Postpartum swaddling: a care ritual for a young mother

Around pregnancy and childbirth there are many stereotypes and myths. But if people around try to protect the health of a pregnant woman, to protect her from stress, then with a young mother everything is exactly the opposite.

Those who have recently given birth, especially for the first time, often note that both the medical staff in the hospital and relatives treat them as "meat". When a woman is just a person responsible for the life and health of the child.

She should be to everyone: she should be able to feed, soothe, lull, should push her needs into the background (for about 18 years), should know why the child is crying or why does not breastfeed, must take care of everyday life, home and, of course, do not forget to remind her husband how desirable and favourite.

But no one owes a young mother anything: "she knew what she was doing", "they used to give birth in the field and nothing", "so what did you want", "well, this is a child, bear with it", "your child is your problem", " but as our grandmothers grew up without washing machines and diapers "- and similar phrases of" experts "who either do not know what they are talking about, or" take revenge "for their own ancestral unworked injury.

First, they gave birth in the field - and at the age of 30 they "crumbled", because immediately after giving birth they were engaged in hard work. They laid hands on themselves, killed children - all these are the consequences of postpartum depression and severe physical stress. The "experts" are silent about this.

Secondly, yes, childbirth is a natural process, but this does not mean that the body will also "somehow recover by itself", it needs help in this so that there are no serious consequences. Surprisingly, even obstetricians-gynecologists do not give future and mature mothers any advice on how to directly recover from childbirth. Maximum - for processing seams and feeding the child.

This is where postpartum swaddling comes in handy. It helps the mother to return to the state of a woman, and just a person who needs care and receives it.

What is postpartum swaddling

This is a special procedure for the physical and emotional recovery of a woman after childbirth.

On the physical side, this is directly swaddling, dragging several zones on the body to improve well-being and accelerate recovery, as well as massage with aromatic oils.

From an emotional point of view, this is the study of birth and postnatal injuries, the prevention of depression, the restoration of calmness and peace. For this, both conversations and relaxing baths with decoctions of herbs, warming herbal drinks are involved.

It is also a ritual of caring for a young mother, who usually completely forgets about herself and her needs while caring for a child, and society only encourages her to do this with her "they gave birth in the field and nothing."

Who needs it

First of all, postpartum swaddling is necessary for women who have recently given birth - it is good to go through it in the first 6 months. The ritual is also called "closure of childbirth".

That is, a woman recovers physically, psychologically, relaxes, lets go of her sexual fears and pains, experiences, is filled with strength and resources to enter the role of a mother.

But swaddling may be necessary even several years after giving birth. If a woman cannot talk about her childbirth or motherhood without tears, irritation, resentment, she definitely needs such a procedure.

Who performs postpartum swaddling

There is no universal algorithm for this procedure, because it is multicomponent. Here, trust is important, the creation of a spiritual and relaxing atmosphere of self-acceptance, calmness, and finding peace of mind.

Therefore, postpartum swaddling can be performed by psychologists, doulas, osteopaths, as well as specialists who are called so - specialists in postpartum swaddling.

How is the procedure

The whole day is allocated for postpartum swaddling. There should be no rush, thoughts about business and worries. If necessary, a specialist can come along with an assistant who will sit with the child or help around the house, go to the store, etc.

The main goal of the ritual is to help the woman relax, work through and release her pain. A relaxing drink is prepared for her, a bath with candles based on a decoction of herbs, conversations are held, a relaxing massage with aromatic oils is performed.

Sometimes women do not even need the help of a professional psychologist - it is enough to "cry out" the accumulated tension, pain, stress, talk about experiences, birth and postpartum problems, fears.

Swaddling itself can also have several types. For example, osteopathic is the ligation of the joints of the bones, which in childbirth "diverge" under the influence of the hormone relaxin. Many women are familiar with this feeling in the first days after childbirth, when it is difficult to stay on their feet and the whole body is "collapsed". This is just a consequence of the action of the hormone.

Also, swaddling can have just a ritual and psychological effect when a woman is wrapped up like a small child, taking care of her, protecting her from the rest of the world. Of course, this is not the same swaddling as in the case of small children, but rather a cloth wrap.

Features of the procedure

Some women are worried about having to undress in front of a stranger, and they are also ashamed of their bodies.

But this is not entirely true. The specialist does not need to be with you all the time, including during the undressing process.

For massage, individual parts of the body are exposed, as with a standard massage in a beauty parlor. A decoction of herbs is collected in the bath, the light is dim - accordingly, no one will look at you under water either.

And the task of a specialist is just to create such an atmosphere so that a woman would relax, be in a meditative, half-asleep state, perhaps sleep a little. Therefore, it is extremely important to choose a specialist with whom it will be possible to establish a trusting relationship.

What is the effect of the procedure

In general, the effect is immediate. After a competently performed postpartum swaddling, a woman should have a feeling of calmness, a surge of strength, and the presence of a "resource". She should be rested, relaxed, accepting of herself, ready to go forward. She should no longer be bothered by obsessive thoughts, fears and anxieties associated with childbirth.

Of course, such fears can still return, they need to be worked out with a psychologist. However, the technique of "labor closure" still makes a significant contribution to this process and helps those who have not very deep psychological trauma.

From a physical point of view, swaddling helps to restore the body, improves overall well-being, sleep, relieves pain, "gathers" the body together.

Swaddling helps to ritually close the stage of childbirth in a woman's life. Indeed, in ordinary maternity hospitals, pregnant women often experience a careless attitude towards themselves, which intensifies when the child has already been born. Then all the attention and care of others goes to the baby, and one thing is required from the mother - not to complain. And no one really cares about her emotional and physical condition anymore, if there are no critical problems.

The consequences of childbirth are not always immediately visible. Many of them "finish off" the female body up to menopause, turn into urinary incontinence and other problems. Unfortunately, this is also considered by many to be "the norm of life", although this is not so.

Postpartum swaddling returns the tradition of caring for the body, which has suffered tremendous stress during pregnancy and childbirth.

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