Francesca Howell, one of our acupunturists, writes about an acupunture treatment which she finds very beneficial after childbirth.
Mother Warming is a treatment that is given to women 4-5 days following birth. Usually, the treatment is given once in the clinic by a qualified acupuncturist. The technique can then also be taught to a partner who can carry on giving the treatment over the next 4-5 days. Mother Warming involves the gentle warming of the acupuncture meridians that run through the lower abdomen and lower back. The meridians or channels are lines which cover the whole body and according to Chinese Medicine carry Qi or energy in them. Mother Warming is a very nourishing and strengthening treatment and can be carried out daily for 10-20 minutes. It involves using a Moxa stick, and warming acupuncture points on the abdomen for 5 – 10 minutes and then on the lower back for 5 – 10 minutes until the areas feel pleasantly warm. Moxa is a dried herb called mugwort and comes in many forms including a stick form which is burned over the needles to warm them or it is placed directly on the needles. For home use it can be held directly above the skin, over the acupuncture points. Moxa has an influence on the energy of the body and the ability to circulate and nourish Qi and Blood and a beneficial effect on a woman’s energy. It is also used during pregnancy to help turn breech babies and during the menstrual cycle to help relieve menstrual cramps. This is because it has been shown to circulate and stimulate blood flow in the uterus and pelvic area.
Mother Warming can aid healing and give relief to any discomfort and help tone the uterus. It can also help the new mother have more energy and feel rejuvenated and is a great way to gently aid recovery from childbirth and restore energy.
A follow up visit approximately 10-14 days following birth can also be useful. It could be helpful to have one acupuncture treatment a week for 3-4 weeks.