10 Postpartum Fundamentals: Traditional Chinese Medicine Nourishment

Hello Momma,

So many of my momma clients are looking for deep nourishment for their postpartum journey. Are you searching for the same thing? I love learning from The Chinese Medicine traditions since they provide so much nourishment and healing for postpartum. While there are so many beautiful articles out there about TCM for postpartum, I wanted to do a simple roundup of some facts and help you weave this deep nourishment into your postpartum.

10 Postpartum Fundamentals: Traditional Chinese Medicine Nourishment

Absolutely no gatekeeping here 🧺🥣🫖

📍 Traditional Chinese Medicine Healing Postpartum Recovery - what is it?

Sitting the Month or “Zuo Yue Zi” / 坐月子 is a special postpartum care practice typically starting immediately after birth. It can vary but usually ranges from 26 days - 100 days. This practice of postpartum care is created specifically for new mothers to rest, reset, and recover.

📍What are the basics of TCM for nourishment?

🥣healing principles provides an opportunity to be even stronger than you were before pregnancy

🥣strongly suggests that new mothers avoid coldness, wetness, and dampness which includes drinking cold liquids and crunchy raw foods

🥣nourishing special meals are prepared to restore warmth in the new mother’s body

🥣use of warming foods like ginger, adzuki beans, cinnamon, oats, quinoa, sesame seed, walnuts, sweet potatoes and dates

🥣 teas made from red jujube dates and goji berries

🥣avoidance of spicy fried, salty and sugar foods

🥣mommas are nourished and rested in order for them to heal for a lifetime

🥣a longterm kind of healing that looks to benefit a lifetime of healing for women

📍How TCM vs. Western postpartum care differs:

🧺 warm and soft foods are encouraged, cold and crunchy meals are discouraged

🧺the whole family is involved in the recovery of momma and isolation isn’t a thing

🧺nourishment teas, herbs and soups are always on the stove instead of encouraging cold instant consumption

🧺slow over fast, soft over crunchy, warm over cold, rested over rushed

These are some of my favorite ways to weave TCM nourishment into your postpartum journey ⬇️

🧺 consume jujube red dates and goji berries for warming

🥣 add raw ginger to teas and soups

🫖 papaya fish soup brings so much collagen and hydration -great for digestion too!

🧺 black sesame seed is wonderful for lactation - add it to a room temp smoothie or herbal latte

🥣 spinach supports momma’s needs for minerals like calcium

🫖 avoid crunchy and raw and focus on stewed down fruits and veggies - your digestion will thank you!

🧺 adzuki beans can be super restorative and a great source of protein too!

🥣 ji yu tofu soup is nutrient dense and easy on the digestion - choose sprouted tofu when possible for your belly

Invest in your postpartum healing, nourishing and cocooning!

Wishing you all the healing!