All Things Postpartum
At Magnolia Wellness, one of our biggest communities are pregnant and postpartum folks, and we are honored to be the ones to serve you within this very beautiful and delicate chapter. Treating and nourishing you through your entire fertility journey is often a gift in itself.
When it comes to postpartum care, we have lots to say and a variety of resources to share with you that range from herbs that balance hormones, lactation, placenta encapsulation and nutrition. The fourth trimester can be a nourishing, healing phase and we hope this blog provides you with tools you can use to cope with the many transitions your body experiences.
To begin, we asked Kelsey Beckman, a master herbalist and acupuncturist at Magnolia Wellness, to share her perspective on postpartum and what product she suggests for balancing mood.
“After having a baby, our hormones take us for quite a wild ride! Right after the baby arrives, there is an increase in prolactin - our milk making hormone, and oxytocin - our feel good/bonding hormone. Meanwhile, progesterone and estrogen levels, which were high during pregnancy, and gave us beautiful hair and that gorgeous pregnancy glow, rapidly decrease.
This sudden drop of hormones plus exhaustion from labor and delivery can leave a new mama feeling like they are in a haze the first few days or even the first few months. During pregnancy, the increase in estrogen slows down the natural cycle of hair fall. Fast forward to after the baby arrives, with a dramatic drop in estrogen, and mama is left with postpartum hair loss. Although temporary, it can last 3 to 6 months.
With a new baby, mama's experience a decrease in sleep with late night feeds and diaper changes. Decrease in sleep will decrease melatonin which then increases cortisol, our stress hormone. Having a new baby at home comes with its own stressors, and now our body is creating more stress with lack of sleep. All of these hormonal shifts can make us feel like we are out of control and leave new mama's feeling like they are spiraling with no way out.
My favorite herb to recommend is Reishi, also known as Ling Zhi. In Chinese Medicine, Reishi is known as a blood builder. After delivery and losing a huge amount of blood, new moms need all of the help they can get to allow their bodies to be nourished.
According to Chinese Medicine, increasing blood can also increase milk production, build hair follicles, ease anxiety and help with sleep. Reishi is also an adaptogenic herb, which allows the body to adapt to outside stressors. It helps balance hormones and moods, allowing new mamas to get off of the rollercoaster of emotions. The greatest part about reishi is that you can start taking it while trying to conceive, during pregnancy, and even while breastfeeding.”
More about Kelsey Beckman: With over 6 years of practicing acupuncture & herbalism, Kelsey’s expertise has shown through in a multitude of disciplines. She is constantly inspired by the powerful ways this energetic medicine can transform lives, and enjoys utilizing it at home with her three children. Kelsey loves healing people with fertility, pregnancy, hormone imbalances, and pain. Kelsey is a board certified, California licensed acupuncturist, clinical herbalist and nutrition specialist. Kelsey completed her Master’s at Pacific College of Health and Sciences in San Diego, CA. She also holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Food and Nutrition.
Lactation Support + Resources
First Droplets, a one-of-a-kind hand expression technique that you can begin while pregnant in order to create attachment, breast milk production and enough calories for the baby to consume.
Kelly Mom, an all-encompassing resource for everything related to feeding your baby from infantry through toddlerhood.
Nourishing Postpartum Recipes
Postpartum Soup
A TCM and postpartum twist on traditional chicken soup,
Warming Root Veggie Salad
A grounding, filling and nourishing medley.
Sweet potato + Lentil Stew
Fantastic for fertility, pregnancy and postpartum.
Easy Bone Broth
The most healing, digestible elixir for postpartum. Plus, it’s easy to make in advance.
Encapsulating Placenta Resources
We know that this topic can be controversial and we’re here to present the information to you so that you can decide what is best for your body. In our eyes, the placenta is like liquid gold. Traditional Chinese Medicine has been using the placenta as a healing form of medicine for centuries. It’s been said that the placenta boosts your Qi and blood, which then replenishes the yin and yang within the body. Additionally, the placenta is packed full of vitamins and minerals that increase milk production, combat postpartum depression, amplify energy, lower insomnia levels and decrease your chances of iron deficiency.
As a bonus, you can hold onto your encapsulated placenta and use it beyond postpartum. The healing properties of the placenta can be used through trauma, emotional dysregulation and even through menopause where you’ll see a reduction in hot flashes and be able to naturally regulate your hormones.
While there are a variety of ways to prepare the placenta, we highly recommend asking a professional to prepare it for you outside of the home because cooking it within your home may be unsavory, especially while you’re freshly postpartum.
Placenta Encapsulation in Orange County, CA
Finally, if you’re pregnant or within your fourth trimester and experiencing postpartum, be sure to book an acupuncture appointment with Kelsey Beckman - our go-to acupuncturist for all things postpartum and pregnancy. You’ll be in wonderful, nourishing hands.