Pelvic Steaming with Postpartum Doula Jenny Smith-Nicol

11/03/23 • 60 min

Pelvic steaming. Vaginal steaming. Yoni steaming.
In this episode Suzanne speaks to postpartum doula Jenny Smith-Nicol about the reasons for and methods of pelvic steaming.
This episode is for you if:

steaming is something you have heard of and are wondering what it is
you are someone who has ventured to try steaming but are not clear on the details of the practice
you are a women's health practitioner looking for ways to help women with their reproductive health
you are postpartum and wanting to help your recovery
you are a woman looking for ways to heal from, and prevent, many common women's health ailments

Using herb-infused steam to clear out, tone and bring circulation to a woman's pelvic organs is an ancient practice. It is used to regulate periods, treat uterine fibroids and endometriosis, pelvic organ prolapses and minor recurrent infections like thrush or bacterial vaginosis. It is also used to as a regular practice to keep the vagina, cervix and uterus healthy in order to avoid developing these conditions.
Listen to this episode to find out:

when to start steaming postpartum
when to steam in your menstrual cycle
how steaming works in your body
the history of steaming and the cross-cultural references to it
how exactly to do it in your own home
benefits of steaming postpartum, and in a menstrual cycle
what herbs to use
results of a recent study on postpartum steaming

Resources
Jenny Smith-Nicol's website:
https://www.yogalinks.co.uk
Fourth Trimester Steam Study info:
https://www.steamychick.com/4thtristudy/

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www.motherheal.com
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music by Shooglenifty with Dhun Dhora
https://www.shooglenifty.com/
The Mother Podcast is produced by Garry Finlayson and Suzanne Maier

steaming is something you have heard of and are wondering what it is
you are someone who has ventured to try steaming but are not clear on the details of the practice
you are a women's health practitioner looking for ways to help women with their reproductive health
you are postpartum and wanting to help your recovery
you are a woman looking for ways to heal from, and prevent, many common women's health ailments

when to start steaming postpartum
when to steam in your menstrual cycle
how steaming works in your body
the history of steaming and the cross-cultural references to it
how exactly to do it in your own home
benefits of steaming postpartum, and in a menstrual cycle
what herbs to use
results of a recent study on postpartum steaming

Resources
Jenny Smith-Nicol's website:
https://www.yogalinks.co.uk
Fourth Trimester Steam Study info:
https://www.steamychick.com/4thtristudy/

Send us a text

Previous Episode

S1: Ep11 Birth Trauma with Gemma Nealon

In this episode, Suzanne speaks to midwife and birth trauma expert Gemma Nealon.
Listen to this episode to hear:

what trauma is
what the symptoms of trauma are
why some people experience birth trauma and others don't
the effect of the love hormones of birth
how to boost the love hormones in cases where the birth has medical intervention
why finding peace during birth is important
why feeling deeply loved during birth can prevent trauma
Gemma's 3 stages of healing trauma
how the birth attendant affects the birth
why it is important to support birth workers
that trauma can be misdiagnosed as depression
how trauma is different from a mental health disorder
how our nervous systems affect each other

Resources:
Gemma's trauma help website:
https://www.gemmanealon.com/
Gemma's hypnobirthing website:
https://positivebirthscotland.com/
Gemma's social media:
https://www.instagram.com/gemmanealon/
https://www.instagram.com/positivebirthscotland/
Books on trauma:
Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma by Peter Levine
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
The Polyvagal Theory by Stephen Porges
When the Body Says No: the Cost of Hidden Stress by Gabor Mate

Send us a text

Next Episode

Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine in Pregnancy and Postpartum with Lena Fong

In this episode, Suzanne speaks with Lena Fong, a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner who uses acupuncture, herbs, moxibustion and cupping to heal to maintain vitality and wellbeing. Lena is a highly learned and experienced practitioner and explains the TCM approach to health.
Lena is also a yoga teacher and a doula, and is passionate about working with pregnant and postpartum women to maintain health and wellbeing.
Listen to this episode to find out:

the TCM approach to fertility
the TCM approach to reproductive health
how TCM approaches health in an individualised way
how TCM uses holistic means in convalescing from an illness or surgery
what cupping is and how it works
the intricacy of TCM - pulse taking as a diagnostic skill so different than the Western approach
different pregnancy conditions that TCM is useful for, including hyperemesis and SPD (symphysis pubis dysfunction)
how moxibustion works for breech presentation - or any fetal positioning you'd like to encourage to move
acupuncture for a postdates pregnancy to help stimulate spontaneous labour
acupuncture with mastitis
the TCM approach to postpartum care - the mother's 40 days and how to care for her
the difference between acupuncture delivered from a TCM approach and acupuncture from a Western approach

Further Reading

The Spark in the Machine by Dr Daniel Keown
Lena can be found at www.lenafong.com

Send us a text