Last week I saw Melissa Bang’s performance of “Playing Monopoly with God” and attended her meet & greet with Bozeman area professionals to expand and diversify the medical model for post partum women.
In addition to services such as naturopathy, mental health counseling, and lactation consulting, acupuncture is a great option for post partum care.
Reason #1: Replenish
Pregnancy and birthing can be fulfilling and depleting at the same time. Sleep patterns can change dramatically after baby is born and fatigue often results. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs serve to replenish a new mother’s qi (the vital energy behind every bodily function) and blood. It also promotes better sleep and can improve energy levels so that mom is in the best position to nourish the little one(s).
Reason #2: Manage milk flow
Breastfeeding is not always as intuitive as you’d think and, even with lactation support, issues can arise. Acupuncture can be used to boost milk supply1 and there are accounts that it can hasten recovery from mastitis. It may also help to stop lactation, when deemed appropriate.
Reason #3: Move through emotions
Chinese medicine holds the belief that emotions are closely tied to our health and may even be a cause of disease. It’s not uncommon for anxiety, depression, and/or grief to set in during the post partum phase. This can be true for mom or dad. Acupuncture can help you move through these stuck emotions, and controlled clinical trials show acupuncture’s effectiveness.1
It takes a village to raise a child and support a new mom. Acupuncture is one of those villagers.
