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Author: allie

18 May

Posted at 18:58h in Acupuncture, PDX Resource, Pregnancy

Nine months (give or take) of no hangovers, no periods, no birth control concerns, a credible excuse to get out of anything you don’t want to do and the superpower of growing a human — pregnancy has its perks! As an acupuncturist specializing in pregnancy, an experienced doula and a mama of two spirited blondies here are my tips for an awesome pregnancy: Hire a doula! Doulas are incredible. Regardless of the type of birth you think you want, having a doula will be helpful in more ways than you can imagine. You will get to know your doula over several prenatal visits. They will be at your birth as well as follow up with postpartum visits. At your birth, your doula will hold space for you and your partner providing you a general sense of security with their presence. Your doula will help you cope with labor both physically and emotionally. They will also offer nonjudgmental support and information about your choices and options. Your doula is an intuitive wealth of information who is well connected to the resources in your community that will benefit you in pregnancy and postpartum. Research even confirms that having a doula present at your birth is associated with fewer interventions and better birth outcomes! If you live in Portland, check out the amazing doulas on my referrals page.  Ditch the fear. Sure, it’s natural to be afraid of the unknown and for most of...

01 Apr

Posted at 19:43h in Acupuncture

In my last blog post, I wrote about five ways to nourish yourself postpartum. These suggestions ranged from accepting help to engaging in regular self care. I’ll admit that as an acupuncturist, I am a little biased that acupuncture is some of the best self care out there, especially postpartum! Acupuncture, herbal medicine and other East Asian therapies such as moxibustion can really help transform your postpartum experience. Regular acupuncture postpartum can help enhance postpartum healing, encourage healthy milk supply, diminish aches and pains, reduce stress, and help re-establish healthy menstrual cycles. To learn more, read the full blog post I wrote for Willow Tree Wellness, the clinic where I see individual clients in Portland, OR. It is never too late to start your postpartum recovery so don’t hesitate to book an appointment today....

11 Feb

Posted at 22:33h in Postpartum

You’ve just spent the better part of a year, or more if you were planning to conceive, nourishing your pregnant body and growing baby.  Now, baby is here and if you are anything like the rest of us, self care seems to be the first thing sacrificed in early parenthood.  Your body is basically recovering from an ultra-marathon, your calories are going straight into making breastmilk, sleep is evasive, and hormones can make your emotions a little more variable than “normal”.  As an acupuncturist, doula, and mama of two, here are a few suggestions to help you feel your best postpartum. Accept help, even ask for it.  Babies are meant to be raised by villages where everyone pitches in to support the new families.  One tiny human is a lot of work for even two adults.  What if everyone who came to meet your baby brought you a warm meal, took your dog for a walk, or folded some laundry?  Folks who come to visit want to help, they just need a little direction.  Ask a friend or family member to arrange a meal train before baby is born so your family can focus on bonding with baby for the first few weeks instead of cooking.  Most people love tiny things so folding clean baby clothes is totally swoon worthy.  Nearly everyone who comes over will ask if you need anything so let them know how to help! Continue prenatal...

19 Nov

Posted at 02:31h in Acupuncture, Group acupuncture, Postpartum, Pregnancy

Since launching group acupuncture for pregnancy and postpartum, this is the most common question I have been asked.  The answer is yes!  I want you to get the postpartum care your body needs and if that means getting acupuncture with babe in tow, we will make it work!  You just made a human, that is no small feat!  You need, and deserve, to be nourished. Curious how you would manage acupuncture needles and a baby?  I use tiny needles on stickers on your arms so they are still free to tend to baby.  These needles don’t protrude at all and won’t hurt your baby or bother you when you move around.  Any other needles on your head or legs can be quickly removed if baby goes from zero to 60 and you need to get up. So, if your baby is a pre-crawler that is non-verbal, sleeping or otherwise mellow, feel free to bring him or her along. Here are a few suggestions to make bringing baby a little easier: -Fill out your intake paperwork ahead of time if this is your first visit.  We don’t want to waste baby’s nap with paperwork when you could be getting a treatment! -If you have a comfortable carrier, put baby on and head for a short walk around the block before coming in for your treatment.  Hopefully, baby will fall asleep on you and you can enhance your acupuncture with that sweet relaxation of a sleeping baby...