Postpartum - The 4th Trimester

Seattle, Tacoma & Bellevue Clinics

The Postpartum Program: this is a crucial time for the new mother to recover and heal, and nothing does it better than Chinese medicine. Chinese culture (and therefore its medicine) is adamant about helping the new mother to regain her full strength after childbirth. Here at Acupuncture Northwest & Associates, we have a program to help women do just that.

As a new mother, your baby has been born, but there are still many changes taking place in your system that can affect every part of your life. Perhaps you had a difficult or traumatic delivery, or problems came up during the postnatal period that seem to linger. While a routine exam is done by your doctor at six weeks, this may be brief, and may not address all of your physical or emotional health. Full recovery can take 3-6 months.

Postnatal conditions we often work with in our Postpartum Program:

  • Postpartum depression
  • Breastfeeding issues
  • Urinary incontinence
  • Energy loss
  • Postpartum anxiety
  • After pains – perineal soreness
  • Weakened immunity
  • Caesarean section recovery

Mother Warming

At Acupuncture Northwest & Associates, we offer “Mother Warming” to brand new mothers. This is a traditional treatment that uses moxibustion to help the mother begin her healing. It is so important for the woman to heal and regain her strength and vitality after a birth, so that she regains her health for her future, and any future pregnancies she may have.

Sitting The Month

Baby

For this reason, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) advocates for “sitting the month,” also called the Chinese confinement period. Sitting the month is defined by the new mother being completely taking care of, eating specific foods, and not going outside or showering. While we see value in “sitting the month,” we advocate for a modern version.

Here are some of the reasons and ways to sit the (modern) month:

  • Get rested - have people take care of you in as many ways as possible.
  • Eat nourishing foods - that other people cook.
  • Rebuild your health for your future wellbeing and for the health of your future children.

You can read about Chinese medicine and postpartum studies here.

To come in for postpartum acupuncture, make a normal new patient appointment or a return appointment if you are a current patient.

Acupuncture Northwest & Associates has clinics in Seattle, Tacoma and Bellevue.