Postpartum Wisdom & Beyond

12^th Aug 2022

4 mins read

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Becoming a mother is a lifechanging moment and it will change a woman to her core – mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Most new mothers feel lost and somehow broken after giving birth. Her body, soul, mind and spirit must join forces and make space for a brand new human. She will completely surrender to a painful, earth-shattering and sometimes traumatic experience to bring this beautiful and precious new soul into the universe. After delivery, there are feelings of anxiety, grief, vulnerability as she processes her birth story, strives to meet the nonstop demands of new motherhood, heals from childbirth and somehow mourns her pre-baby independence.

In the West, postpartum care (or lack thereof) doesn’t highly regard the new mother’s extreme feats in childbirth and the months to follow – mastering the newborn’s needs, rhythms and the fine art of breastfeeding, expressing milk, producing an adequate quantity of it, washing and sterilizing endless bottles, all whilst emotionally, mentally and physically depleted, functioning on barely any sleep. One in six women suffer from postpartum depression, while one in five suffer from postpartum anxiety. Perhaps that’s why soaring numbers of women are demanding better for their wellbeing and embracing the traditions of diverse cultures, who believe that the new mother must be cared for, just as much as her baby. Happy healthy mama = happy healthy baby.

Here are two pieces of noteworthy postpartum wisdom that the Modern Pui Yuet would like to share with you.

Closing the bones
Common in Mexican midwifery, or ‘pateria’, closing the bones is a supportive and gentle postpartum ritual, which honours the new mother by releasing any trauma that her body may hold after childbirth. It can be carried out within hours after childbirth but can also be beneficial years later, to assist her in processing the mixed feelings and emotions around her child’s birth and achieve acceptance and closure.

According to this Mexican tradition, a mother is most vulnerable during pregnancy, spiritually, physically and energetically as she is making room for a new lifeform and soul inside of her. Her pelvis and hips widen, to make room for her growing baby and prepare the body for birth. The rhythmic and warming massage used in ‘closing the bones’ works to physically close and balance her pelvis, after birth, whilst recentring her spiritually allowing her to come back to herself.

In Ayurveda practices, the pelvic region is home to the svadhisthana – the second chakra. This is closely linked to emotions and the unconscious. Scientifically, our hip muscles are made to easily activate the fight, flight or freeze mode. When we experience trauma, we instinctively clench our muscles deep within. When trauma and emotions go unresolved, our muscles remain clenched and will manifest as a build-up of adrenaline crystals around the hips causing pelvic instability. Parteria beliefs are that a woman will leak energy through her pelvis if her bones do not close properly.

The traditional ceremony involves a beautiful combination of massage, using woven shawls and a warming oil hand massage to mobilise the pelvis and abdomen whilst loosening up the lower vertebrae. The result is an increased blood flow to the area, which stimulates the passing of old tissue and blood and activates the immune system, a toning and shrinking of the uterus and bladder. This releases stagnant energy and tension, activates the parasympathetic nervous system and finally returns the pelvis and hip bones to their natural position.

Besides the physical benefits of closing the bones, creating a safe space and nurturing the new mother encourages her to feel cared for and worthy of love, assisting her in releasing negative emotions and call home her energy, sense of self and life force.

Yoni Steaming
In Sanskrit, Yoni means ‘sacred place’ and is the title given to the female genitalia, the vagina and the womb. The description pays respect to the divine feminine energy and the significance of a woman’s sexual organs as the sacred portal which brings new souls and beings into the universe. Dating all the way back to the Mayan civilization, yoni steaming is an ancient healing practice which deeply cleanses the female feminine organs, it is still a common practice in India, Korea, Central America and Eastern Europe where it is embraced as a form of ‘self-care’. 

Yoni steaming uses the warmth of a gentle herbal steam to enter the vagina and cleanse the uterus. This can be most beneficial after delivery or in the case of period problems, it is also considered a beautiful act of self-care and love to do regularly and be at one with your feminine energy. Special herbs are chosen and brewed in a steam pot whilst creating a yoni steam, it is then placed underneath you and blankets are wrapped around your torso to trap the steam whilst you relax and allow the healing steam to enter the body through your yoni, cleansing your abdominal organs and slowly allowing it to rise through a deep and central channel towards your heart to promote wellbeing and positivity.

There are an alarming number of women who are shaking off outdated and unhelpful notions that postpartum care is a luxury that only the wealthy can afford. Caring for new mothers is crucial to the wellbeing of the mother, society and baby at large. Happy, settled and well-adjusted mothers raise happy children, who grow to become happy adults and contribute positively to our society.