14/06/2026
Such a beautiful day with old friends and new ones at the Blossom Tree Clinic | Totnes learning the art of nurturing the first 40 days after birth through the lens of Traditional Chinese Medicine ✨
We spent the day exploring the importance of postpartum recovery, a time that many traditional cultures view as sacred and essential for a mother’s long-term wellbeing. In Chinese medicine, the weeks after birth are seen as a period of rebuilding, restoring energy, warmth, and balance after the incredible physical and emotional work of pregnancy and birth.
One of the fascinating things we learned about was the use of a moxa box. Moxibustion uses dried mugwort (mugweed) to gently warm specific areas of the body. Traditionally, this warming therapy is used to support circulation, replenish energy, and encourage healing during the postpartum period.
We also explored the role of nourishing foods in recovery. Traditional postpartum nutrition focuses on warm, nutrient-dense meals and ingredients believed to support blood replenishment and circulation after birth. Foods such as dark leafy greens, beetroot, dates, warming broths, ginger, and iron-rich foods are often valued for supporting both physical recovery and emotional wellbeing during this transition.
What I love about these traditions is the reminder that mothers deserve care too. So much attention is placed on preparing for birth, but these teachings highlight the importance of rest, nourishment, warmth, and support in the weeks that follow.
The first 40 days are not about “bouncing back” they are about healing, replenishing, and being held while you adjust to life with your baby. ❤️
Karin Ladefoged Walters .goodbirth Maria | Postpartum Doula | Nutrition | Placenta Encapsulation Layla May • Birth & Postnatal Doula in Devon • The Essential Oil Goddess | Nisha Toppin
