This is the first in a series of articles about pregnancy by YinOva Acupuncturist and Obstetric Nurse, Laura Scheurer.

What an exciting time it is anticipating the birth of your baby, whether it is your first or a new addition to your growing family.  We can say with confidence, there are few experiences in life that top the moment your pregnancy is confirmed.

At the YinOva Center we offer acupuncture, herbal remedies, massage and holistic support for you as you prepare for a healthy pregnancy.  Happily we see many of you transition from this “premester” preparatory phase, to your first trimester.  When that time comes, we often hear, “We’re pregnant, now what?”  We can continue to work together as your body adjusts to the various changes of pregnancy.  Guided by the principles of Chinese medicine and our philosophy of “traditional wisdom for modern families,”  I have been inspired to start a blog series offering safe, simple self-help suggestions for the common side-effects of pregnancy.  Topics will include everything from the first trimester through to preparing for labor and finally, the postpartum period.

“Why am I always so tired?”

Fatigue is a common complaint in the early stages of pregnancy, with a sudden loss of energy as your body gets used to the all the changes.  Your body is adjusting to the extra workload of the developing placenta as well as hormonal changes.  This fatigue often lasts throughout the first trimester, with a sense of renewed energy starting at about week 13.  Toward the end of your pregnancy, in your last trimester, fatigue is often linked to the additional 20 – 30 lbs. gained, lack of sleep due to frequent bathroom visits or the station of the baby, making it hard to find a comfortable sleeping position.

Your Doctor or midwife may suggest an iron supplement early in your pregnancy to improve your hemoglobin levels, which will improve overall oxygenation to your cells and thereby improving your energy.

Based on the result of an involved questionnaire, we can find different patterns that emerge.  Your acupuncturist will then select a course of treatment best suited for you particular presentation.  You may recognize the names of some of the more common patterns if you have been receiving acupuncture for a while, if not, this may be an introduction.  Either way, I’d love to explore the Chinese perspective with you.  They include:

• Qi deficiency: fatigue that is worse after exertion and better with rest.

• Yang deficiency: includes some of the signs of Qi deficiency plus sensations of feeling cold.

• Yin deficiency: fatigue, restlessness and heat signs, like warm flushes or night sweats.

• Liver Qi stagnation: fatigue that is worse with inactivity and stress.

• Liver Blood deficiency: fatigue, weakness, dry skin, pale lips and poor memory.

Acupuncture is useful at any stage of your pregnancy.  If there are obvious reasons for your fatigue, like nausea, anemia or musculoskeletal pain, those issues will be addressed first.  We would advise you to listen to your body and slow down if needed.  This is not the time to push the envelope on your energy reserves.  Small, simple lifestyle or nutritional changes will correspond to increased energy.

Self help suggestions:

• For those of you taking an iron supplement, choose an easily absorbed liquid formula, like Floradix.

• Incorporate iron rich foods into your diet, like organic eggs, grass-fed red meats, spinach, blackstrap molasses and dried fruits.

For those presenting with patterns such as Qi deficiency or Yang deficiency:

• Think about how you can reduce your workload.
• Dress warmly.
• Start work later in the morning if possible.
• Go to bed earlier.
• Pay attention to your sleep hygiene: keep your room dark; remove electronics like TV’s and laptops from your bedroom; if outside noise is an issue, use a white noise device.
• Your diet should incorporate Qi and Yang tonifying foods and preparations: limit the consumption of cold and raw foods; lightly steam or roast veggies with rosemary, add a little garlic or ginger to stir-fry;  add cinnamon, or cloves to fruit compotes or rice congee.

Yin deficient women need to support and conserve their Yin energy:

• Seek out activities that are calming as opposed to stimulating, i.e., gentle moving meditations, Tai Chi or prenatal yoga help to center and ground your energy reserves.
• Avoid foods that are too stimulating like caffeinated drinks, pick-me-up snacks with too much sugar.
• Incorporate Yin nourishing foods like banana, mango, dairy, legumes, fish and pork.
• Small frequent meals, rather than less frequent, large meals, keep blood sugar levels stable, minimizing those after meal or mid-day energy slumps.
• Try different kinds of milk to make fruit smoothies, such as almond, rice, hemp or coconut milk as these are less mucus producing, and nourish the Yin energy.

Liver Qi stagnation fatigue requires us to focus our attention on promoting the smooth flow of Qi.  Possibly you are one of those ladies, who, prior to your pregnancy found regular, strenuous work-outs like running suited you best.  Now that you are pregnant those work-outs may not be advisable.  If you feel the need to release some of that pent up energy and doing nothing makes you feel more tired a brisk daily walk and/or lane swimming  are good alternatives.  They are both gentle enough and active enough to move the energetic Qi of the Liver, calm irritability, and energize you at the same time!

Liver Blood deficiency ladies need to build Blood (of course we are primarily speaking of the energetics of Blood, through the eyes of Chinese medicine, we are not suggesting there is anything wrong with your blood – using upper case ‘B’ for Chinese medicine and lower case ’b’ for what is commonly thought of as blood).

• Dietary suggestions include already mentioned iron rich foods.
• Other suggestions: beetroot, avocado, dark leafy green vegetables, kidney beans.
• Smaller, more frequent meals.
• Include plenty of plant based proteins, like quinoa or whole grain buckwheat.
• Wheat grass shots are a nice addition to your routine.
• Don’t forget your fluid intake.  Always start with water, water, water.
• Another option, pure, clear and clean broths to sip on throughout the day.

Daily waking activities need to include some down time.  Most likely you will find it is after lunch between 1 and 3 pm, you may feel,  as my mother would say, “too pooped to pop.”  Energetically, in terms of Chinese medicine, this is the time when the Liver energy is at its weakest (peak time is 1 – 3 am while you’re body is resting & rebuilding Liver Blood).  A nap would be ideal, but often not possible for many working women.  Please listen to your body’s needs.  Put yourself first for now.  Schedule a daily 20 minute catnap.  Close the eyes, get into a no fly zone space to replenish your energy reserves.

Remember how incredible your body is.  Enjoy, marvel and embrace the changes your body is going through and bringing forth!

Stay tuned for the next topic in our series: ‘Morning Sickness.’

We’re delighted to turn the YinOva Blog over to a guest blogger today. Charlotte Blake is a Personal Trainer. She founded Mama Moves where she specializes in postpartum fitness.

Are you doing crunches or sit-ups and seeing no results?

Have you lost some or most of your baby weight but can’t get rid of that extra softness around your middle?

Have you heard of abdominal separation or diastasis recti but don’t know how to check yourself or what it is?

If you are or have been pregnant, chances are, you have a diastasis.  Do not worry, this is usually when I get the blank stare.  If you don’t know what it is – you are not alone.  If you have a diastasis – you are also not alone.  A diastasis recti is extremely common among pre- and post-natal women.

What is a diastasis?

A diastasis is the separation of the outermost abdominal muscles or, the rectus abdominis.  Separation occurs because the pregnancy hormones soften connective tissue as the uterus pushes against the abdominal wall.  When these muscles separate, the connective tissue that joins them stretches sideways becoming thinner and weaker.

A diastasis is usually measured using fingers.  Some women have a one finger diastasis, other women have a five finger diastasis.  Typically, a diastasis remains in the one to five finger-wide range.  In more rare occasions, women have as much as a ten finger diastasis.

I know it is disheartening to discover you have a diastasis or to discover that this is a common post-natal issue.

Let me encourage you with some important details:

* Your diastasis can be healed with proper rehabilitation exercises.

* Healing your diastasis will help you reach your goal of flattening out your middle.

* YOU have the power to heal your diastasis and, most likely, you do not require surgery.

* With the proper rehabilitation, you can have stronger abdominals than you did before childbirth.

* Rehabilitation and conditioning can begin days after giving birth or having a cesarean section.

* You can do diastasis rehabilitating exercises anytime, anywhere, even while you are breast feeding!

* A diastasis can be healed at any time in your life.  It is never too late.

* It is important to heal your diastasis even if you plan to carry a second child.  An un-healed diastasis can cause you to carry your second child much larger causing a more uncomfortable pregnancy.

* Using a fabric splint will help support your abdominals while your diastasis is healing.

* Finally, the top life-style change while healing your diastasis is to NEVER DEPEND ON FORWARD MOTION TO LIFT YOU FROM A FLAT LYING POSITION.  This could open your diastasis even more.  This also means, no crunches, no “jack-knifing” up from bed, no sit-ups. (Don’t be discouraged, there are MANY abdominal exercises you can do while healing your diastasis).

How can you check yourself for a diastasis?

* Lie on your back with knees bent and feet on the floor.

* Place one hand behind your head, exhale, and lift your head and shoulders off the floor in a “crunch” position.

* Use one hand, fingers extended, and press it gently into the center of your abdomen.

* Move your hand down your abdomen, feeling for the left and right sides of your rectus abdominus (six pack muscles).

* At about two inches above your navel, at your navel, and two inches below, use your fingers to measure the width of your diastasis in those three abdominal locations.

So, now what?

For some of you, this information is a huge relief.  For others, it may be a challenge.  For some, it is frustrating to learn this information weeks, months, or even years after trying to get rid of that last bit of “belly softness.”

I have seen, firsthand, the power of healing a diastasis.  Committing to rehabilitating your diastasis by executing proper exercises, making small yet imperative lifestyle changes, and learning more about how exactly your body has been affected post-birth will make a difference physically and emotionally.

To get started, please see my instructions for one introductory exercise to begin taking steps NOW to a happier, stronger, and flatter belly!

Charlotte Blake
Personal Trainer
Founder of Mama Moves
mamamovesnyc.com

Today’s blog is written by YinOva acupuncturist Laurel Axen Carroll

I was in my local soup shop yesterday, reading an article in Cookie Magazine about postpartum anxiety, when I realized that I see more women suffering from postpartum anxiety than postpartum depression. The need for women to wear so many hats is definitely taking its toll on our sanity. Women are waiting longer to have babies and requiring more and more assisted reproductive technology. On top of that we are supposed to have thriving careers, perfect bodies and clean homes…how can we do it all?

In Chinese Medicine birthing is considered the biggest drain on a woman’s essence or jing.

Jing is basically your battery reserve of strength for life. Everyone is born with a certain amount at birth and the levels are steadily used to sustain life. Jing essence is exceedingly difficult to replace (some ancients believe that qi gong, meditation and a few supplements like cordyceps can do so).

Jing is drawn steadily from the kidneys to support the aging process and is burned rapidly through stressful events, medications and stimulants that tap the adrenals. It is far better to pull the energy you need from the food you eat and sleep you get than use your reserves.

In order to do everything that you can to preserve Jing traditional culture recommends rising with the sun and sleeping with the setting sun, resting during the menses, avoiding intercourse during the menses and refraining from stimulants.

Postpartum anxiety is a syndrome where the mother is overly anxious and may even suffer from paranoid thoughts or obsessive compulsive behaviors. Some anxious new Mom’s have sleep disorders and physical issues like palpitations or a sense of panic. Many women are stressed about the well-being of the baby and some may even fear that they could harm their baby. If you feel like this and your condition persists for more that two weeks or you have thoughts of harming your baby, you should to speak with your Dr immediately.

From a TCM point of view postpartum women are extremely blood deficient. The body’s blood volume has practically doubled throughout pregnancy to support the fetus; the hair gets luxurious, nails long and strong and little wrinkles disappear. Postpartum is a different story. Childbirth itself is pretty bloody-especially if you have had a C-section. Nursing also depletes the bodies fluid levels. When blood and fluid levels get low there is a phenomenon in Chinese medicine called Liver Blood or/or Heart Blood/Yin Deficiency. This can manifest as disturbed sleep, palpitations, dry mouth, agitation, anxiety, trouble concentrating…

Chinese medicine treats postpartum anxiety really well. There are many classical herbal formulas to address both the root and symptom of postpartum anxiety or if you are concerned about taking herbs and nursing acupuncture alone may be the way to go.

Dietary therapy is helpful as well. I always make sure a woman is taking:

• Fish Oil
• Floradix: veggie iron supplement
• Eating foods that nourish the Kidneys (home to Jing Essence): black beans, fish, black sesame seeds, molasses, seaweed
• Also consider: dandelion and nettles (easily available in tea form) to boost iron and calcium.

This week’s blog is written by New York massage therapist Nicole Kruck. Nicole specializes in fertility massage as well as pre and postnatal massage. We often get asked questions about prenatal massage and decided to put some of these questions to Nicole. Below are her answers. You can book an appointment with Nicole online by clicking here.

“What is prenatal massage?”

It is just like a regular massage: it loosens the muscles and joints, improves the circulation to you and your baby, and relieves fatigue.

The difference is prenatal massage is performed by a New York certified prenatal massage specialist who is able to target the unique needs of mothers-to-be in each trimester. These therapists are adept at working with specific conditions that can occur during pregnancy such as pelvic pain, digestive and elimination issues to bring you safe relief.

The length of your prenatal massage can range from sixty minutes to two hours depending on your specific needs. Several techniques are employed such as Swedish massage, myofascial, stretching & range of motion, and other modalities to relax and soothe the body, treat and ease tensions. At the end of the session you are left feeling restored, relaxed and comfortable in your happy body. You will also get tips on how to sleep better, foods that support pregnancy, relaxation techniques and exercise to support you during this time of added stress.

As your pregnancy progresses you will find each trimester will hold it’s own focus for your body’s needs.

“How is prenatal massage different in the first trimester?”

This is when we create the foundation for your pregnancy.

As weight in your belly begins to increases your center of gravity shifts adding stress and strain to weaker areas. This is your opportunity to concentrate on muscles, ligaments, and postural problems to create a stronger structural foundation.

The focus of your first trimester is to address any pre-existing conditions that would include chronic issues: back, neck, shoulder or pelvic pain, sciatica, or other recurring problems. Immediately attending to these issues will support your body’s ability to more easily distribute the added weight as your baby grows. Along with physical support massage at this time also reduces emotional anxieties which are important to a healthy foundation.

“What about the second trimester? Does the massage differ?”

In some ways this is your baby’s first massage

At this stage the pregnancy is settled in and it is time to focus on uterine support. As your uterus increases in size( 4 oz to 13 lb..) it is easy to over stress the 13 ligaments which give it support. Keeping the ligaments toned easily prevents many debilitating symptoms such as pelvic or back pain, premature delivery, and back labor. However, most importantly massage is a wonderful way to connect to your baby. You will be taught your own self care massage for home play.

“And in the third trimester?”

This is when we start to prepare you for labor.

So many internal and external events are taking place in preparation for your labor and birth. As strain to ligaments increase due to weight and increased hormones simple movements can induce pain until the muscles around them are releases. Also uterine pressure to your legs can cause excessive swelling along with blockages to digestion and elimination. Not only does prenatal massage on a regular basis help combat these symptoms but it will also relax your body in preparation for an easier labor, delivery and recovery.

“Should our Yinova Moms still be coming in for massage post-partum?”

Yes indeed. I like to say that we are returning a wandering womb

Your body has been put under tremendous stress. Especially in the abdominal and pelvic area where there are many new physical and emotional demands. These experiences – recovering from your pregnancy, delivery (especially with cesarean section) and now caring for your newborn are all individually major transitions. Postnatal massage supports recovery of all these stages in a gentle and effective way.

One major overlooked problem in postpartum recovery are the uterine ligaments. These ligaments are meant to easily expand to accommodate pregnancy however, recovery can many times create complications. One uterine massage after birth will not usually repair the nine months they have endured under great pressure. Especially if there was some type of trauma during delivery (such back labor, cesarean, extended pushing, improper care). These ligaments have a hard time recovering just like the over stretched elastic in your waist band. If they are not properly healed the uterus can not return to it’s proper positioning and many can complications occur. Some complications are incontinence, uterine, bladder or rectal prolapse, constipation, scar tissue especially with caesarean fallopian tube blockages and future fertility issues.

Getting regular massage and learning to do your own “Self-Care Massage” will assist not only the uterine ligaments and uterus to return to proper place but, will support the harmony of all healing.

You can start Postpartum Massage one week after a normal vaginal delivery, six weeks after a normal cesarean and after release of doctors care from any other complications.

“So how would you sum up the benefits of prenatal massage?”

The health of your uterus and it’s ligaments will assist you in avoiding common complications such as incontinence, prolapse, scar tissue (especially with caesarean) and future fertility issues. Prenatal massage does more than benefit the mother. Everything a pregnant woman does from her diet and fitness to her relaxation and relative state of contentment – also directly affects the child she is carrying. Study after study has proven that calmness in the mother leads to healthier baby development.

According to a study¹ receiving regular prenatal massage benefits labor by:

• 25% shorter delivery time

• 30%reduction in all pain medications

• 50% fewer cesarean births

• 60% less request for epidurals

Prenatal massage:

• promotes relaxation

• reduces edema

• reduces blood pressure & relieves varicose veins

• improves blood circulation & lymph circulation

• facilitates support for respiratory, digestive & elimination

• releases neck, back and and other joint pain

• relieves muscle spasms and cramps

• reduces mental strain, fatigue and depression & anxiety

1. Touch Study Support for Pregnancy by Marshall Klaus, MD

This weekend we have a new addition to the YinOva family. Congratulations to acupuncturist Sharon Yeung on the birth of her baby girl, Lila.

Recently the website, Urban Baby, featured the YinOva Center in an article entitled “Get Unstuck”. I was particularly happy to see how many of our patients commented and shared their experiences about our center. It reminded me how much we enjoy supporting you through the various transitions in your lives. Most of the women commenting had first visited us when they were trying to conceive and then continued to seek our help during pregnancy before bringing their babies (some of whom are now as old as 10!) in for a variety of childhood ailments. It is such a privilege to serve your families and watch your children grow and we cherish the continuing relationship we have with so many of you.

If you have spent any time in the YinOva waiting room recently, you will have noticed just how many very pregnant women we have been seeing. My days seem to be full with turning breech babies, addressing back pain, inducing labor and getting our pregnant patients in the best possible shape to deal with labor. Many of these same women were once our fertility patients so it is particularly thrilling to see them in their 8th month of pregnancy.

Given how many of you are due to give birth any day now I thought I’d use today’s blog article to talk about breastfeeding. A few months ago I blogged more generally about how we can help you after your baby is born so please feel free to click on that link too.

One of my new Moms recently described to me what a failure she felt when she found out that she was not able to breastfeed. She told a horrible tale of being belittled in the maternity hospital and how the lactation consultant made her feel as if she wasn’t trying hard enough. You’ll get none of that at the YinOva Center where our job is to support Moms. So l want to start by saying that whilst there are some benefits to you and your baby from breastfeeding, if you find the task impossible, for whatever reason, your baby will be fine on some of the excellent formulas that are available. As Moms we all do the best we can and we all end up compromising in some areas. It’s OK.

That being said breast milk provides your baby with perfect nutrition, boosts his or her immunity and promotes good digestive health. The hormones you release whilst breastfeeding are good for your mood, help reduce your uterus back to it’s normal size and help you regain your pre-pregnancy figure. So how’s it done? For most women it is relatively straight forward. You’ll get plenty of support and help in the hospital and here at the YinOva Center we are big fans of the La Leche League who have excellent information on their website.

Latching On

• Get yourself into a comfortable position with your back and feet supported. You can use a pillow on your lap to support the baby so your arms don’t get tired.
• Cradle your baby so she is lying on her side with her mouth and nose near your nipple.
• Squeeze the nipple to release a small amount of milk to moisten it.
• Use your free hand to compress your breast so that it conforms to the shape of your baby’s mouth
• Use the nipple to stroke the baby’s lips so that he opens his mouth wide.

For more information about positioning your baby click on this helpful link from the La Leche League.

How to prevent sore nipples

Although you can expect to be a bit tender for the first few days of breastfeeding, sore nipples are a sign that something is wrong and that corrections need to be made.

• Make sure that your baby is latching on correctly. She should have most of your areola in her mouth with your nipple near the back of her mouth so that her gums are pressing down on the milk sinuses that are about 1″ behind the nipple.
• When removing your baby from your breast, break the suction gently by pulling on baby’s chin or corner of mouth.
• Look after your nipples between feeds. We have an excellent sore nipple cream here at the YinOva Center which is non-toxic and gentle. Our new Mom’s swear by it for keeping their nipples in good shape.

What to do if you feel you don’t have enough milk

At the YinOva Center we have found that most new Moms worry about this unnecessarily. Most women really do have enough milk for their baby.

• Your breasts make milk based on how much your baby uses, so feed your baby frequently and for as long as she wants.
• Offer both breasts at each feeding but let the baby stay on the first breast for as long as he wants so that he benefits from the fat-rich “hindmilk”
• If your baby tends to fall asleep and stops sucking – try switching him between breasts to wake him up and promote active sucking.
• Drink plenty of water
• Get some rest.
• Limit your baby’s sucking on things other than the breast by stopping the use of pacifiers.
• Try herbs. To start with you can try over the counter herbal teas such as fenugreek and fennel, which some Mom’s find helpful. If that doesn’t work call us at the YinOva Center and we will have a specially tailored herbal formula made for you. Chinese herbs can really help you to produce more milk but please make sure that you use a specialist to prescribe them because many Chinese herbs are contraindicated when breast feeding.
• An acupuncture treatment in conjunction with the Chinese herbs can be helpful in increasing milk supply.

Engorgement

If your breast become hard and painful they may be becoming engorged.

• Keep feeding
• Use a breast pump to release more milk and store it for the future
• Soak your breasts with warm water just before feeding
• In between feedings apply a cold compress to your breasts to reduce pain and swelling
• Wear a loose fitting bra.
• Try not to sleep on your stomach which compresses the breasts.
• In Chinese medicine engorgement is related to qi and blood stagnation. Call us for an herbal formula that can help move the stagnation and relieve engorgement.
• Acupuncture to move qi and milk in the breast area has been used for thousands of years in China and many of new Moms find that it brings them relief.

Mastitis

If your breasts are swollen, inflamed, red and tender you may have mastitis which is an infection. Often this follows engorgement because milk that does not flow can clog up the ducts in the breast leading to an infection. Other signs of mastitis include running a fever and feeling as if you have the flu.

• Contact your doctor to see if you need antibiotics. Untreated mastitis can lead to a breast abscess so it is never sensible to wait.
• Keep breast feeding. The infection will not harm the baby and it is important to keep milk flowing.
• Breastfeed regularly (every 2 hours) to improve milk flow.
• Massage the tender area to encourage blood circulation and help clear the blocked ducts.
• In Chinese medicine we see mastitis as a combination of qi and blood stagnation with toxic heat. Acupuncture can help move the stagnation and we have anti-bacterial herbs that can help with the toxic heat (infection).
• Alternate warm and cold compresses on your breasts. The warm compresses encourage blood to flow and the cold compresses relieve inflammation.
• Drink lots of water.
• Get a much rest as you can.

Although we’ve talked about solving problems in this article, most of our YinOva Moms do not struggle with breastfeeding. They enjoy the closeness and intimacy of feeding their baby and take pride in their ability to resource their child. If you do need help please don’t hesitate to call us. We are here to support you and we love meeting your babies.

Congratulations again to Sharon and Kubi. I’ve seen pictures of baby Lila who is gorgeous and Liz who attended the birth as a doula reported back that Sharon was a rockstar!

Photographs
© Igor Stepovik | Dreamstime.com

We have a lovely job here at The YinOva Center because we help people have babies. What could be more fun? I can honestly say that all of us are so happy to play a small part in helping you to conceive and we are thrilled when you send us pictures of your new born babies. This week alone we have had six YinOva babies, all of them very longed for and some of them achieved after a long struggle.

Some people have asked me why we don’t put pictures of all of our babies on our walls like some practices do. The reason is that we feel that for patients who are having a rough month those pictures can be distressing. If you’re recovering from a miscarriage the last thing you need is to sit in the waiting room looking at photos of other people’s babies. But rest assured that we keep all the pictures you send us in a big file and we look at them often and with great pride and satisfaction.

So this morning I have been exchanging emails with some new Moms. I have been looking at videos on YouTube of a patient’s baby and it occurred to me to write a little about what happens after you bring the baby home. In particular I wanted to talk about ways that we here at The YinOva Center can continue to help you.

I remember feeing very daunted when I first brought Emma home from the hospital. I don’t think anyone can prepare you for how demanding a new-born can be. For such a tiny bundle, they are disproportionately consuming. Our house looked like a war zone as I juggled diapers, feeding, sleep and laundry. I remember after one particularly frazzled day, my then husband coming home and asking me what I did all day. (This may go some way to explaining why he’s an ex-husband!) In time I developed a system but to start with I was truly at sea, which is why I identify with those of you who call and email me to talk about feeling overwhelmed.

If you find that you are weepy, unable to find joy or depressed it is important that you seek help. 15% of women suffer from postpartum depression and many more experience minor baby blues related to fluctuating hormones combined with adjusting to their new responsibilities. We always advise women who are feeling depressed to consult their M.D., however Chinese medicine can be a really helpful, gentle way of treating depression so please reach out to us even if your new responsibilities stop you from actually coming in to the center to see us.

Breast feeding is another issue that women call and email about. Nothing is more frustrating than having a hungry screaming baby and not enough milk. We have Chinese herbal formulas that can really help with milk production. I am aware that many of you are not able to leave the house at first, so for established patients we are able to do a telephone consult and then have a specifically tailored herbal formula sent to your home. We also have a natural cream for cracked nipples that new Moms swear by.

If you are able to come in and see us acupuncture can be used to restore hormonal balance, help with fatigue and treat postpartum problems such as back pain or poor milk supply. Reiki can also be a lovely, gentle way to relax and speed up your recovery after the birth.

Related Articles on The YinOva Blog: Acupuncture During Pregnancy

Photograph
© Michaeljung | Dreamstime.com

I’ve been hearing from my patients about a vicious bout of viral gastroenteritis going around. Some people have thought they had food poisoning and one patient even rang to see if her herbs could be causing violent diarrhea and vomiting. I was able to assure her they weren’t.

Last week it was my turn. My husband and I were struck by the virus after catching it in a restaurant. We ate different things so it wasn’t food poisoning but evidently someone who was sick (and a poor hand-washer) touched our food. For two days we ate nothing. We just sipped water and waited for it to be over.

When I started to contemplate food again I looked around my kitchen for something that was nourishing but easy to digest. Then I had a brain wave. Rice Congee also known as Jook. My teachers at Chinese Medical School had taught me to make this for patients who were convalescing. It’s a kind of slow cooked rice porridge that is a common breakfast food in China and is also often given to old people, small children and people recovering from an illness. I made a big pot and it made me feel so much better that I thought I’d share the recipe with you here. There are many variations on congee throughout Asia so this is only one of many recipes. If you develop a congee passion you may want to buy The Book of Jook: Chinese Medicinal Porridges–A Healthy Alternative to the Typical Western Breakfast by Bob Flaws, which is full of great information.

Anyway here’s how I made my congee. I felt way too weak to go to the supermarket so I just used what we had in the house, making my congee not necessarily authentic but delicious and very healing just the same.

For the porridge

3/4 cup of rice (you’re supposed to use short grain but I used some jasmine rice we had in the cupboard and it was fine)
4 cups water
4 cups chicken stock
1 tbsp low sodium tamari
3 slices of ginger
Below are Chinese herbs I added to my congee. Feel free to omit them. Your congee will still be nourishing and delicious.
Dang shen – Codonopsis
Huang Qi – Astragalus
Da zao – Chinese dates

For the chicken

2 tbsps minced ginger
8 oz boneless chicken thighs
1 tbsp low sodium tamari
1/2 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tbsp corn flour
1 1/2 tsp of sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 tbsp oil (I used fancy blood orange olive oil but really you could use anything. Sesame oil would be more authentic, I imagine)
Pepper

To complete the porridge

3 tbsp finely chopped green onions

Wash the rice well and put it in a large pot. Add the water, chicken stock, tamari and ginger slices and bring to the boil. At this point I also added some Chinese herbs. We’re a household with two Chinese herbalists in it so we have things like that lying around. Obviously you probably don’t so don’t worry about missing this step. Cover the pot leaving the lid partially open. Lower the heat and cook for 1 hour, stirring occasionally to prevent the rice from sticking to the bottom of the pan.

Meanwhile chop the chicken thighs into bite size pieces. Combine the marinade ingredients and marinate the chicken for at least 15 minutes. After the congee has been cooking for one hour it should be thick and have the consistency of porridge. Take the ginger slices and the Chinese herbs (if you are using them) out and throw them away – they have imparted their goodness. Add the chicken and the marinade and cook for a further 15 minutes.

At the end sprinkle the green onions on top and enjoy.

This proved just the thing for a tender digestive system but would also be great post-partum or any time you need building up.

All our practitioners are trained in Eastern nutrition so feel free to ask any of us at The YinOva Center for dietary suggestions.