A Self-Care guide for your first forty days postpartum.
A Self-Care guide for your first forty days postpartum.
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Red Dates Tea
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Meals
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Belly Binding
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Letter writing
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Moxibustion
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Herbal bath
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Yoni steaming
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Yoga nidra
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Meditation and breathing exercises
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Looking at green
Note: this is just a sharing of my experience, practices and rituals during my first 40 days and is not intended to serve as medical advice. If there is something that you feel called to try, please consult a suitable practitioner to discuss.
Red Dates Tea
Red Dates is considered a staple in the daily food menu for a new mother in her postpartum period. Filled with ingredients that boost blood and qi post-birth. For those who might not strictly observe confinement, they might still consume this tea to stay hydrated and to aid their recovery.
For my last postpartum, I consumed the tea for 2 months in place of water and honestly it transformed my skin, making it clear and rosy! I still make a batch of this often after my period to replenish blood lost during my cycle.
Confinement Food
The main principles around Chinese Confinement food is warmth, nutritious and where possible, freshly prepared. Ingredients used will have the purpose of detoxing the blood then replenishing it, boosting milk supply and restoring a new mother.
One of the reasons we created our Dry Pantry Mixes was to make it convenient for families to have snacks and meals that were easily made up with a few wet ingredients. These mixes are free from additives and preservatives.
Belly Binding & Massage
A traditional Malaysian postpartum practice to help support the mothers, and allow the mothers to feel physically held. Once a baby is born, thhe practices of massage and binding will help close the space that once held the baby. Typically a warming oil will be used for the massage to help with lymphatic drainage, clearing gas / wind, followed by binding using a long piece of cotton. This helps support the uterus return to its size and place, and also supports mothers’ back.
Letter writing to process my birth
Sometime during my confinement period, I will write a letter to my baby to recount how they entered the world. It also gives me a chance to process my birth when it still might feel fresh and raw. I often go back to them years later and reflect on the experience again and find there might have been small details I might have missed. I will treasure these notes to myself now that I’m done having babies as they are truly special moments where I felt most powerful as a woman.
Moxibustion
This is a mother warming ritual I loved to practice on myself every other day during my confinement. Our moxa sticks are smokeless, so they are safe to use within the hom. They are made of mugwort, a powerful herb used in TCM to penetrate the meridians of the body. I hover the moxa stick above the womb area while I give thanks and appreciation to the work my body did in growing and birthing my babies. I also like to use moxa on any areas that might feel tight and need a bit of TLC such as my neck, shoulders or knee to promote blood flow.
Herbal Bath
Traditionally new mothers avoid bathing or showering during the Confinement period due to the fear of wind entering the body. However, today with heaters in our home and hair dryers, most mothers observing the tradition might do a sponge bath and shower but quickly dry off and ensure their hair is thoroughly dry. For my sponge baths I used herbs that were first cooked on the stove top with added fresh slices of ginger for warmth. This warm water would then be transferred into my bathroom for me where I could enjoy a moment to myself. After the first 30 days, I incorporated our Elan Bath Sitz in my self-care rituals.
Yoni Steaming
This is also a ritual that has been practiced in many traditional cultures for generations. I used a concoction of gentle herbs steeped in boiling water and hovered over a wooden stool with an appropriate opening. I felt immense relaxation in my muscles that were otherwise very tight and it felt like a nice warm hug from the insides.
If you don’t have a stool, I have found a camping toilet from Bunnings before which is like a pail with a toilet seat. I wasn’t keen on putting boiling water into plastic but you could always put the boiling water into a suitable bowl then putting the bowl into the pail.
Yoga nidra
I only discovered Yoga Nidra in my 4th postpartum and I still resort to it when I’m a bit tired or low on sleep. I find a even a short session allows me to fall into a deep state of rest and improve sleep quality. Some arguments suggest that this practice might not be suitable for those who don’t do well in their own thoughts, so please research this further if this might be something you want to explore.
Looking at Green
I remained indoors for the first month, so I kept green plants around the house. My bedroom windows also looked out to the lush gardens of my neighbours. I found this so calming and soothing to the eyes. In TCM, we avoid adding strain to the eyes during the confinement period so the greenery definitely helped support that.
Meditation and breathwork
When I am committed to my meditation practice, I definitely feel much more calm and have a better sense of clarity. However, even 20 minutes a day 2 times a day can feel hard some days. During my confinement period, I might have only managed a bit of breathwork when nap trapped or feeding but it makes such a big difference.
One app I have been using a lot of recently (would have been wonderful if this was around during my postpartum period, but never too late!) is The Yana Method created by my beautiful friend Heanney. I love the different patterns that she shares and can often find one to suit what I need. With just a bit of breathwork regularly, I can see how much more patient and regulated I am.
See instagram post here.