The Postpartum Wellness Show

It's not just your OBGYN and midwives who look after a mother after childbirth. There are a lot more health practitioners, health providers, and services providers who can help you and your family manage the chaos that is postpartum. You and your family will need a team to help you achieve physical, mental, and social well-being during the postpartum period!
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

• Why is it important to know who you can turn to for help?
• What does it mean to have good postpartum health and who can help you achieve that?
• Red flag behaviours to watch for when you're seeking help. For your and your family's safety!

QUOTES

• "This is why in many parts of the world, the postpartum care model is led by the midwives, maternity nurses, community nurses, and other primary care providers. "
• "And service providers? They are also absolutely crucial in helping you maintain and improve your social well-being and your mental health. These are babysitters, dog sitters, dog groomers, cleaning services, food delivery services, grocery delivery services, daycare, and even laundry services."
• "The biggest red flag to look out for is if someone tells you not to trust your medical doctor or medical health provider and if they discourage you from engaging with modern medical healthcare. This is unethical, irresponsible, and downright dangerous."

EPISODE LINKS

• Mamas, get your free 15-minute postpartum wellness strategy call here at www.mamaswingwoman.com/freecall
• If you'd like Dr. Kristal Lau to speak at your organization or event, email her at [email protected] or get on her calendar to chat about your idea! www.mamaswingwoman.com/freecall

FREE RESOURCE

• 3 Essential Postpartum Changes That No One Really Talks About And What To Do About Them: www.mamaswingwoman.com/pplist1

CONNECT WITH KRISTAL

• Get Your FREE RESOURCE: 3 Essential Postpartum Changes That No One Really Talks About And What To Do About Them
• And Grab Your Free Confinement Planner Here!
• Book Your Free 30-Minute Discovery Call to start your Confinement & Postpartum Planning, and Postpartum Wellness journey
• Buy My Book 'Postpartum 30: Thirty Days To A Nurtured Fourth Trimester'
• Instagram @mamaswingwoman
• TikTok @drkristallau
• LinkedIn @klyql

Storytime episode with Dr Kristal Lau where she shares her brush with grief for her "old self" during her Matrescence and motherhood journey.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

• Why I felt grief despite having a healthy pregnancy and smooth birth experience
• Stages of Grief
• How to hold space for a mom if she's experiencing this type of grief

QUOTES
"I'm gonna talk about grief that's not related to a physical loss. In fact, it's grief related to feeling like you losing your old self before you became a mom or dad."
"It's not just made up and you're not feeling selfish or dumb for having the sense of loss for your old self or your old life."
"When I first started feeling this intense sensation of loss. I didn't know what to do with it because I had a healthy pregnancy. I didn't understand why I was feeling this way because I really felt it not just a deep, heavy feeling in my chest, but this pit in my stomach, like something is gone forever and that I was never gonna get it back. "
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Please seek help from your family and friends, your health provider, or your counselor and therapist, if you need to talk to someone. Even your religious or spiritual advisor or community member if you're more comfortable with them.
Read the blog & transcript: https://www.mamaswingwoman.com/ep14
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I offer postpartum coaching to help new moms and their families adjust to the big changes when a new baby arrives. This takes time and someone to really care about the unique-ness of what you and your family need and want.
Book a free 30-minute Discovery Call with me to see if we jive and how you can reach your postpartum goals with me! [https://calendly.com/drkristallau/ppconnect]

CONNECT WITH KRISTAL

• Get Your FREE RESOURCE: 3 Essential Postpartum Changes That No One Really Talks About And What To Do About Them
• And Grab Your Free Confinement Planner Here!
• Book Your Free 30-Minute Discovery Call to start your Confinement & Postpartum Planning, and Postpartum Wellness journey
• Buy My Book 'Postpartum 30: Thirty Days To A Nurtured Fourth Trimester'
• Instagram @mamaswingwoman
• TikTok @drkristallau
• LinkedIn @klyql

The Chinese confinement practice is essentially a postpartum recovery program steeped in tradition and traditional Chinese medicine principles. Learn why you should create and personalise your confinement plan and how to do it with my Postpartum 30 method.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

• Why you should create and personalise your confinement
• Confinement planning as a family affair
• How to create your confinement using my Postpartum 30 Method

QUOTES
"...what I wish for you to take away from today's episode is to have a rough idea on how to approach your confinement month as though it is a recovery program."
"...personalizing your confinement month helps you retain a lot of your family's traditions and beliefs as well. It also really allows you and your spouse, husband, or partner to come up with a 30-day plan that makes sense to what you need in your modern life. "
"I think it's wise to have a look at your finances. Can you afford to do a full 30 days traditionally? Because... you have to get all your herbs, you have to cook. If you want to follow specific Chinese diet, the confinement diet. Are you able to cook those meals fresh? "
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Get your FREE CONFINEMENT PLANNER HERE.
BUY POSTPARTUM 30 HERE.
Need more help with your confinement planning? Book Your Free 30-Minute Discovery Call to start your Confinement & Postpartum Planning.
READ THE TRANSCRIPT AND BLOG POST HERE
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Resources mentioned in the episode:

• Ng Siong Mui's book: The Chinese Pregnancy and Confinement Cookbook
• Eu Yan Sang
• Gary Chapman's 5 Love Languages

CONNECT WITH KRISTAL

• Get Your FREE RESOURCE: 3 Essential Postpartum Changes That No One Really Talks About And What To Do About Them
• And Grab Your Free Confinement Planner Here!
• Book Your Free 30-Minute Discovery Call to start your Confinement & Postpartum Planning, and Postpartum Wellness journey
• Buy My Book 'Postpartum 30: Thirty Days To A Nurtured Fourth Trimester'
• Instagram @mamaswingwoman
• TikTok @drkristallau
• LinkedIn @klyql

Learn about the challenges and options for obtaining confinement herbs while living in a Western country. Dive into the three main places where you can find your confinement herbs.

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EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

• What is confinement? It's roots in Zuo Yue Zi, a Chinese cultural postpartum recovery practice.
• Learn about the challenges involved in finding confinement herbs in Western countries.
• Find out where you can find your confinement herbs while living in the West.

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QUOTES
"Confinement does not mean jail or imprisonment; it refers to the period of rest and recovery for mothers after giving birth."
"Search for the words traditional Chinese medicine clinics, doctors, practitioners, or herbalist in the cities closest to you so that you can plan your trip and not go too far out of your way."
"One of the good things about seeing a traditional Chinese medicine doctor first to get a prescription is you could potentially reuse this prescription for your next confinement practice."

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READ THE TRANSCRIPT HERE

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CONNECT WITH KRISTAL

• Get Your FREE RESOURCE: 3 Essential Postpartum Changes That No One Really Talks About And What To Do About Them
• And Grab Your Free Confinement Planner Here!
• Book Your Free 30-Minute Discovery Call to start your Confinement & Postpartum Planning, and Postpartum Wellness journey
• Buy My Book 'Postpartum 30: Thirty Days To A Nurtured Fourth Trimester'
• Instagram @mamaswingwoman
• TikTok @drkristallau
• LinkedIn @klyql

Learn why many Chinese and East Asian parents want a baby born under this zodiac sign and how this cultural belief leads to a baby boom that affects mothers, families, population census, services, and businesses.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

• Why the Year of the Dragon is a BIG DEAL
• A Brief Introduction to the Significance of this Chinese Zodiac Sign
• Effects of this cultural belief on individuals up to population level

QUOTES
"The dragon is the most revered and majestic animal and Chinese mythology and culture. It symbolizes power, nobility, honor, luck, and success."

"...roughly 25% more babies were born among the Chinese populations of Singapore and Malaysia during the 1988 year of the Dragon compared with the previous year. In response, Singapore, three quarters of which is ethnically Chinese, opened nine new primary schools."
Want to DIY your confinement month? Buy my book 'Postpartum 30' to learn how! https://www.mamaswingwoman.com/postpartumbookRead the blog: https://www.mamaswingwoman.com/ep13
ARTICLE LINKS

• China Highlights: https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/chinese-zodiac/dragon.htm
• National Post: https://nationalpost.com/news/world/many-chinese-believe-dragon-babies-destined-for-greatness-but-baby-booms-have-unintended-consequences
• BBC World Asia: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-16589052
• Al-Jazeera: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2012/1/23/year-of-the-dragon-roars-into-asia
• Medium Master Steven Chen: https://medium.com/@thechinesezodiac/is-2024-a-good-year-to-have-a-baby-befd6abbca65
• Courtly: https://www.courtly.com/resources/couples-rush-to-have-baby-dragons-chinese-zodiac
• The Star: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/11/01/getting-wed-to-get-little-dragons
• Mothership: https://mothership.sg/2023/11/luxurious-confine

CONNECT WITH KRISTAL

• Get Your FREE RESOURCE: 3 Essential Postpartum Changes That No One Really Talks About And What To Do About Them
• And Grab Your Free Confinement Planner Here!
• Book Your Free 30-Minute Discovery Call to start your Confinement & Postpartum Planning, and Postpartum Wellness journey
• Buy My Book 'Postpartum 30: Thirty Days To A Nurtured Fourth Trimester'
• Instagram @mamaswingwoman
• TikTok @drkristallau
• LinkedIn @klyql