The Golden Month
The Golden Month is the month directly following the birth of your baby. In traditional Chinese medicine this is known as the Golden Month and new mothers are given special care, food and support until they feel recovered.
History
The first 40 days after child birth are known as the golden month in Chinese Medicine. Classical Chinese medicine recognizes that life transitions are vulnerable times and should be supported with special attention and care. Unlike in the west, where we are applauded when we are able to “bounce back” quickly and look as though we weren’t just carrying another human inside our bodies. In Chinese culture this is the time where the mother gets as much rest, support and nourishing foods as possible. The following are some important points to remember as you search and gain more education on this topic, so that you can get the most out of your golden month.
Why is this so important?
The time following a woman giving birth is seen as the biggest transition that a woman can go through in her entire life. In chinese medicine, women are thought to be in an imbalanced state postpartum, and the quality of her recovery can influence her health for the rest of her life.
During that postpartum period, it is said that you can either restore or hinder your health. Both past and post-birth health issues are affected by how much you rest and take care of your body during this month.
Rest
The first important step for getting the most out of the golden month is rest. And A LOT of it. Have you ever heard of Yin and Yang? They are opposite complementary forces of energy that need to be equal of each other in order to have optimal balance and health. When a woman gives birth she is considered depleted of yin and can become even more so after giving birth. Getting quality rest and drinking plenty of water is the first step you’d want to take in restoring your yin.
Eat Nourishing Food
To nourish our bodies, yin and our essence, we need rest, mineral and collagen-rich foods, and emotional and spiritual comfort. I’m sure you have heard of traditional herbal teas and such for postpartum healing but there is so much. To counteract the cold deficiency, a new mother will benefit from eating warming foods and foods that build blood.
These include:
Beef
Chicken
Eggs
Black sesame seeds
Dates
Cooked greens
Carrots
Soups
You should also try and season food with spices that have warming properties, like ginger, turmeric, black pepper and cinnamon.
Avoid cold foods like ice cream and iced water. This cold can transfer to the uterus and increase energy that is needed for digestion, energy that a woman doesn’t have to spare postpartum.
Golden Milk Latte
Try this yummy recipe! Makes 1 serving
1 cup oat milk
1 Tablespoon Turmeric
1 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 tsp cardamom
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1-2 tsp vanilla
1-2 Tablespoon sweetener (maple syrup, honey, or cane sugar)
To Serve: Pour Golden Milk over ice and add 1 additional cup of oat milk on top!
Support
It really does take a village to raise a child. Emotional and spiritual support is imperative-during these first forty days especially. A lot of energy passes through a woman when giving birth and having a good support system brings a lot of those same warming properties and energy back to the mother. One of the ways you can make sure you have a great support system is by hiring a postpartum doula. They provide education, care and support for not only mom but the entire family.
Call a postpartum doula for a consult. We can help make a postpartum plan that takes your unique life into consideration. We want you to have the best outcomes!
