 For all of the same reasons that it now so important to offer women extra care during pregnancy, it is equally important to provide extra support post partum (after the birth).
The postnatal period refers to the 6 weeks directly following childbirth. The Chinese perspective has very firm ideas about the amount of care and rest that is appropriate during this time after childbirth. It is certainly a different perspective than we have here in our culture. It is very common in our western society to return to normal activities within a few weeks of birth.
In many middle eastern cultures a new mother is given a 40 day rest period after birth, in which time she is expected to do nothing more than rest and care for the baby. Unfortunately we do not live in a society that is structured around the extended family which allows this kind of care to easily happen. There are not many blokes who would be happy to have their mother-in-law stay for up to 6 weeks!!
The Chinese perspective asks that we look to this time as one of rest and healing. Doing too much too soon can be very depleting to a system that has just undergone a very taxing experience, especially if the mother has entered into labour from a deficient position.
The kind of supplementation that acupuncture brings helps to promote the body's healing functions to their fullest potential. Having an acupuncturist treat you post partum will add to your understanding of how well you are recovering and may provide necessary cautions that will help prevent more serious disharmony further down the line.
Emotionally the postnatal period can be very different from some mother's expectations. The first few days are often filled with both feelings of elation and depression, with many and varied swings between the two. It is thought that the hormonal fluctuations in the first week after birth contribute to these swings of emotion.
These feelings are expected to subside after a few days, and very often do settle, often once the milk has come in. Some women experience more significant symptoms and for much longer than a few days. This will eventually lead to what is referred to as postnatal depression. Acupuncture post partum is very beneficial for balancing the hormones and will often help women to feel more stable in themselves, potentially avoiding a full scale drop into depression.
It is advisable to have acupuncture treatment in the first 4 weeks post partum. This will greatly enhance the healing process and help to avoid future problems. It is recommended to have treatment 3 days after the birth, unless there have been complications in which case immediate treatment would be appropriate, and thereafter weekly for 3 weeks. The Chinese diagnosis will bring extra understanding to each woman's individual care needs and will greatly enhance her recovery, bringing extra enjoyment into this delightful (exhausting and exhilarating) period of first knowing your baby.
Many practitioners are able to do postnatal home visits, as we would not promote travelling during this delicate recovery time.
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