I struggled with intense night sweats that left me drenched multiple times a night. Thanks to Paola’s support, my hormones balanced out, and within a month, I felt like myself again!
I had also experienced more blood loss than expected after delivery, which can often slow recovery.
However, I was up and about within a week, carrying the baby around San Francisco with a strong milk supply and a renewed sense of energy.”
-A.
“Recovering from a 3rd C-section has been going better than the actual pregnancy experience. I am proactively seeking various therapies to help my body heal. Weekly acupuncture sessions, chiropractic adjustments, and postnatal massages are on my calendar.
The first week after discharge from the hospital was the worst because of the edema and inflammation. I felt a lot of joint stiffness, backaches, and pain around the incision. The second week after discharge I started noticing less aches and pains but still weak in my movements.
Around the 3 week mark, having started receiving acupuncture and other treatments made me start to feel better day after day. I began to feel stronger moving about and could go for short walks. Wrapping up 4 weeks after giving birth, I am feeling good about my recovery progress and will continue with weekly therapies.”
-P.C.
