re questions around post C abdominal massage and oils uses

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends;

Today A discussion around post surgery massage and stitches came up,

and I thought you might benefit. It is a very sensitive time, and I

had to explain a second time to be sure information came through

correctly, I must have spoken to quickly the first time.

Warm Regards;

Ysha

 

Hi Lee, Sonya;

 

I'm glad to get this clear. No, I would not massage the belly for

upwards of 10 days, then of course very gently in those flat handed

broad steady clockwise lubricated circles. I am very sorry for the

apparent misunderstanding. I apply the warm oil on upper/mid abdomen,

even day 1 if desired, very valuable, but not massage!

 

I have applied (again, not massaged) warm oil all over a woman within

a few minutes of surgery in the recovery room, Nurse watching with

instructions to just not go near the bandage. She wanted to trust me

because she was amazed at the results of the first thing I did, which

was give the mom sips of a simple vata tea, the tea bag soaked in hot

tap water (we do what we can!) which immediately calmed her shakes

when no other protocol including prewarmed blankie did. So when

asked about putting the warm sesame oil on Mom (Mom liked the idea)

she approved.

 

The words Sonya used are probably mostly direct quotes from me in

training although some clarification is needed. The 10 day rule came

from Maharishi Ayurveda, probably a combined input from the MDs in the

West and the 2 Vaidyas developing the program for the west with them

and 2 natural childbirth/infant massage women. They were extra

careful about possibly risks to mothers and to students not getting

clear limits that affected their liabilities too as supervisors.

 

My experience is that we have to work in some appropriate flexibility

with our client's desires around " by the book " , from both doctor and

our teachers. We often had clients begging us for massage before

then. I kept saying no. Finally I asked another teacher, Dr.

Shrestha, and she said yes, oiling and gentle massage to the body is

very good as long as we do not massage the belly for some days, the 10

being an about figure, and take care for her comfort and how she

moves. Applying oil to the tummy is good, if mother is ok with it.

Turning to the tummy is when she feels ready. The simple steady

pressure is beneficial, just like belly wrapping, to the abdomen and

uterus. Definitely we make sure she moves slowly, her own pace, and

does not use tummy muscles.

 

Aside from this info comes knowledge from Ayurveda that not only is

sesame (and coconut) oil mildly antiseptic, warm oil so helps reduce

the nervous system vata and other functional natural postpartum

confusion. Warm oil provides connectivity to the senses and

nourishment thru the skin to all tissues. The essential oils are

strongly antiseptic and very supportive to healing to incisions, pain,

inflammation, etc, some much more than others. They are, by my

experience and others', much more quick, and less messy than

allopathic or herbal creams, pastes etc. I " m a fanatic as Sonya

probably has told you about the quality of them. Essential oils, not

sesame oil, are less likely to loosen the bandage though they may

depending how much is used. A small amount will soak straight thru

the bandage to the skin whereas the heavy massage oil is thicker,

penetrates less, and can get messy.

 

But it is usually some days postpartum that the mother complains about

itchiness, pain, and redness around the incision. In that case I

explain the situation including value of the oxgen enhancment et all

of essential oils to the tissue, give her choices. I usually am

welcomed to put a little lavender oil (or she wants to order and can

afford helichrysum) directly over the stitches over the bandage, or if

exposed, right on the incision/stitches. In every case the results

are phenomenal and the Mom has been very grateful. (Usually the same

day she complains about epidural caused spinal pain and headaches so

we try lavender there too and it usually works well.) She often will

then want to order some of her own for multiple uses.

 

So there is flexibility as with many things, and our responsibility

has to be to respect her decisions but educate wisely and where she is

asking for help especially. The final responsibility is with her

decision, and as you have probably seen, the terms on our mutually

signed Informed Consent, disclaimer and responsibilities document.

 

Have you been on the forum lately? I was very happy to hear the

vaidya mention using bastis after 7 days. This is about when mothers

are ready to do them (if they are open to try this " new " idea), my

consistent experience, and makes more sense to the pp physiology to me

too.

 

Namaste;

Ysha