Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) Part 1

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is very common, as it has been observed and described throughout the ages and across cultures. Although most women experience some degree of physical and/or psychological changes in association with menstruation, the symptoms and their severity vary greatly for each individual. So if you have PMS, you are not alone!

PMS is described as the experience of a wide variety of symptoms that occur 1-2 weeks before, and sometimes through the first few days of your menstrual periods. These symptoms can include:

• Lower abdominal cramping

• Backache

• Bloating and weight gain

• Swollen tender breasts

• Nausea and diarrhea

• Appetite changes and food cravings

• Pimples, rashes and mouth sores

• Headaches

• Joint pain

• Stuffy nose

• Dizziness and decreased coordination

• Cold sweats and hot flashes

• Palpitations and nervousness

• Depression and crying

• Insomnia

• Poor concentration, forgetfulness, brain fog and indecision

• Irritability and mood swings

• Outbursts of anger and aggression

Numerous theories have been advanced to explain why PMS occurs. Although many of the symptoms are simply manifestations of the normal hormonal changes that occur throughout the menstrual cycle, an individual woman‘s response to these PMS changes depends a great deal on her physical and emotional health, as well as her mindset. Cultural background is a significant factor, since there are a variety of chemical and nutritional imbalances, lifestyle factors and psychosocial components that help determine the degree to which the symptom is perceived and identified as a problem.

PMS can be worsened by: 

• Hormonal medications and contraceptives, which can often lead to depression among other symptoms

• Past or current depression or anxiety

• Increased stress

• Inadequate sleep

• Excess body fat

• Decreased exposure to sunlight 

• Caffeine, smoking, alcohol and drugs

• Nutrient deficiencies 

• Chronic toxic exposure (from high use of chemicals and wifi in modern living)

• High consumption of dairy from hormonally stimulated cows

• Foods high in sugar, refined white flours and partially hydrogenated fat that creates blood sugar imbalances 

• A diet low in real whole food like fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, healthy protein, whole grains, and essential fatty acids (present in flax, fish, olives, borage and primrose)

• Modern isolating, high-tech, corporate living that disconnects us from ourselves and others, and makes our normal experiences abnormal

• Prevalent societal attitudes that include fear, numbing, medicating or escaping symptoms of discomfort as opposed to being with them, surrendering, welcoming, honoring them, listening to and finding meaning and beneficial purpose in their messages 

The drugs commonly prescribed to help alleviate the uncomfortable symptoms of PMS not only are expensive with potentially dangerous side effects, but also have not been demonstrated to work better than a placebo in well controlled studies. Remarkably, some have not been carefully studied at all for this purpose.

Stay tuned for next month’s blog for what you can do naturally for PMS.

If you need personal guidance, don’t hesitate to arrange an online coaching call with me or an in person holistic gynecology appointment.

INITIAL POSTPARTUM CARE AT HOME: YOUR COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE - PART TWO

POSTPARTUM CARE AT HOME: YOUR COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO THE FIRST FEW WEEKS - PART TWO

Do see last month’s blog for Postpartum Care at Home: Your Comprehensive Guide to the First Few Weeks - Part One.

Dealing With Postpartum Exhaustion

Welcome to motherhood!  Caring for a newborn and recovering from childbirth is no small task.  Fatigue can easily lead to exhaustion, infection, irritability and depression if you do not listen to your body’s signals for increased rest during this time. 

The best way to minimize fatigue is to spend the first two to four weeks after birth (longer after cesarean) caring only for yourself and your baby, while someone else (like your partner, a close relative or friend) tends to the other needs of the household. No need to feel guilty for doing nothing other than resting, taking care of you and your baby during this time. This is your sole job right now, with nothing else on your plate. 

Many of the suggestions for fatigue in pregnancy still apply, but other suggestions specific for postpartum to prevent exhaustion include:

• Eat well, at least three whole food varied healthy meals and snacks, without skipping meals

• Drink at least 8-10 glasses (64 ounces) of water daily

• Take recommended supplements, to ensure you are getting all the nourishment not you need for yourself and your baby while you breastfeed and recover, that is not supplied by diet alone. 

• If you are anemic or had excessive blood loss after birth, be sure to take herbal iron at least for the first 6-8 weeks postpartum, until you feel back to yourself and your labs including iron stores are normal. 

• Try to plan so that for the next 2, ideally 4 weeks, someone other than you is doing errands, cleaning, preparing meals for you and your family, and tending to the older siblings.

• Consider hired help (such as a mother’s helper or postpartum doula, a cleaning lady and even a personal chef or healthy meal delivery) if you do not feel you have enough support, or after your support leaves. This can be put on your online baby gift registry and is much more essential than stuffed animals, toys and an oversupply of newborn clothes Baby will soon grow out of.

• Be honest and direct about communicating your needs. Don’t be afraid to delegate responsibilities to others.

• Gratefully accept offers to help. Remember this is not just a much needed time to heal from the birth, but it is also a sacred time to get to know your baby and learn to breastfeed. As long as you are well supported, allow yourself to enjoy this special time and bask in the loving support of others.

• Rest, sleep and lounge as much as possible during at least the first month postpartum. Nap when Baby naps and ask a friend or relative to take the older kids for even an hour or two each day so you can do this. When you have a choice between folding the laundry or doing the dishes and napping, choose napping. Do not give into the temptation to do any housework, errands, childcare or cooking, as these tasks can be delegated to others during this time while you are recuperating. This is not a time to be supermom. Allowing yourself this extra time to rest now, will help you stay well physically and emotionally for you and your family, and will help you feel back to yourself sooner.

• Be strict with visitors. Don’t be shy about suggesting when it’s best for them to visit or excusing yourself if you feel tired. Ideally, put a sign on your front door saying something like,

“New moms and babies need lots of rest and help. We are resting now, please do not disturb. But, we would love a short quiet visit between {insert baby’s most awake hours}. If you would like to stay longer, please bring or cook a meal, play with our older children, or do some housework like the dishes or laundry.”

• Ask your partner to tend to the baby at night after you breastfeed for burping, diaper changing, settling, or holding skin to skin. Once breastfeeding is well established, your partner can also give the baby a bottle of expressed breast milk for one of the night feedings.

• Keep night feedings dark, quiet and boring so that baby will eventually learn to sleep longer periods of time during the night.

• If you can’t fall asleep at night, try these suggestions for insomnia, and make sure to take 1-2 daily naps or rest periods when the baby sleeps. Remember to silence your phone. Better yet, keep it out of the bedroom.

• Limit caffeine and avoid it after 4:00 P.M.

• Limit time on computer and iphone, and avoid it after dark.

• Get daily fresh air and sun exposure during the non-peak hours. 

• Treat yourself to a nice deep tissue massage focused especially on areas of aching muscles, or ask your partner to do it. A soothing simple combination for massage oil includes 3½ ounces Almond oil, ½ ounce Arnica oil, 15-30 drops of your favorite uplifting essential oils like Rosemary, Evergreen (Pine), Peppermint, Spearmint, Rose, Geranium, Ylang Ylang, Orange, Lemon, Citrus blend, Lavender or Jasmine. Shake well before each use, and store in a cool dark place in a glass bottle (this Almond oil comes with an extra 4 ounce travel bottle). A few drops of Vitamin E oil can be added to preserve it.

• After the first few weeks, an occasional weekend in a nice hotel with your partner and baby can be a really nice restorative rest and treat. And so worth the expense, as the hotel staff will clean your room and cook your meals!

• Practice regular yoga and light stretching any time. There are many ways to do it with your baby, or you may benefit more from having some space to do it alone, leaving Baby with pumped breast milk and a trusted sitter. Gradually get back into exercise in the morning or early afternoon after the first several weeks, and increase as tolerated after your bleeding stops and you feel up to it. 

• Do daily 10-20 minutes of conscious connected breathwork that provides you with natural energy and increases vitality. 

• Heed to signs of not getting enough rest, which include:

  • Ongoing exhaustion

  • Feeling run down and achy

  • Excess or prolonged bleeding

  • Inflamed clogged milk ducts

  • Frequent infections and colds

  • Excess emotional irritability 

Report to your practitioner if you cannot sleep, are too exhausted to cope, or your fatigue worsens or does not ease up by six weeks after Baby is born.

Excessive Sweating, Peeing and Shaking

A normal increase in perspiration and trips to the bathroom are common as your body rids itself of additional fluids that developed during pregnancy, and IV fluids if given during labor. Intense shaking right after birth is also common due to the hormonal fluctuations, temperature and body changes after the huge work your body just did to give birth. This is a normal stress response to release the intense energy that was involved.

Suggestions are:

• Ask your partner to hold you when shaking, but do encourage and embrace the shakes, without trying to stop your body from doing what it needs to do in order to reset.

• Take Rescue Remedy to support your normal stress response, if you feel you need it.

• If you are cold, wear absorbent all-cotton clothing and warm socks, dress in layers and cover yourself with warm blankets.

• For sweating and chills not related to infection:

  • Sleep on a large towel or terry cloth sheets.

  • Drink Ginger tea alternating with Cinnamon tea. It is best homemade, by adding a pinch of freshly ground ginger or a stick of Cinnamon to 1 cup boiling water and brewing covered for 15-20 minutes. Or a steep a stick of cinnamon in the water for a few minutes. Strain into a glass mason jar, add honey and or pure nut milk to taste.

  • For severe sweating, get an acupuncture treatment to balance your Qi and promote healing. 

Report to your practitioner persistent sweating that lasts several weeks, chills, muscle aches, and temperature over 100.4 after the first few days.

Dealing with Feeling Fat

This is one of the most common postpartum complaints. Women often struggle with body image issues postpartum, and feel fat. Typically, only about 12 pounds are lost with delivery, another 5 pounds are lost during the first week, and an additional few pounds are lost by the 6 week check-up. It can take several months for the fat stored around your hips and buttocks for breastfeeding and nourishing you during the pregnancy and postpartum, to be used up. So, it is good to remember that the calories used for breastfeeding will help you lose this extra pregnancy weight.  

The rest of the weight gained during pregnancy will have to be lost through a healthful diet and exercise program. Also, it takes at least 6 weeks for the uterus to return to a non-pregnant size, and it takes time and abdominal exercises to tone up the muscles and overlying skin that was stretched. It takes at least several months to return to your pre-pregnant size. 

Remember, breast milk production requires even greater caloric intake than pregnancy, as you are the primary provider of nourishment to your rapidly growing baby. So, this is definitely not an appropriate time to diet, as it deprives you and your baby of essential nutrients. If you gained excessive weight in pregnancy or were overweight before pregnancy, eating varied, whole food of high quality, and avoiding processed foods high in unhealthy fats, refined carbohydrates and sugars, and regular exercise when ready, is usually sufficient.

To summarize:

• Drink 64 ounces filtered, spring or well water daily between meals, at least 20-30 minutes before or 2 hours after eating.

• Eat a balanced, nourishing and varied diet high in:

  • Fresh organic fruit and vegetables

  • Organic tofu and tempeh

  • Beans 

  • Nuts, nut butters, and seeds

  • Organic pastured whole eggs

  • Organic free range, grass fed chicken and turkey, beef, lamb, and wild game

  • Wild Alaskan salmon and other fresh water fish from non polluted waters

  • Organic whole raw dairy-goat or sheep is best

  • Limited whole grains (sprouted is ideal)

  • Organic cold expeller pressed extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, ghee or goat butter 

• Avoid foods that are heavily processed and loaded with unhealthy refined vegetable oils and partially hydrogenated fat, sugars, refined flours and starches.

• Begin regular exercise like brisk walking or dancing as soon as you are able and the bleeding stops. Aim for 30 minutes 4-5 times per week. Pilates is a great way to strengthen your muscles, and especially tone up your core. Yoga will tone your core as well, in addition to increasing total body flexibility and strength, and helping you calm and grounding feelings. Ideally, take a local class like mommy and me yoga or postpartum yoga and Pilates. There are also plenty of online classes until you can manage to get out to an actual class. Light walking, gentle yoga stretching, side lying leg lifts, pelvic floor muscle strengthening, and gentle abdominal toning exercises can be done after the first few weeks. Gradually increase time and intensity as you are able. Listen to your body, though. There is no need to rush or push yourself during this time of needed rest, healing and recovery.

• Historically and in plenty of cultures around the world, a fuller figure is more glorified, respected and honored, and being too thin is not considered healthy or attractive. While obesity is unhealthy and it is important to have a healthy weight and body image, there are many variations in normal weight and body characteristics. Ditch the pervasive media pictures of thin models. They are not realistic, they wreck havoc with body image and often result in you feeling unnecessarily bad about yourself. If you need to, look at the #BodyPositive images of mothers on social media. Be mindful of unhealthy thoughts from modern, western cultural stereotypes that imply “thin is most beautiful” and “looking fat is ugly.” Try to replace them with more true affirmations of pride and gratitude for your body having just grown and birthed your baby. Maintain acceptance and love for your unique body type which is forever changing. Know that you are more than just a body, but a beautiful eternal soul with your own special gifts, attributes and purpose far bigger than that of your body. Even though you are a postpartum woman who has just birthed her baby, you are also physically radiant, lovely, magnificent and have a deeper sort of beauty and wisdom.

Postpartum Depression and Anxiety

Intense emotions, mild depression, anxiety and mood swings are common in the first few weeks after having a baby, as are postpartum struggles. This is especially true if you are overtired and exhausted, without help or support from others, and/or have other stresses, personal issues or other problems. You may find that you are at times down, irritable, easily upset, extremely sensitive, cry without apparent reason, overwhelmed, tense, anxious, and unable to concentrate or remember things.  

Natural remedies to lessen the emotional ups and downs, and help you cope include many that are mentioned in my posts for managing stress and emotions in pregnancy. 

Suggestions specific for postpartum include:

• Minimize fatigue with the tips from the exhaustion section above. A - adequate sleep is crucial.

• Eat a healthy well-balanced diet as described above, but many feel best completely off gluten, dairy, soy and all forms of cane sugar. Consider eating an organic Paleo diet, an ancestral whole or real food way of eating high in pastured organic animal protein and healthy fat, plenty of fruits, veggies, nuts and seeds, with free use of herbs, spices and healthier sugars like raw honey. Try it for a month. You will be amazed how much better you feel physically and emotionally.

• For general health and physical and emotional well-being, make sure to take the supplements here that include a whole food multivitamin, omega threes, probiotics, Vitamin D, plus those specific for symptoms of anxiety and depression:

  • Calcium, 250-500mg 2-3 times daily

  • Magnesium, 200-400mg 2-3 times daily

  • Vitamin B complex, 20-50 mg once daily with methylated folate and 

  • Vitamin B12 sublingual (under the tongue) in the form of methyl, hydroxo or adenosyl cobalamin), 1000-5000 mcg daily to 2-3 times weekly depending on symptom severity and blood levels

  • Curumin (Tumeric), 500 1-3 times daily to reduce inflammation linked to depression, anxiety and other mental health challenges

  • Evening Primrose oil, 500-1300 mg daily

  • Continue your iron supplement if prescribed during pregnancy until you stop bleeding

• Take your encapsulated placenta pills as directed (see supplement section).

• Spend extra time breastfeeding and cuddling with your baby, skin to skin.

• Share your feelings with a close friend, relative, transformational life coach or integrative health professional. An occasional good cry does wonders, as does a good hug, and a good laugh. 

• Write and feel free to share your birth story. Include the details, the lessons you learned about yourself and others, your strengths you have discovered, how you and your partner have grown, and qualities you found that exceeded your expectations.

• Commiserate with other mothers by taking a postpartum yoga or exercise class, or joining a mothering, breastfeeding or parenting class or support group.

• Every day, remember to protect your emotional well-being by doing things that cheer you up and avoiding things that upset you.

• Each morning, shower, brush your hair, put on your usual make-up, and get dressed, even if it is just changing PJs or sweat pants and shirt. After the first two weeks, get dressed in clothes. 

• As soon as you are able and the bleeding stops, begin a regular exercise program such as brisk walking, hiking, low-impact aerobics, more active yoga, dancing or swimming for 30 minutes 4-5 times per week.

• Get out of the house and get some fresh air at least once daily, even for just a little walk in the park, a trip to the farmer’s market, or enjoying a cup of tea with a friend.

• Plan some leisure time away from the baby at least twice a week in the early weeks and more frequently later postpartum, even if just an hour each day.

• Avoid drugs, alcohol and caffeine. 

• Before attempting medication, try the recommended lifestyle changes, natural remedies and herbs for stress and emotions first, as they are non- toxic, effective and address the root causes, unless symptoms are too severe.  If you are already on medication, the natural modalities and suggestions here can be used in adjunct, and can ultimately support you when you one day taper down to lower doses and choose to stop taking them.

• For persistent symptoms, make sure to have your provider check a comprehensive thyroid panel with thyroid antibodies, your vitamin D and B 12 levels, fasting glucose and hemoglobin A1C and address issues accordingly. Do what you can to prevent postpartum depression and anxiety and minimize underlying possible causes.

• In Chinese medicine and many other ancient traditions, the dried placenta powder is recommended postpartum for its powerful healing properties, especially helpful for balancing emotions, prevent or lessen postpartum depression if there is a risk or history. Many doulas and birth professionals encapsulate placentas. If you encapsulated your placenta, take as directed by the provider who encapsulated it. 

Report to a healthcare professional if your symptoms of depression or anxiety worsen or last more than the first few weeks, if they interfere with your ability to carry out your daily tasks, if you notice significant changes in your eating and sleeping habits, if you feel desperate, hopeless, afraid, unable to cope, or have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby. 

Siblings

Postpartum is always a time of adjustment for siblings. It’s healthy and normal, and they each handle it differently. The youngest tends to have the hardest time, but not always. Some temporarily regress a bit. Some show upset towards mom, dad, or the new baby. Others become more needy and try to get negative attention and act out, if they can not get enough attention in a positive way. 

Although your heart doubles with each new baby, meeting the needs of the older children and balancing that with your own healing and newborn care can be challenging. Having a strong network of family, friends, mothers with similar aged children, or hired help is essential in the early weeks. This support system can help with the siblings’ care, give you time to heal, rest, and focus on the baby and mastering breastfeeding. Extra support is especially important if the sibling is a toddler or young child, as they usually need the most tending to. 

Take a deep breath and let compassion run through you, and imagine how you would feel if your partner just brought home a new girlfriend everyone's all excited about and loving towards, and encouraged you to love her too. Reassure them they are loved, give them a lot of approval, and include them in age appropriate ways if they are interested in helping to encourage them to feel involved and important. Try to spend some quality time with each of them alone regularly, so your attention can be focused on them completely without interruption, ideally after Bbaby has been fed and can be held by someone else. 

It is important to avoid expressing criticism or anger towards them when they are seeming to be acting out or trying to help, and do not suppress the expression of their feelings. A great book written in easy to read comic strip form, with great suggestions on helping older children adjust healthfully is Siblings Without Rivalry by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish.

If you haven’t already done so, get the wonderful book written by herbalist, midwife, and doctor Aviva Romm, Natural Health after Birth, for a more complete holistic and heartfelt guide to postpartum healing and wellness.

Need more help from me?

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• Help yourself recover postpartum healthfully and with easeful joy

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As always, if you need more personalized support and guidance, schedule a chat with me so I can advise you about the best supplements, remedies and dosages specific to your situation.

My Natural Birth Secrets book 2nd edition is a great adjunct to the online Guide for postpartum and holistic modalities to common issues and discomforts.

For general postpartum healing:

INITIAL POSTPARTUM CARE AT HOME: YOUR COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE: PART ONE

POSTPARTUM CARE AT HOME: YOUR COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO THE FIRST FEW WEEKS - PART ONE

Welcome to the postpartum period, the fourth trimester, a period of healing and adjustment, of getting to know and comfort your baby, and mastering breastfeeding. All your baby needs now is love and breast milk. If you are unable or choose not to breastfeed, consider feeding baby pumped breast milk, or donor breast milk from registered milk banks. Breast milk is the ideal food for your baby, although organic goat milk formula is most similar to human milk and you can discuss best alternative options with your pediatrician. And do see the Postpartum Guide to Breastfeeding Postpartum, for initial issues specific to that.

The rest will follow naturally, as you learn on the job, take guidance from wise experienced others, and let Baby be your teacher. As in pregnancy and birth, trust your instincts and your heart. But, do not hesitate to ask for help and support as needed. Hopefully you prepared in your pregnancy so that you are well supported during this sensitive time, as it has always taken a village to raise a baby as well as new parents. A postpartum doula is a must if you do not have family and friends to help you. 

After the first week or so, but before your memory of details fades, it is a wonderful experience to reflect on your pregnancy and birth with heartfelt honesty, and write your pregnancy memories and childbirth story down in a bump to birthday journal. This is something special to share with your child one day, and it is also a wonderful gift to yourself. It can be especially helpful for healing if things were difficult, or your labor and birth did not go as planned or as you hoped. Journaling will help you express, later process, understand, come to terms and make peace with any painful feelings that come up more deeply. 

Below are some helpful hints to make the next few weeks easier and more comfortable, so you are more able to heal, enjoy and reflect upon your extraordinary new miracle. The most important advice is to slow down, stay in the moment, try to resist the temptation to do, do, do...and just be, be, be. Trust that you will heal, as you are perfectly designed to do, given the proper care and support. 

Nutrition for Postpartum Care

Maintain at least the same healthy nutrition as you did in pregnancy, especially now for recovery after birth, and during breastfeeding. This will help you to make good quality milk, and nourish your baby as well as yourself. Make sure to eat at least three whole food varied healthy meals and snacks, and even a little bit more than you would normally consume. And keep well hydrated with at least 64 ounces of water daily. 

Traditional foods for the early postpartum weeks across cultures typically include soups and stews with a lot of vegetables, including the starchy ones like sweet potatoes and winter squash, stew meat or chicken, and whole grains like barley and oats. Also, do eat plenty of eggs, seasonal fruits and vegetables. Much nourishment can be added to fruit/veggie smoothies, soufflés, whole grain hot cereals, and breads/muffins like zucchini-apple, banana-date or carrot-raisin, enhanced with almond flour or chopped nuts and seeds, nut milk, and eggs. 

Herbs and Supplements

Make sure to supplement your diet as in pregnancy, with herbs, vitamins, minerals, omega threes and probiotics to complete nourishment not supplied by diet alone. This will aid in your recovery and help supply all of your and your baby’s nutritional needs. Do increase iron foods and take an herbal iron, especially if you were anemic in pregnancy, have low iron stores, lost a lot of blood at birth, gave birth by cesarean, and/or are still anemic. 

Do continue your nourishing pregnancy herbal infusion to your diet but add alfalfa and red clover. You can have a support person make this by:

1. Blending a handful of dried Nettle leaf, a handful of dried Red Raspberry leaf, a pinch of Alfalfa, large pinch of Red Clover, and several Rose Hips. 

2. Add a pinch of Comfrey to help with healing. (optional) 

3. Brew in a mason quart glass canning jar of boiling water 1-4 hours. The longer the brew, the stronger the taste and effect.

4. Strain, and drink plain or lightly sweetened with Rose Hip infused honey and/or a splash of fresh squeezed lemon or lime juice.

5. Enjoy hot or cold, up to 4 cups per day.

 You can make it in larger quantities and store in the fridge.

Other herbal tonics for new moms to promote general physical and emotional postpartum recovery and healing include Ashwagandha and Gotu Kola (½ -1 tsp each twice daily), and Milky Oats (1/1-1 tsp 1-3 times daily), in addition to herbs mentioned below as appropriate for each specific issue.

To promote healing after birth, take 3-4 pellets of homeopathic Arnica 30 c under your tongue every few hours for the first 3 days, then three times daily for a week. You can also dissolve the pellets in a clean unused bottle of water, shake vigorously a few times, then gargle a mouthful before swallowing, which increases the strength of the remedy.

Treatment for Afterpains

Periodic cramping, known as afterpains, commonly occur as your uterus muscle fibers contract around the blood vessels that supplied the placenta. This is your body’s natural defense in order to minimize excessive bleeding and return to its non-pregnant size. They can be quite painful, and can occur with increasing intensity after each subsequent baby.  

Breastfeeding can temporarily increase the severity of these pains, which is actually helping your body heal and prevent excess blood loss. Afterpains should gradually subside over the next week and lessen significantly over the first 3 days after birth. 

Below are some suggestions to lessen the discomfort.

• Frequently empty your bladder, even though you don’t feel like you need to pee, as is common from the swelling after childbirth.

• Especially during the first 24 hours, check the top of your uterus several times per hour to make sure it is nice and firm like a hard nectarine or knuckle. Massage the top of your uterus gently when it begins to soften or feels boggy.

• Lie on your stomach with a pillow under your lower abdomen.

• Apply warm moist towel compresses, hot water bottles, hot herbal packs or rice packs heated with a few drops of essential oil of Lavender, or a heating pad to your lower abdomen. 

• Practice your breathwork, deep breathing and conscious relaxation exercises during the afterpains, dropping your focus right down into them, relaxing with surrendering to the intense sensations as you did in labor.

• Try soaking in a well-cleaned, warm bath with drops of Lavender or Chamomile.

• For an effective herbal infusion: 

  • Mix a large pinch of Chamomile blossoms and/or Catnip in 1 cup boiling water.

  • Brew covered for 10-20 minutes.

  • Strain in a glass canning jar.

  • Add honey to taste (optional).

  • Drink very warm, 1-4 cups daily.

• Take a dropperful of Motherwort herbal tincture up to 4 times daily. If without relief, try Cramp Bark herbal tincture, 1 dropperful every 30 minutes to 2 hours, then 2-3 times daily. You can add a dropperful of Black Haw tincture 3 times per day. You can make your own cramp bark infusion by steeping a handful of Cramp Bark and Black Haw with a pinch of Hops and generous pinch of Blue Cohosh root in a quart mason jar overnight.

• Take Wish Garden AfterEase herbal tincture as directed

• Take 3-4 pellets homeopathic Chamomilla, Arnica, or Caulophyllum 200 c. Try one remedy under your tongue. If no relief try the other. If the remedy works, repeat daily as needed.

• Try Moxibustion treatments by an acupuncturist.

• Try additional suggestions and remedies mentioned here for aches and pains in pregnancy. They work!

• If the pain is too much for you and interfering with your ability to breastfeed, rest and sleep, you can take ibuprofen (up to 800 mg every six hours) OR acetaminophen (up to 650 mg every four hours) ½ hour before nursing for the first several days only, as needed. But before reaching for these medications, try 1-2 grams of Curcumin (Turmeric), a natural herb studied to be as effective for pain relief than most over the counter synthetic analgesics without their associated potential risk of toxicity. 

Consult your practitioner for severe cramping or cramping that lasts longer than 1-2 weeks, or if accompanied by uterine tenderness, fever or foul smelling discharge.

Home Remedies for Bleeding

During the first two to five days, bleeding is no more than a heavy period with an occasional clot the size of a 50 cent piece or egg, dark red in color with a fleshy smell. It tends to be less after cesarean birth. Clots are simply congealed blood mostly that pools in the vagina when you are reclining, and can occasionally be as long as the vaginal canal. Sometimes bleeding increases with nursing, strenuous activity, heavy lifting and pushing motions, full bladder, and as you rise from a lying down position. 

During the next week or so, the bleeding becomes paler pink or brownish, and it lessens in amount so that you only need to change sanitary pads several times per day. Over the following two to four weeks, discharge becomes creamy white or yellow and even less in amount, but usually returns to red bleeding or spotting for a day or two around the second postpartum week.  

Some women occasionally spot on and off for longer periods of time or throughout breastfeeding. Suggestions for keeping clean and comfortable are:

• Take a daily bath in a well-cleaned tub (add Calendula tincture and Lavender oil to water if desired) or shower.

• Change disposable organic sanitary pads or herbal infused natural pads every four to six hours, and after going to the bathroom. Do not use tampons, menstrual sponges, or menstrual cups. The first day or two, especially at night, consider wearing adult diaper type pads simply because it is just easier, as bleeding can be heavier than common postpartum maxi pads can accommodate, and can leak onto your clothes and sheets. Use them with a smile.

• Wash hands before and after changing pads.

• Remove pad from front to back, squeeze a peri-bottle of warm water over perineum. If you had tearing with or without repair, you can also add 1 tsp Calendula tincture and Lavender oil to the water. Pat dry.

• Do not douche.

• Check the top of your uterus for firmness several times per hour when awake for the first 24 hours, then several times per day for three days. It should feel as firm as a hard nectarine. If it feels soft, massage it firmly so it re-contracts.

• To prevent excessive bleeding, take homeopathic Arnica 30 c as described in the supplement section.

• Take herbal Shepherd’s Purse, 1 dropperful of the tincture three times daily for the first 3-5 days.

• Wear an abdominal binder or Bellefit’s postpartum support girdle. You get a $20 off with code: ANNE20 at checkout.

• Continue your herbal iron dose until your bleeding stops in 4-6 weeks, which may need to be increased per your practitioner if there was hemorrhage. Eat foods high in iron, like red meat, dark turkey meat, eggs, dark leafy green veggies, and dried fruits.

• If bleeding becomes heavy (you are saturating more than a large maxi pad every half hour):

  • Try herbal Shepherd’s Purse tincture (1 dropperful under your tongue), repeat every few minutes as needed)

  • Add 3 dropperfuls tincture of Cotton root, 2 dropperfuls each of Lady’s Mantle, Witch Hazel and Blue Cohosh, and 1 dropperful Yarrow. Take them every 10 minutes under your tongue until the heavy bleeding resolves, but only up to an hour. 

  • If heavy bleeding persists, take 2 dropperfuls of HerbPharm Erigeron/Cinnamon tincture of Erigeron and Cinnamon  under your tongue every 20 minutes for no more than 2 hours, and add 1 dropperful of Angelica if without relief.

Report to your practitioner if you’re saturating more than one pad an hour for more than a few hours not relieved by the other suggestions above, especially if you are starting to feel lightheaded, weak, disoriented, cold and clammy with rapid shallow breathing and heart pounding. Contact them also if you’re experiencing large clots, foul-smelling vaginal discharge, severe lower abdominal pain, temperature over 100.4 after the first few days, and deviation from the described pattern of bleeding.

Perineal and Vaginal Discomfort

After delivery, your perineum and vaginal area may feel sore, swollen and uncomfortable. Any pain or tenderness should gradually lessen over the next several weeks, or longer if you had a large tear. 

Suggestions are:

• Practice good perineal hygiene as previously described in the section on bleeding.

• Don’t forget to take the homeopathic remedy Arnica 30c as directed above, in the first few weeks to support healing after giving birth, which definitely helps your perineal and vaginal areas.

• For a small tear that did not need stitches, using a peri-bottle, squeeze warm water with several drops of Calendula tincture and Lavender oil over the area as you urinate to reduce stinging. Squirt Vitamin E oil a few times daily on the tear to promote healing. Motherlove and Earth Mama make wonderfully soothing and healing herbal combination perineal sprays.

• Apply a perineal ice pack or frozen maxi pads saturated with Witch Hazel for the first 24 hours (with 30 minute respite each hour) or as long as you feel it is soothing.

• Periodically sit in a cool sitz bath during the first 24 hours or as long as you feel it is comforting.

• After the first 24 hours, take a warm sitz bath, or warm shallow bath 2-3 times per day. You can also add tea tree oil, tincture of calendula, garlic, ginger and/or lavender, or try herbal sitz bath combinations with Uva Ursi, Comfrey and Sage or Calendula and Oatmeal (both combos have Witch Hazel, Yarrow and Plantain). You can also try herbs with Epsom and Dead Sea salt or herbal salt soaks and see which feels best for you. You can use any leftover unused liquid for compresses or your peri bottle rinse.

• Use a pillow or cushion when you need to sit.

• Contract your pelvic muscles (Kegels) or even better, engage your mula bandha (all of your pelvic floor muscles) when changing positions.

• Take the homeopathic Arnica 30 c as directed above for general recovery.

Report pain that worsens or does not improve over time, an increased area of redness, swelling or pus-like discharge.

If You Have Difficulty Urinating

During the first four hours after birth, many women have trouble urinating such that they feel no urge, feel the urge but cannot urinate, or feel burning after the urine comes out. It is essential that you urinate within eight hours after birth as difficult as it may be, to prevent infection and excess uterine bleeding.  

Suggestions to help you urinate are:

• Listen to running sink water.

• Squeeze warm water over your perineum with your peri-bottle, infused with a few drops of oil of Peppermint.

• Dabble your fingers in water.

• Apply light pressure to the area above your pubic bone.

• Put oil of Peppermint in the toilet.

• Sit in a sitz bath with several drops of the oil of peppermint.. 

• Take a bath or shower.

• Blow your thumb.

• Concentrate on relaxing and opening your pelvic floor muscles while imagining the urine flowing out.

• Drink eight glasses of water per day.

• Try homeopathic Arsenicum or Causticum both at the 30 c dose.

Report inability to urinate more than eight hours after the birth, burning pain before or as the urine is coming out, feeling the urge to urinate frequently but little urine comes out, fever, or back flank pain.

Cesarean Birth 

If you birthed your baby by c-section, it will take more time to heal physically, and psychologically - especially if unexpected and unplanned, or traumatic. Trust that you will get back to your new mama self. The scar will be there but will eventually fade. Allow for at least 3 months recovery for your body from major abdominal surgery, possibly longer to heal the mind and heart. Homeopathic remedies help tremendously and definitely speed and enhance your recovery safely and naturally.  If your cesarean is planned, start Arnica 200 c three times daily the day before and continue through 3-4 days postpartum. 

Other remedies helpful to have on hand are Aconite 30 c for intense fear and panic before surgery, Bellis Perennis 200 c post cesarean to boost healing after you finish the Arnica, Staphysagria 200 c for incisional pain and healing, and Hypericum 200 c for shooting nerve type pain from the spinal anesthesia (only if needed). Use one remedy at a time and take it three times daily until you feel improvement. Consult your classical homeopath for more personal guidance.

The first week is the hardest in terms of postoperative pain, so take ibuprofen or acetaminophen if absolutely needed, then switch to more natural pain relief remedies like ginger or turmeric that are safe for you and your breastfeeding baby, but still effective. 

Use the skills from breathwork and mindfulness to center and ground yourself, stay present one breath at a time, surrender, lean into and embrace the temporary painful sensations you feel, without the story, with love and compassion towards yourself. Whenever you feel overwhelmed or stressed, take a few minutes to simply breathe, keeping your focus softly on a distant nonmoving object (drishti) or close your eyes and internally gaze between your eyebrows, relaxing deeper with each exhale. Send your love and breath (divine life force) and imagined light to areas of pain. Use visualization to support you as you desire. This is powerfully healing.

While in the hospital, it is important to take deep abdominal breaths also to keep your lungs fully expanding (use the incentive spirometer many hospitals give you), and to get up and walk within 12-24 hours after birth for 10 minutes each waking hour, especially to prevent serious blood clots and painful abdominal gas buildup. The more you walk, the sooner you pass gas and get your bowels moving, and you keep your blood flowing rather than stagnating from immobility.

Ask to be progressed from a clear to regular diet within this time, and choose healthy foods and bottled spring water from the hospital menu (if that even exists!) or have your family and friends bring you more wholesome real food meals and snacks. For gas and bloating, limit:

• Gluten containing foods found in wheat, spelt, rye, barley and some oats

• Some fresh fruits and veggies

• Cow dairy if lactose intolerant

• Carbonated liquids

• Chewing gum. 

Eat slowly, chewing thoroughly and mindfully. Natural remedies for gas and bloating include chewing Fennel seeds, drinking Fennel tea, or taking 2-4 ml of the tincture three times per day, taking Slippery Elm lozenges 3-4 three times daily, and a high quality multi species probiotic twice daily on an empty stomach. Eat and drink more fermented foods like kefir. For bad gas and abdominal pain, take 1 dropperful each of Chamomile and Passionflower, ½ dropperful each of  Hops and Lemon Balm, and ¼ dropperful of Lavender tinctures every four hours.  

The dressing over your incision should be removed within 12-24 hours, so your incision is kept clean and dry to prevent infection. You can apply a clean maxi pad over the incision if your belly is folding over it, so it does not stay warm and moist, inviting bacterial growth. You have been sewn back together in many layers, and the skin is brought together by a glue like substance, absorbable stitches or staples, or removable metal staples. While it takes time to heal, when all is proceeding normally, it is unlikely to open as commonly feared. 

Sometimes they use steri-strips over the incision which will come off eventually or you can remove them in a few days. You can definitely shower, but do not use soap initially on the incision. Dry the area gently. A little oozing of blood is common to see on the dressing, as is a tiny amount of clear, white, or yellowish fluid, as long as it is not pus- like discharge. Look at your incision so you can monitor its healing as well as work on acceptance and appreciation for the journey you and your baby needed, made especially for you both. Once you go home, you can apply herbs for perineal and vaginal tears mentioned above to soothe and enhance healing. Earth Mama makes a lovely herbal balm specific to healing a cesarean scar and there are other organic balms that also help the scar fade. 

Make sure to keep Baby skin to skin in dim quiet as much as you can, bonding and soothing baby with your love, telling Baby all is well, Baby is safe and acknowledge that was a tough journey for both of you. Get help with breastfeeding as soon as possible. Baby may be sleepy from the medications, and it takes longer for the full breast milk to come in, but you will get the breastfeeding going with excellent support and patient perseverance. 

I encourage you to love, be proud and grateful for your cesarean scar. This may take time to cultivate, but is a worthwhile goal. Do not be shy to ask for extra needed help, and get support processing and healing emotionally. For online and local group support and advocacy, there are many wonderful resources like ICAN, but you may want to consider breathwork to release the strong stuck emotions and trauma energy in your body if it is interfering with your well-being. If you are suffering from birth trauma or you suspect your baby has it as well - as is common after cesarean birth - there are resources for healing for you and for your baby.

Consult your practitioner with:

• For fever over 100.6 with general muscle aches and chills

• Persistent or worsening pain

• Area of tenderness/foul smell/pus/redness/swelling by your incision

• Area of leg swelling, redness, warmth and pain worse when you flex your foot

• Unusually frequent, urgent or painful urination

• Heavy or foul smelling vaginal bleeding

• Vision changes, nausea, vomiting, chest pain and/or headache, especially if you had high blood pressure

• Anything unusual you are concerned about. 

Obviously, if you have problems breathing, feel weak, disoriented and faint, call 911.

Constipation and Your First Bowel Movement

It is normal to go a few days after delivery without having a bowel movement. Many have loose stools before labor and pooped during pushing, and those who birthed in hospitals who don’t allow eating in active labor probably did not eat much, if at all, in labor, unless they (hopefully!) respectfully challenged that outdated policy, or simply sneaked it. So you have a few days leeway. Some mothers are afraid that a bowel movement will be painful or open their tear more or stitches if they had them. Other women are too busy and preoccupied with all that is involved postpartum to even think about taking the time. Do rest assured that although the first few bowel movements may be uncomfortable, they will not open your tear or effect the stitches. Even if you had a large tear, it’s extremely rare for them to be torn by a BM.

Suggestions to limit your discomfort and prevent constipation are similar to remedies in pregnancy with some additions:

• Replace refined highly processed foods with whole grains, lots of fresh fruits with the skin, and vegetables (especially green leafy salads).

• Drink at least 64 ounces of fluid each day, preferably filtered, spring or well water, or herbal tea. Consume between meals, at least 20-30 minutes before or 2 hours after eating.

• Do Kegels and abdominal muscle toning exercises.

• Drink warm prune juice or a cup of tea or coffee on an empty stomach.

• Drink Smooth Move Tea, which tastes yummy and works like a charm.

• Mix 2-3 Tbsp oat or wheat bran, or ground flax seed, in your hot cereal or apple sauce. Or, mix with stewed prunes or dried figs. 

• Try raisin bran muffins with black strap molasses (ask someone to make you a batch, with whole grains, or Paleo - gluten, sugar and dairy free).

• You can take these remedies in these doses for preventing and treating constipation which include Magnesium or the powdered liquid equivalent in Natural Calm, herbal Floradix liquid Magnesium, Triphala, Psyllium seed husks, or homemade Dandelion and Yellow Dock root infusion. 

• Use Colace (stool softener) as directed if your bowel movements are getting hard despite these above suggestions, and you are on opioid pain medication after a cesarean birth.

• If you are taking iron, use alternative sources of iron other than ferrous sulfate, such as ferrous fumarate, ferrous gluconate, or herbal iron.

• Do not ignore the urge to have a bowel movement, which usually occurs ½ hour after breakfast.

• Take an interesting book or magazine into the bathroom with you to enjoy some relaxing time on the toilet.

• While on the toilet, rest your feet on a low stool and avoid straining. Support your perineum by applying counter pressure with a folded tissue if needed.

• If it hurts while having the first few bowel movements, do some relaxation and deep breathing exercises, relax into the discomfort instead of fighting it and tensing up, or try splinting the perineum with your hands to provide extra give to the area.

• Avoid relying on enemas and laxatives on a regular basis.

• Ask your classical homeopath, or refer to books like Homeopathy For Pregnancy, Birth and Your Baby’s First Year by Miranda Castro, for a homeopathic remedy specific to your unique symptoms.

Consult your practitioner if there is no bowel movement by the end of the fourth postpartum day, or you experience unusual pain or bleeding.

Treating Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are varicose veins of the rectum, and are a common postpartum occurrence. They resemble a pile of red grapes or marbles just outside the anal area, but they can be internal as well. They can itch, bleed and be quite painful during the first 2-3 days, before gradually becoming smaller. Refer to the suggestions for natural remedies for hemorrhoids in pregnancy as many still apply now.

Suggestions for relief are:

• Herbal sitz baths as mentioned above for your perineum, with Epsom salts, Witch Hazel, and/or Comfrey.

• Use a pillow or cushion when you need to sit on a chair.

• Sleep on your side.

• Lie down several times each day with your hips and legs elevated with pillows.

• Try gently placing the hemorrhoids back inside your rectum with a lubricated finger, and then tightening your rectal muscles around them for 2 minutes.

• Natural remedies with dosing are here for internal and topical use, and include applications of already made Witch Hazel compresses (known as Tucks in the pharmacy) or make your own by pouring Witch Hazel onto round cotton pads, plantain, pure Aloe Vera gel, clove of garlic insert, and homeopathic Hamamelis and herbal combinations in a salve or ointment.

• Shine a red heat lamp on the affected area.

• Avoid constipation and straining.  See above.

Report if pain, swelling or bleeding worsens or becomes severe.

Postpartum Dizziness or Faintness

It is very common to feel dizzy, light-headed or faint the first few times that you get up from a lying or sitting position, especially after a long, hard exhausting labor with a large amount of blood loss.  

Suggestions are:

• Make sure you are eating well and drinking enough water as described in nutrition and constipation sections. 

• Have someone assist you the first couple of times that you have to rise.

• Rise from lying down gradually. First sit, then stand slowly.

• If feeling lightheaded or woozy while standing, lie down with your feet elevated or sit down with your head between your knees. Ask for someone to bring you a few large glasses of juice, as well as a high quality whole carbohydrate, fat and protein meal. For example, a nut butter and jelly sandwich on sprouted multigrain bread, or yogurt with fruit and granola.

• If you feel faint or do faint, sniff ammonia or smelling salts. This is an important first aid item to have, especially if birthing at home.

• Open windows to get fresh air.

• Splash water on your face.

Contact your practitioner with dizziness that lasts longer than the first few days or any actual fainting.

CONTINUED NEXT MONTH….STAY TUNED!

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As always, if you need more personalized support and guidance, schedule a chat with me so I can advise you about the best supplements, remedies and dosages specific to your situation.

My Natural Birth Secrets book 2nd edition is a great adjunct to the online Guide for postpartum and holistic modalities to common issues and discomforts.

Tips for Postpartum Healing

Those of you who have given birth to a baby know that many physical and emotional changes occur, many of which catch you by surprise. As a new mom, postpartum care is essential to both your physical and mental health and well-being. Working with your midwife and doula can help guide you through the healing process and provide you with resources to make your recovery as smooth as possible.

I cover this in depth along with holistic modalities for all the common discomforts along the journey to having a baby in my Natural Birth Secrets book 2nd edition, and how to prepare for postpartum healing and support during pregnancy, in my Guide to Postpartum e-course.

The First Few Weeks

The first few weeks of postpartum can be a difficult time for new moms, with many physical and emotional changes happening, while the days seems to be a blur of feeding, diapers and a complete lack of sleep. Here are a few of the struggles new moms can face in those first few days and weeks after baby. 

Pain/Tenderness

Pain and tenderness are one of the most common issues experienced by new mothers. This is due to the stretching of muscles and tissues during labor, as well as from any tearing that may have occurred. The area can be quite sore and tender, making it uncomfortable to sit down or even go to the bathroom.

Fluid Leakage

Lochia, or vaginal discharge, is common following childbirth, and even after cesarean birth. While seeing such a large amount of blood is naturally alarming- this is completely normal. Wear whatever you need to be comfortable, and know that it gets better with time and completely stops at some point after four to six weeks. I love these postpartum panties from Mommy Matters which absorb leaking fluids while also having a pocket to hold an ice pack which helps provide some much needed relief. 

Emotional Roller-Coaster

As a new mother, it is completely normal to feel overwhelmed and exhausted during this time- don't be too hard on yourself. 

While some mood changes are common after giving birth, postpartum depression and/or anxiety can be serious and should not be ignored. If you're feeling too overwhelmed to function, having frightening thoughts and are unable to care for yourself or your baby, it's important to seek help right away. Organizations like Postpartum Support International are available 24 hours a day to provide mental health support.

When you find yourself getting frustrated with caring for your baby, it's ok to step away and take a few deep breaths. Remember, you did something amazing by bringing life into this world and you deserve to be easy on yourself. Be honest with your midwife or doctor about what's going on so they can help you come up with a plan that's healthy for everyone.

How does a vaginal birth affect your body?

After more than twenty-eight years as a midwife, I know that some moms will experience some degree of tearing during vaginal childbirth despite all preventative measures. The vagina must stretch to allow the baby's head to come through, which can result in various types of tears ranging from first to fourth degree. Small tears can occur that do not need repair but still need to heal. The discomfort with a first or second-degree tear can last for a week or more, making simple everyday activities like going to the bathroom, coughing, sneezing, and even having a bowel movement painful and sensitive. 

Third and fourth-degree tears are more common after episiotomies, can take longer to heal, and the pain and tenderness associated with these injuries may be felt for several months. If you have recently had a baby and are experiencing this type of discomfort, it is important to take things slow and understand that this is normal. Your body is healing, and you will eventually be able to regain your strength and pelvic floor. 

What happens to your pelvic floor as a result of childbirth

Childbirth can have a significant effect on your pelvic floor, which is made up of the muscles and ligaments that hold the uterus and other organs in place. Pregnancy hormones cause these muscles to relax, making them more likely to tear or stretch during labor. During birth, you may experience pain, tenderness, and tearing in the area due to the strain of childbirth although there is much you can do to prevent tearing - there are no guarantees.

No matter what type of birth you had, it's important to take care of your pelvic floor afterward. Doing regular pelvic floor exercises can help prevent stress incontinence and support your bladder and rectum, improving your overall health and strength. A pelvic floor physical therapist, in addition to your provider, can help guide you through the postpartum period and advise you on ways to rehabilitate your pelvic floor after childbirth.

How can new moms expedite healing?

Giving birth is a beautiful, life-altering experience that can cause immense physical and emotional changes. As a midwife, I understand the importance of allowing your body the time it needs to heal, while also recognizing the value in doing everything possible to ease and expedite the process. 

One of the most important things new moms can do to accelerate and support postpartum recovery is to practice good self-care. This means getting adequate sleep, nourishment, and rest. The days after birth can be incredibly draining, so it's essential to take time for yourself to rest whenever you have the opportunity. Additionally, wearing comfortable clothing and using cooling packs to alleviate swelling can help keep your body feeling comfortable as it heals. 

If you experienced tearing or an episiotomy during childbirth, Mommy Matters has created an amazing product called NeoHeat. Finally, we have a real mechanism to heal the perineum after birth! NeoHeat’s red and infrared LED light provides fast, effective and lasting relief from possible injury caused during childbirth, while reducing the long-term risk of infection, accidental bladder leakage, and even pain during sex. I am so happy to have something to help women heal, in the comfort of home. 

I often recommend a perineal spray to help with instant relief. The SOOTHE Perineal Spray is a great way to help relieve any pain or discomfort. This natural spray is specifically formulated with herbal extracts and organic oils known for their anti-inflammatory and calming properties. Dr Tara, who created this product, recommends keeping it in the fridge for extra cooling relief. 

By taking the time to care for yourself and utilizing products that are specifically designed to soothe and support postpartum healing, you can make this time a bit smoother.

I know how difficult it can be for moms to recover from vaginal birth. I love red light due to its healing properties, while being extremely safe. In this case, high-powered red & infrared LED light therapy is designed to activate internal and external healing of the perineal/vaginal tissue. It helps accelerate wound healing, increase circulation, reduce inflammation, and provide rapid pain relief.

Red LED light energy and thermal energy work together to help speed up the recovery process. The red LED light energy helps reduce pain, while the thermal energy increases circulation which accelerates the healing process. In fact, this type of therapy can reduce healing time by up to six times compared to traditional methods. It not only reduces pain and heals 6x faster than traditional methods, but it also reduces the long-term risks of infections, incontinence, and painful sex. Most importantly, it is a natural and effective method with no need for medication. If you're looking for an easy and natural way to help speed up your postpartum recovery, I recommend trying out high-powered red & infrared LED light therapy. 

By having NeoHeat and NeoBrief in your toolbox, you are giving your body a chance to heal so you can return to you again- but faster. 

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