Acupuncture: Postnatal Care

Acupuncture: Postnatal Care Including Depression

The postnatal period can be a particularly valuable time to look after your health and wellbeing, including in terms of mental health and avoiding depression. At this stage the mother can become overlooked, as the attention goes to the child. Chinese medicine teaches the idea that it will take women at least a month to fully recover from childbirth, an idea not necessarily widespread in Western society. It is said that if a woman loses her energy in the postnatal period it may take years to correct itself. However, if she looks after herself well and is cared for by those around her it will help protect her from illness and depression in the future. Having a baby is such an important transition, even if this is not your first child, my treatments and care can help you rebalance and restore fully for this stage of motherhood.

The postnatal period is a time when, to help build strength both mentally, physically and emotionally, rest should be taken at every opportunity, exercise should be very gentle and attention placed on a nourishing diet and herbs, so that there is an emphasis on building Blood, Qi and energy. This can enable you to sleep better, encourage milk production and feel more relaxed and vital. Ideally acupuncture treatment is also given once a week commencing from two weeks postnatal for a total of three weeks to promote stamina and wellbeing.

Melanie Leeson offers treatments that can support and restore you in the postnatal period, and treat a wide range of conditions including: postnatal depression, insufficient lactation, mastitis, wound and scar tissue repair, haemorrhoids and urinary incontinence. She is available for home visits during this important recovery time to help you connect with your baby and the early stages of motherhood.

Moxibustion

Using moxibustion postnatally (mother warming) is a wonderful restorative treatment. Moxibustion is used to warm the acupuncture channel that runs on the midline of the body underneath your belly button to the top of your pubic bone.