After your baby arrives, your body goes into recovery mode. Sometimes called the ‘fourth trimester’, it’s yet another time of emotional, hormonal, and physical changes.
Just as acupuncture can support you through the 3 phases of ‘actual’ pregnancy, it can also support you through the postpartum period. In this post, we consider the very real benefits of postpartum acupuncture. Why it may help, and what it can help with…
Once your new baby arrives, the focus often shifts to the new arrival but you also need some very specific care and attention during this time.
Your body has just gone through 9 months of significant upheavals, followed by the labour process. Granted, nature makes sure some things return to normal naturally but many women find a little extra help goes a long way towards helping them recover fully.
Acupuncture is thought to modulate and interact with the autonomous nervous system (ANS), which explains why it can be so effective across a wide range of conditions.
The ANS is the part of your nervous system responsible for ‘automatic’ activities like immune function, breathing, circulation, heartbeat, digestive processes and so on.
It also includes your sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems and works closely with the endocrine system to regulate hormone production.
Many of these functions are directly involved in, or affect, pregnancy and postpartum – hormone production, digestive processes, circulation, stress… And – because acupuncture can interact with the systems that control these, it can be a godsend for helping with many postpartum woes.
The early weeks and months with your newborn should be joyful but at the same time, they can also be stressful. Sleep deprivation, constant feeding, and adjusting to your new role as a mum can leave you feeling overwhelmed.
Acupuncture is well known for its ability to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system to calm the nerves, reduce stress, and encourage relaxation. In particular, it helps to lower cortisol levels (the stress hormone) and triggers the release of endorphins, your natural ‘feel-good’ hormones.
No matter how your birth went, or what type you had – natural or C-section – it’s been a traumatic experience!
Acupuncture can help accelerate natural healing processes after childbirth by stimulating your immune and anti-inflammatory responses. This helps reduce pain and swelling and encourages tissue repair.
It also doesn’t introduce drugs into your system, an important consideration for new mothers, especially if breastfeeding.
Pregnancy alters your body in many ways, from your hormones to your digestive system. So – it needs time to recalibrate after the experience.
Acupuncture is an excellent way to help it do this and bring all your systems back into balance. The ‘how’ again comes down to the way acupuncture interacts with your autonomous nervous system to help regulate your hormones, improve digestion, boost circulation, and improve sleep.
Although breastfeeding is considered ‘natural’, many women find it difficult for various reasons, including insufficient milk production and mastitis.
Many informal studies, and one or two case studies, suggest that acupuncture can be useful in helping stimulate milk production and reduce issues like mastitis via its interaction with the autonomous nervous and endocrine systems.
Notably, it is widely used in countries like Sweden to treat mastitis, and painful breastfeeding, and improve milk production.
For some women, postpartum can be even more challenging than pregnancy with postpartum depression and mood swings. These can be particularly draining and also emotionally destructive.
Acupuncture is widely recognised for its ability to help with anxiety and depression in general (by interacting with the parasympathetic nervous system). Postpartum acupuncture has the same beneficial effects and is an excellent way to restore a sense of calm and emotional stability.
Finally – one of the often-overlooked benefits of acupuncture is the simple fact that it provides you with a dedicated time to focus on yourself.
Newborns, even the most placid, are demanding little souls. Feeding, nappy changes, sleep routines… It can all leave you feeling like there’s no time for self-care. Acupuncture sessions offer a quiet, peaceful space to rest and recharge.
Even just knowing you have a regular time set aside for your own wellbeing can make a difference in how you feel. It’s a chance to focus on your own healing and recovery without distractions.
Thanks to the way acupuncture can interact with the systems that regulate most of your bodily processes, it can offer a wide range of postpartum benefits.
Whether it’s helping you heal physically, providing emotional support for issues like postpartum depression, improving your sleep quality, or simply allowing a quiet space for self-care… Postpartum acupuncture can play an important role in your recovery.
contact@wealdchiropractic.co.uk
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