Sure, your new born baby is your top priority. In Chinese Medicine, your postpartum care shall also be your top priority. Good care at this period will have profound impact on your future fertility, menstrual health and health of body/mind/spirit for very long time. No matter it is a vaginal delivery or C-section one, there will be a period of recovery in body/mind/spirit. During the recovery, there can be pathological conditions that come from delivery. Body is in the state of Qi and Blood deficiency, damp heat or blood stasis. Just think of Chinese women in ancient time, they had the similar conditions as today’s women.And today’s women can have benefits from both east and west medicine.

Contractions and Vaginal soreness

If you had an episiotomy or vaginal tear during delivery, the wound might hurt for a few weeks. Extensive tears might take longer to heal. You might feel contractions, sometimes called afterpains, during the first few days after delivery. These contractions — which often resemble menstrual cramps — help prevent excessive bleeding by compressing the blood vessels in the uterus. Acupuncture is a fast and effective way to stop pain and excessive bleeding. Herbs such as formula SHENHUA tea is a standard formula after child birth in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Vaginal discharge

You’ll have a vaginal discharge (lochia) for a number of weeks after delivery. However, if you have heavy vaginal bleeding, the discharge has a foul odor or you have a fever of 100.4 F (38 C) or higher, that is not normal. You need to see medical provider. In the same time, we also can have acupuncture and traditional herbal treatment based on the pattern differentiation.

Urination, Hemorrhoids and bowel movements

Swelling or bruising of the tissues surrounding the bladder and urethra can lead to difficulty urinating. Fearing the sting of urine on the tender perineal area can have the same effect. If you find yourself avoiding bowel movements out of fear of hurting your perineum or aggravating the pain of hemorrhoids or your episiotomy wound, acupuncture and herbs can help. In addition, take steps to keep your stools soft and regular. Eat foods high in fiber — including fruits, vegetables and whole grains — and drink plenty of water.

Hair loss and skin changes

It is normal to have hair loss and skin change(stretch line). However, if the hair continues loss, we can have herbal support to help body replenish deficiency of blood. Also for the skin color, there is situation that some become darker. Or face has dark brown spots. We can this kidney Yin deficiency.

Mood changes

Childbirth triggers a jumble of powerful emotions. Mood swings, irritability, sadness and anxiety are common. Many new moms experience a mild depression, sometimes called the baby blues or “postpartum baby blues” after childbirth, which commonly include mood swings, crying spells, anxiety and difficulty sleeping. Baby blues typically begin within the first two to three days after delivery, and may last for up to two weeks. We can support with this condition along with your doctor.

Not enough milk supply

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is highly effective for treating lactation problems without negative side effects. It is a system of medicine deriving from thousands of years perfection: it includes acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, massage, nutrition, lifestyle guidance and less-known treatment modalities such as cupping and moxibustion.