Postpartum care

Postpartum care for mothers according to Thai traditional medicine, or what is called staying by fire, after childbirth causes the four elements in the body (earth, water, wind, fire) to become imbalanced, especially the fire element, which causes the mother to feel uncomfortable, have body aches, be exhausted, or may also have breast engorgement. Postpartum care is a way to restore the mother’s health, helping the body to be warm, reducing muscle pain, expelling lochia, reducing breast engorgement, and bringing the four elements in the body back into balance.

  • Use fire to create heat for the body or area to be treated.
  • It is generally used for large muscle groups such as the abdomen, chest and back.
  • Or use it to focus on treating specific areas such as the wrist, knee, and back of the knee.

** It is mostly used to burn medicine in the abdominal area (around the navel), which is the origin of the ten main meridians that travel through the body.

When can postpartum care be provided?

  1. Mothers who give birth naturally (by themselves) can do so 7-10 days after giving birth if they do not feel tired from childbirth and the wound in the vagina is completely dry.
  2. Mothers who have had a cesarean section can have this done 30-45 days after the cesarean section or until the incision has healed and dried completely.

For effective results, the fire-breathing should be done within 3 months after childbirth. It is popular to do it continuously for 5-10 days after childbirth.

Benefits of postpartum care for mothers

  1. Helps the uterus contract
  2. Helps expel lochia
  3. Helps reduce body aches
  4. Helps reduce breast engorgement
  5. Helps stimulate blood circulation, reduces fatigue
  6. Helps tighten abdominal muscles, shrinks abdomen

Postpartum care procedures

  1. Royal Thai Massage: Mothers after childbirth often experience body aches and pains, possibly due to childbirth and childcare. Most often, they experience pain in the shoulders, neck, and back. Massage can help relieve muscle pain, stimulate blood circulation, and reduce breast engorgement.
  2. Herbal compress: The compress should use the right amount of heat, not too hot, and not too hard. The compress will help stimulate better blood circulation, reduce swelling, reduce muscle inflammation, reduce body aches, and reduce breast engorgement.
  3. Salt pot pressing: is the process of putting granulated salt in a clay pot and heating it up over a fire. Then, place it on herbs and lotus leaves and wrap it in a cloth. Then, place the salt pot on the abdomen, thighs, and lower back. This will help the uterus contract, expel lochia, stimulate blood circulation, and tighten the abdominal muscles and shrink the abdomen. There is research that has shown that salt pot pressing can help relax the muscles and reduce muscle pain.
  4. Herbal Steaming: Entering a tent to allow the steam to touch the body as much as possible. The herbal medicine consists of many types of medicine. The heat from the steam will help stimulate blood circulation, help expel lochia, reduce muscle pain, and the smell of the herbs will help increase freshness, make breathing easier, and make the body more comfortable.
  5. กSitting on charcoal: This is a method of fumigating the area of ​​the mother’s perineal wound after childbirth. It involves sprinkling herbal powder onto burning charcoal in a pot and covering the mouth of the pot with a coconut shell. This is placed under the seat with a hole in the center. The heat and herbal smoke will rise up and touch the perineal wound. Sitting on charcoal helps relieve inflammation and makes the wound dry and not stuffy.

Things that mothers cannot do after giving birth

  1. Fever over 37.5 degrees
  2. Surgical wound not completely dry
  3. Feeling weak
  4. After eating a full meal
  5. The doctor said the uterus is floating, the uterus has not returned to its original position

Postpartum care for mothers

In addition to taking care of the mother after giving birth according to the steps above, the mother should eat hot food to help nourish the fire element and stimulate blood circulation, such as ginger, pepper, holy basil, turmeric, etc. Eat food that increases breast milk, such as banana blossom curry, ginger fried chicken. Avoid cold food, such as gourd, watermelon, ice because cold food will reduce the fire element in the body. Should drink 2-3 liters of warm water/day and importantly, get enough rest to allow the body to return to balance.

Reference
Academic article “What is postpartum care?” : Applied Thai Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
Created by Ms. Sunantha Laengsathan : Applied Thai Traditional Medicine, Kanchanabhisek Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University