Mamas are truly amazing! For nine months we take great care of ourselves, get doted on by strangers, have showers in our honor. But often, after delivery, the care and health of baby steps in and mother’s health moves to the background. This is when it’s especially important to prioritize the health of the mother and guard carefully the emotional and physical vulnerability of her body in the delicate postpartum period. A very effective treatment during this period is called Mother Roasting and it’s very popular among many cultures worldwide for it’s numerous benefits. It sounds strange, but it’s simply the act of keeping a woman warm following childbirth, which in turn protects and nourishes both mama and baby. Here at Mama Lounge of San Francisco, we believe that mamas deserve the absolute best care at every age and stage. Take a look at the practices associated with Mother Roasting…
Warming the Mother with Moxa
The magnitude of change the body goes through after labor is almost incomprehensible. Massive amounts of amniotic fluid and blood loss severely deplete the new mama from day one. Add to that sleep deprivation, fluctuating hormones, and more fluid loss as breast milk passes out of the body. Keeping the abdomen warm internally using warm diet, and externally using moxa or warm blankets can help bring your spine back into alignment, compress loose skin, and allow your organs to settle back in their proper place. The practice of heating is energizing, strengthening, and repairs tissues, nerves, and blood vessels that have been weakened from pregnancy and birthing.
This featured service at our Mama Lounge clinic is aimed at supporting the new mother around two weeks postpartum. The warming method uses moxa and acupuncture treatment to encourage circulation of blood and vital energy in the abdomen, and to comfort and honor the mother at this transitional moment. In addition, new moms and babies should stay inside to limit exposure to wind, cold and pathogens. Keep the house and rooms warm especially at night when getting up to feed. Hot oils rubs with sesame or coconut oil are also effective forms of heating.
Nourishment
Never underestimate the power of a warm meal! Feeding is one important aspect of mother roasting and most often includes warm meals high in protein and iron with healing and lactation benefits. In many Asian countries, foods like boiled eggs, chicken, lamb, rice porridge, soups and stews are consumed throughout each day. Warming teas made by boiling fresh ginger root are also beneficial.
Caution!
Warmth and heat are energizing and boost the metabolism- two things postpartum women need in abundance. Healing from labor involves several stages and these should be approached in the proper order in order to ensure mom’s body comes back together stronger than ever, and ensures fertility the next time around. Don’t attempt Mother Roasting if you are experiencing hot flashes, infection, sweats or night sweats. Use herbal medicine and acupuncture first to quickly correct this imbalance and then add heat and energy to the body.
