If you're a new mom in the postpartum recovery phase, acupuncture can make you feel better in a variety of ways. In addition to acupuncture, Chinese medicine modalities that are offered at Earthsong include moxa, cupping, gua sha, nutritional and lifestyle recommendations and herbal support.
Mother Warming Treatment
One of the most nourishing and supportive treatments given in the postpartum recovery phase is what's called a mother warming. Typically done between 1 and 2 weeks postpartum, this treatment uses Moxa (a dried therapeutic herb also known as ai ye or mugwort) to gently warm the abdomen. The goals of a mother warming treatment are to rebuild Qi and blood, help the uterus contract back to it's pre-pregnancy size, reduce bleeding and boost energy.
Lactation Support
Acupuncture is a safe and effective way to increase milk supply in new moms. Chinese medicine views the mother's milk as being created by the mother's own blood supply.Often times after giving birth, new mother's are depleted in both blood and Qi. Acupuncture and herbs help to rebuild the blood supply thereby increasing milk production. Acupuncture can also help to reduce pain in inflammation associated with blocked ducts and mastitis and regulate the nervous system and hormones to allow for hormone release that leads to let down.
Aches & Pains
You may find that the aches and pains that you experienced during pregnancy continue into the postpartum phase. In addition, you're now carrying a new baby and may be experiencing shoulder, neck and upper back pain. Acupuncture is incredibly effective at treating all types of pain. Just a few treatments can go a long way to helping your body to feel better.
Sleep support
When you have a new baby, you'll be losing sleep, there's no doubt about it. Most of us understand that this can be detrimental to our health with negative impacts on mood and energy and even being linked to more serious health issues. During the postpartum phase, acupuncture treatments will focus on improving the quality of sleep (verses quantity) by regulating your nervous system and helping you to fall back to sleep easily when you do have to wake.
Emotional support
Becoming a mother is one of the most transformational experiences we go through as women. Depending on many factors, you may be experiencing anxiety, the baby blues or even postpartum depression. While feelings of sadness or anxiety can be normal (and should be talked about more often), it's important to seek help in prolonged or extreme cases. Acupuncture helps to bring your nervous system back into parasympathetic mode (rest & digest) and helps balance hormones that may contribute to these feelings. I often recommend additionial support from your PCP or mental healthcare provider as well.
Many of us don't have the "village" that we expected in motherhood and it's important to build a team of caring, passionate providers that really want to see you feeling better. Please reach out if you are going through any of the things discussed above and we'll get you back to feeling like your best self again!
