Why I Worry About Our Postpartum Moms

By Tansy Briggs, DACM, L.Ac 

I have the privilege of seeing many women through the process of fertility and pregnancy.  They regularly come in for acupuncture treatment and we also discuss nutritional and herbal needs, how they are feeling, what to expect at every stage, and any other personal stories that tend to come up during the months they share their lives with me. I do my best to help them prepare for the next stage: having their baby. At this stage, I rarely see them in the clinic unless there is a significant complication in their or their baby’s health. Often they lament that they need care, but can’t figure out a way to juggle all of life’s demands and make time for coming into the clinic.  

There is an adage in Chinese Medicine that says: “To Treat the Child, Treat the Mother”

The first three months after a full-term pregnancy is considered the fourth trimester.  Unfortunately, it is also known as the “forgotten trimester.” Postpartum health is more than a women’s issue.  It is more than losing the ‘pregnancy weight’. It is vastly important to not only the woman herself, but for her baby and for her family.  Not only that, how she heals postpartum can have lasting effects on her health throughout her life. Our modern culture, the concept of the ‘superwoman’ is rewarded — have your baby, jump up immediately, lose the pregnancy weight and resume normal life. This notion goes against thousands of years of experience in Asian Medicine.

In Asian cultures, postpartum care is a traditional practice passed down from grandmother to mother and mother to daughter for many thousands of years.  New mothers are fed and cared for by either a hired professional who specializes in this field (confinement doula) or other female members of the family. During this time, special diet and foods are cooked and fed to the new mother, the baby is co-cared for, and new mothers are massaged, oil rubbed, bathed in ginger water and heal during the 30-40 days after birth.  Traditional practices like this help the new mothers recover postpartum and prevent premature aging. There are many benefits of this traditional practice focusing on diet, lifestyle and self-care for the first 30-40 days. 

All this sounds lovely! But, sadly, these are not traditions that are supported or carried out by the average modern western woman or promoted through the average western medical advice.  Further, not many modern studies have been done in collecting data that is comprehensive enough regarding cultural traditions of postpartum care to be used in conventional medicine. Generally, the mother is seen about 6 weeks postpartum for a check up.  There is so much healing to be done in these 6 weeks! So, how can we support proper postpartum healing within the constraints of the average western lifestyle and expectations?   

This is why we are starting Mom Mondays at The Healing Arts Center Bryn Mawr. This summer, we invite you to create a support partnership with another mother and/or friend and visit our Bryn Mawr office for acupuncture on Monday mornings - kids in tow. Each Monday from 10am-12pm, we will reserve the office for mothers and their children – if you bring a partner, you each take turns watching the children and getting acupuncture. Alternatively, come with your kids and get acupuncture with them! No need to stress over the adorable chaos that often comes along with little ones, this time will be reserved only for mothers, babies and toddlers. During your visits, we'll discuss your unique needs and concerns to make the most of each acupuncture session. We do not provide childcare; however, we encourage you to bring a friend or another mother so that each one can experience a relaxing acupuncture session. Our lobby will be set up as a kid-friendly zone for the other adult to watch the children.  

Proper healing postpartum may help prevent and/or heal:

·      Postpartum depression 

·      Hemorrhoids

·      Uterine Prolapse

·      Urinary incontinence

·      Diastasis Recti

·      Weight gain

·      Premature aging

·      Hormonal imbalances

·      Body aches

·      Imbalances that could lead to other diseases later in life such as thyroid problems, osteoporosis, increased symptoms with peri-menopause and menopause etc. 

In my clinical experience of over 20 years of practice treating women of all ages, I have treated many of these issues with positive results.  I have so many examples of woman who have finally been able to come to me for treatment, sometimes months to years after giving birth and say “I just haven’t felt right since having my baby.”  These issues can range from pain, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, easily becoming sick, incontinence, irregular menstrual cycles and depression to name a few. 

In Western culture and healthcare, healing mom’s postpartum is mostly left out of our healthcare system.  

I worry that our western culture has put this type of pressure on families.  Women are expected to ‘get on with it’. Get back to work, sometimes as early as six weeks postpartum or earlier, lose the ‘baby weight’ or care for your new family at home. It is ironic that many studies have shown that this vulnerable time for women and children is also a very important period of time that can have profound impact for their health on the rest of their lives.  Whilst I don’t expect that all of a sudden we will fully adopt the Asian practice of postpartum care, there are many things we can do to aid and support postpartum healing, even if one is unable to come in for regular care in the clinic or have access to Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine.   

Nutrition

Help your body heal and produce nourishing milk using the warm digestion principle:

o  Start your day with a warm, cooked breakfast. Include warming proteins with your breakfast.

o  Drink only warm or room temperature beverages (this includes water).

o  Eat lots of soups and stews, such as bone broth soup, miso soup, chicken soup and beef stew.

o  Avoid all raw vegetables until month four after giving birth, then only eat them sparingly.

If you’d like to learn more about warm digestion contact us.

Rest

o  Spend most of the first month horizontal, giving your abdomen and pelvic floor a chance to heal.

o  Try to avoid picking anything up heavier than your newborn.

o  Only consider light exercise like walking after six weeks postpartum (and longer if you’ve had a c-section).

o  In the second to third month postpartum begin restoring your core exercises.

o  Avoid any impact exercises where you are ‘bouncing your pelvic floor’ until you are fully healed (such as running, jumping, etc) – sometime in the fourth month or even longer postpartum.   

Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Remedies

Acupuncture and taking Chinese Herbal Remedies are also very helpful during the first three months but can also help heal many months to years after giving birth if you have an issue that hasn’t resolved.  

Finally, be gentle to yourself, accept help and remember to let yourself HEAL postpartum.  Learn more about our Mom Mondays in Bryn Mawr.

Easing Physiological and Psychological Distress in a Time of Uncertainty

Laura Edoff, MS Candidate in Yoga Therapy, @_likeabirdthatflew_ on Instagram

I work at Healing Arts Community Acupuncture (HACA), a sister clinic to The Healing Arts Center. Steve Mavros, Co-Founder of The Healing Arts Center, specializes in acupuncture for fertility, and has spent the better part of the last 18 years pioneering that field in the Philadelphia area in partnership with all of the major fertility clinics here. Frequently, the women he treats come in for their follow-up treatments at HACA, all in diverse stages of infertility, and I get a small glimpse into the amount of stress they’re experiencing. From these observations, I was inspired to create a yoga therapy series targeting the women's overall wellbeing, especially in regards to psychosocial and spiritual wellness.

In addition to the stress and uncertainty of the process these women are going through, there are so many complex layers of emotional and social uneasiness. Research shows that the tools of yoga therapy (breath-work, movement, meditation, and wellness coaching) reduce the stress response and activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which lessens the impacts of anxiety and increases feelings of wellbeing and quality of life.

Another important aspect of the series is the opportunity for women to meet other women who are going through something similar. Being able to openly share their experiences and hear other women’s stories may help them to feel more empowered and less alone. This can feel especially necessary around holidays where families get together, which is always taken into account when we schedule the dates.

“What a simply lovely experience. Laura created an environment filled with compassion, good vibes and support. Each class of the series was filled with calming poses and little nuggets of positivity that I was able to take away and carry with me. I cannot express how incredibly grateful I am that Laura offered this class and the time I got to share with the other ladies in the series.”

— A.B.

My intention is to create space for healing through the lens of self-care and community, guided by tangible tools that can support the women during the series and after. I’ve been practicing yoga since 2008 and teaching since 2012, initially studying vinyasa and yin. In 2014, I began studying yoga therapy, which goes beyond the physical postures to tailor care for specific conditions, while taking into account the whole person and what wellness looks like for them. It’s evidence-informed while honoring the traditions that the practices are derived from. To me, this makes sense, since the root of yoga is about living well, and the practices and philosophies are proven to help with physiological and psychological regulation that helps alleviate suffering.

At this point, I know it sounds cliche, but yoga and meditation really has shifted the way I interact with the world, and how I show up for myself, my health, my work, and my relationships. Through my own experiences of depression, anxiety, and burnout, the therapeutic perspective has continuously helped me manage the symptoms of stress while offering insight into living a life aligned with my truth. This self-awareness empowers me to face life’s challenges with more patience, compassion, and skill. Out of my personal experiences and education, I aim to support other women in achieving wellbeing by offering them insight into their own strength and resilience.

I hope that you’ll consider joining us for our next series of Yoga Therapy for Infertility beginning March 24th. We’ll be meeting at The Healing Arts Center, at 123 Chestnut St., for 5 consecutive Sundays, 10 - 11:30 am, March 24 - April 21. In these five weeks, I’ll help you find ease and resilience by cultivating relaxation and connection through emotional processing and social support. Together we'll explore breath-work, meditation, and yoga postures that promote self-care and self-awareness while reducing the impact of stress that many women encounter during infertility. No prior yoga or meditation experience is necessary. Learn more and sign up HERE (link here: healingphilly.com/yogaseries)

If you’re looking for more information, be sure to check out our list of other resources, recommended supplements, as well as Steve’s podcast, Waiting For Babies. Lastly, you can learn more about acupuncture and fertility here.