Postpartum

Check out these blogtober posts to understand more about how I approach women's health, acupuncture, doula work (and other birth work), herbalism and more!

The First Month Postpartum

Postpartum care and the attitude towards postpartum recovery in this country is terrible. Part of the reason for our absolutely atrocious maternal mortality rate is that once a patient is sent home, that’s typically the end of their care. There might be a postpartum checkup a couple of weeks later but that’s the last time a patient will see their care provider until their next annual exam.

Screening for postpartum depression happens at your child’s pediatric visits and that screen ends at six weeks, well before most symptoms of PPD or PPA arise.

We have to do something about this. But instead of looking forward, many natural care practitioners are looking back. The traditions that are still alive in many other countries can be used here to support new parents during this time of transition.

I’m going to cover the first month of postpartum care from a Chinese medicine perspective, but don’t limit yourself to my view! So many other cultures have rich and supportive traditions for families that could be beneficial and all are definitely worth considering.

By Jessica Gustafson, ago
Flower essences are ideal for emotional support, and are a great supplement to care during the postpartum period

Flower essences for the Baby Blues

Did you know that up to 75% of mothers will experience the baby blues postpartum?

The baby blues are an emotional and mental shift that happen when the cocktail of pregnancy hormones rapidly decreases while at the same time, a mother learns how to interact and care for her new baby. It’s a stressful time but it tends to be relatively short.

But 10-20% of mothers (and some new research shows that it may be higher) will develop postpartum depression, which has more severe symptoms than the baby blues and can but the mother’s life in danger. Postpartum depression or PPD often develops six months postpartum and sometimes as late as one year.

I go into more detail about the differences in this blog post but for this blog post I’d like to say right now: if you are showing signs of depression including withdrawing from friends and family, loss of interest in things you used to enjoy and having no interest in the baby talk to your midwife or primary care provider.

Flower essences can be very supportive in helping with emotional and spiritual shifts and are a powerful energetic medicine, but PPD can be life-threatening. Make sure that you have a support system in place before supplementing your care with flower essences.  

Flower essences are ideal for emotional support, and are a great supplement to care during the postpartum period
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By Jessica Gustafson, ago
Postpartum depression affects thousands of women and is much more serious than the baby blues. Knowing the difference could save your life.

Postpartum depression and the baby blues

This has been a post I’ve been meaning to write for a long time, I just haven’t known where to start. But sometimes starting a post is a matter of putting my butt in a chair and my hands on a keyboard.

We don’t like to talk about depression as a society. We talk about it in quiet places, in shadowy spaces and in clinic offices. We talk about it in shame and secrecy. And the shame and secrecy around depression is a significant contributor to the tragedy of suicide.

Postpartum depression affects thousands of women and is much more serious than the baby blues. Knowing the difference could save your life.

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By Jessica Gustafson, ago
Natural postpartum recovery is not only about healing after labor but also giving your body the opportunity to bloom into something stronger

Seven tips for a natural postpartum recovery

Congratulations mama! You did it.

Some say that it was the hardest thing they have ever done in their life. Others say it was the best. Most agree it’s a little of both.

Whatever you think about labor and delivery and however you went about it, there is no argument: its recovery time.

I know some of you are reading this thinking that recovery will be no bigdeal. Some of you may even go to Target tomorrow. I hope that this post will change your mind.

Even if you feel great, you just ran your body through the ringer. It will take five weeks for your body to start to feel normal. Some traditional texts say that it will take 100 days for you to be back to where you were before you got pregnant. I’ve heard some professionals say that it can take up to three years to fully recover from childbirth.

But I’m here to give you good news. If you manage your recovery right, not only can you bounce back sooner, but you can bounce back better. The postpartum period is one of three opportunities a woman has to heal herself and build on the foundation she had before pregnancy so she can be harder, better, faster and stronger.

The first tip? Bed rest.

Natural postpartum recovery is not only about healing after labor but also giving your body the opportunity to bloom into something stronger

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By Jessica Gustafson, ago

Why you need to take a bed rest postpartum

The modern American approach to postpartum care is lackluster at best.

It starts in the hospital with medical staff not knowing how to educate mothers about the signs and symptoms they should look for postpartum. There are even stories of women returning to the hospital postpartum complaining of symptoms and being turned away only to find out that their conditions are serious and life threatening. Medical staff are there to support you, but in the overwhelm and the confusion postpartum overlooking symptoms isn’t uncommon.

Many traditional medicines are very clear - moms must take a bed rest postpartum. We tell moms to "resume normal activities." Is this ok?

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By Jessica Gustafson, ago