Postpartum Archives - Meridian Mama

Heal Baby Reflux Naturally

Linnéa Lovinsky — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 15:59:11 +0000

Does your baby burp up milk after every feed? Do you feel worried that he or she isn’t even getting enough milk, or frustrated that all that liquid gold seems to just be coming back up?

I hear you. Even a little spill of breastmilk always made me sad. It feels especially valuable when you’re the one making it, right?

So, let’s help your baby feel better and get more of that precious milk where it’s supposed to be.

Baby’s don’t squirm, burp, spit up and have gas just because… these things happen because they’re stressed, uncomfortable or reacting to something you’re eating.

With my first baby I needed to give up all dairy while nursing to prevent “witching hour” madness as my midwife called it. This is the time of day when babies are most likely to be fussy and hard to console. It’s usually in the evening hours and it’s often accompanied by some gas and tummy upset as their digestive system is adapting to drinking milk. She would get so uncomfortable and gassy if I had dairy products. A little trial and error with your eating habits goes a long way.

Giving up cheese was hard (especially at first). Once you establish new eating habits it gets easier and easier.

It’s worth cutting foods out that are wreaking havoc because everyone will sleep better and be happier– despite the sacrifice. I know!

Besides addressing potential food sensitivities, there are acupressure points that are very effective in treating all kinds of digestive distress. I have had constipated babies poop within minutes of using some acupressure, same with hiccups and reflux.

In the clinic we use a special tool called a Teishin “tay-shin” to treat babies and young children. A Teishin is an acupressure tool that has a small rounded tip. It allows us to gently stimulate the points with all the specificity we need (since we don’t have baby size fingers). Your own finger is just the right size to do acupressure on yourself, but it’s not ideal for your baby’s little body. You will get more specificity and better results using this tool to treat your baby.

If you’re interested in ordering a Teishin, keep an eye out for my shop that will have all my favorite products.

If you are interested in learning how to treat your baby’s Reflux, Constipation, or Gas, Sign up for my newsletter and receive my guide with photos and descriptions for your reference.

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Your Golden Month: Your Best Health Yet Postpartum

Linnéa Lovinsky — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 22:35:21 +0000

Did you know that in Chinese medicine we can actually improve our health postpartum? Birth might deplete us, but we can choose to become even healthier than we were before baby.

Our body is primed to heal after birth, it wants to be stronger and healthier than ever before! Being a mom is a demanding and extremely important job, so let’s not take this lightly. It’s the “hardest job I ever loved” as they say.

So what’s this time period after birth exactly? Well, it’s called the “Golden month” in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and it’s a time ripe with opportunity.

The golden month is a period of time that lasts approximately 40 days

How we nurture and heal ourselves in this time period influences the rest of our lives. If we nourish ourselves properly and take precautions not to deplete fluids and overburden the kidneys, we gain short and long term benefits.

Short-term we are less likely to suffer from mood swings, anxiety, hair loss and low milk supply.

Long-term we can enter into menopause with ease; without suffering from symptoms like hot flashes or uncontrolled bleeding. Sound good?

Seven Ways to Supercharge Your Healing in the Golden Month

The golden month is a period of time that lasts approximately 40 days, but can be longer if you have health complications. During these 40 days you must give yourself the rest and other ingredients necessary to heal. Here are 7 specific ways to heal yourself postpartum so you can be stronger and healthier than before.

Keep it warm: In the golden month it’s necessary to go easy on the digestive system. In Chinese medicine we do this by eating warm, cooked foods. This is a way to add heat to our digestive process, which allows our body to give more energy to the important healing that is taking place. Choose warming spices that aid in digestion like ginger, turmeric and cinnamon. Keep in mind that warming is different than spicy, though.

Make fancy drinks: Find some electrolyte powder you like, or make your own blend! A basic way to make some at home is to add a pinch of high quality salt, a big squeeze of lemon and a drop of stevia or teaspoon of maple syrup. You can also make switchel (with apple cider vinegar) on a hot summer day. It is recommended not to add ice, and drink your beverages hot, warm, or room-temp.

Stay balanced: The best postpartum herbal formulas are well balanced and typically have at least 4 herbs, and sometimes more than 10. All of them nourish and move the blood to promote proper circulation and optimal healing. Many common ailments postpartum have to do with the drastic depletion of blood and fluids involved in childbirth. Stiffness, headaches, trouble sleeping, and anxiety are all related to blood deficiency. Here (insert clickable link to recipe page) are a few blood-building recipes to consider, and I also recommend having a virtual consultation so I can send you the best formula for you!

Turn up the heat: The process of birth takes the body from one extreme to another. We go from being very warm, with lots of extra blood and nourishing fluids, to relatively cold and dry. In order to prevent blood stagnation from cold and deficiency we need to add heat, especially to the womb. This accelerates healing, boosts fertility and prevents menstrual complaints once your period resumes. In the event that you had a c-section, this is even more important. Your uterus was exposed to the cold open air. Take hot baths, drink hot beverages, and put a hot pack on your lower abdomen. You can also ask your acupuncturist for a “mother warming treatment”.

Focus on building a new body now, one that is going to serve you even better in your new life as a mother.

Stress-monster management: Acupuncture is the perfect way to de-stress and recharge. It helps with the release of feel good hormones, can boost milk supply, reduces inflammation and improves circulation for optimal healing and a sense of wellbeing. In the very early newborn phase you can ask to bring your baby with you and they can have a nap on your chest or breastfeed while you are cared for.

Sleep to shine: If you already struggle with sleep, now is a great time to prioritize improving the quality of your sleep, because you will be getting less of it for a while. I recommend taking magnesium glycinate before bed and having a bedtime ritual that helps you unwind. A 5 minute yin-yoga style stretch or massaging my face and ears while I cleanse my skin are my personal go-tos. If I am really amped up or stressed I might soak my feet in hot water and take a small amount of melatonin 30 minutes before bed. Remember to keep the lights low and only use melatonin on occasion.

Slow and steady wins Rushing the process of postpartum recovery always backfires. Our bodies hate being rushed. Rushing produces stress hormones that counteract the hormonal intricacies of recovery. Remember how incredible everything that just happened is. Hold your baby and fully realize the miracle your body just made possible. Give yourself grace in the sense of resting when you need rest and eating well when you’re hungry. Don’t push to get your “body back.” Focus on building a new body now, one that is going to serve you even better in your new life as a mother.

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Heal Mastitis Naturally

Linnéa Lovinsky — Sun, 07 Jul 2024 13:38:43 +0000

I’ve had mastitis several times since becoming a mom. A few of those times with fever and chills, the whole shebang. I would not wish it on any new mother.

Usually mastitis happens when we are trying to do too much or are pushing too hard. Maybe a few nights of not sleeping well plus a teething baby, or the first day back at work with pressure to get back to things as usual. Stress is usually the trigger and it’s often paired with irritability.

I have not once needed to take antibiotics for mastitis, and I hope the same for you!

What are the First Signs of Mastitis?

Early signs of mastitis are not always easy to notice. Your breast might have a tender pink spot and your back, neck or hips might feel achy. Maybe you just feel super exhausted and you can’t quite get comfortable lying on your side because of breast sensitivity. If any of these things are happening to you, it’s best to act right away so that you don’t get full-blown mastitis with fever and chills.

If fever and chills do happen, don’t fret! There’s still a chance to heal naturally. You just need to have the right herbs and know what to do. I have not once needed to take antibiotics for mastitis, and I hope the same for you!

Don’t get me wrong, antibiotics definitely have their place, but if you don’t have to use them, you won’t have to deal with the toll they take on your gut and immune system. Antibiotics also increase the chances that you will end up with a recurring infection.

Make sure you are staying well hydrated, wearing comfortable loose clothing, and take some Vitamin C for good measure.

Four things you can do if you feel a breast infection coming on:

Take an Epsom salt bath and soak for at least 30 minutes without interruption “doctor’s orders” hehe (but really).

Breathe deeply with long exhales to stimulate the parasympathetic response, which will alleviate stress.

Very softly massage and press into upper pectoral muscles and the center of your chest, then down and around your ribcage. The idea here is not to be vigorous or force anything. We just want to promote the free flow of energy in the chest. Usually this is enough and we don’t even need to massage the tender breast tissue directly.

Order Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin from my online store to have on hand. This formula is a very effective alternative to antibiotics when taken consistently until the symptoms pass.

If you suffer from engorgement and an oversupply of milk, it can contribute to the development and recurrence of mastitis. Peppermint tea is very helpful in this circumstance as it will gently reduce milk supply. Peppermint leaves can also be applied topically for their cooling effect. Make sure you are staying well hydrated, wearing comfortable loose clothing, and take some Vitamin C for good measure.

This should save you a trip to the doctor for an antibiotic prescription, but don’t be foolish. If you get a fever that persists you should absolutely go right in to see your doctor.

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