when is it ok to lay on belly after c-birth?

[Guest guest]

This question is from Sonya Bastow (having tech difficulties getting on here

today):

 

I would like to verify when it is ok for a woman who has had a c-section to lay

on her tummy for the warm oil massage. Most of my clients let me know if they

are ok with it but want to get your recommendation.

 

Sonya, I do the same thing with my clients. Since my initial training I have

reason to believe was extra cautious (perhaps from fear of lawsuits). They

said, no abyhanga for 10 days after cbirth, and many clients are really wanting

it before then. For years now I have worked with them on this. It seems to be

around 7 days, for belly down work. Certainly not before they feel ready, of

course. And before that the abhyanga has to be even more gentle than usual, and

avoid more than warm oiling of the belly, which is actually a very nice thing to

do - gently simply applying the herbalized massage oil, avoiding the bandage.

Sesame oil is actually mildly antiseptic on its own right but for a few days it

is wise to let the doctor's protocol take place.

 

As you know, moms are usually delighted to have some essential oil of lavender

or helichrysum dripped over the bandage or incision directly before that, since

these oils when proper quality, help reduce itches, scarring, and inflammation,

and speed up tissue healing. It seeps right through the bandage alsom and is

greatly appreciated. It is often appropriate to help the mother order some of

her own supply right away, as this on the site of the spinal medication, and

base of brainstem helps avert the horrible headache and pain experienced a few

days out after C's, and many mothers are concerned about the scar.

 

The other thing we have to take into consideration in general around care for

mothers in western culture is that many mothers, such as Andrea's recent client,

simply do not want to believe they have to be so careful in general with keeping

their activity minimal, favoring special foods, or in other ways prioritizing

for their deeper balance and rejuvenation. Especially first time moms, who are

young and vibrant before giving birth, and perhaps are yoga teachers or other

natural health followers, can go seemingly well for a while - first from the

burst of high cortisol the first days, then on willpower and stamina and some of

the forgiveness of youth and good lifestyle.

 

These moms too often discover over time there is more going on than they wanted

to believe in terms of the effects of ageing and unexpected symptoms,

complications, or just weaknesses - things just don't continue to work they way

they did before unless they really have a good support system around them and

from whatever cultural guidance are receiving enough " a rose by any name is

still a rose " wisewoman care.

 

I'm sure you see this too. Look forward to teaching with you this fall!

 

Ysha

[Guest guest]

Ysha, I have often heard of people putting Vit E on sores and incisions to help

with healing so It would seem that the essential oils could be put directly on

incisions rather than wasting it on the bandages which will soak up so much. Are

the oils too strong and should be diluted with something or are they ok

straight? And I think you are right about liability thinking/bandages/waiting

for many days. I wonder if the headaches can be from anesthesia. Spinal

medication might imbalance the spinal fluid volume which is so sensitive,

causing the headache. But this is all guessing on my part. and curiosity. Vicky

 

-

Ysha Oakes

ayurveda

Sunday, May 31, 2009 8:54 PM

PerinatalAyurveda forum when is it ok to lay on belly after c-birth?

 

 

 

 

 

This question is from Sonya Bastow (having tech difficulties getting on here

today):

 

I would like to verify when it is ok for a woman who has had a c-section to

lay on her tummy for the warm oil massage. Most of my clients let me know if

they are ok with it but want to get your recommendation.

 

Sonya, I do the same thing with my clients. Since my initial training I have

reason to believe was extra cautious (perhaps from fear of lawsuits). They said,

no abyhanga for 10 days after cbirth, and many clients are really wanting it

before then. For years now I have worked with them on this. It seems to be

around 7 days, for belly down work. Certainly not before they feel ready, of

course. And before that the abhyanga has to be even more gentle than usual, and

avoid more than warm oiling of the belly, which is actually a very nice thing to

do - gently simply applying the herbalized massage oil, avoiding the bandage.

Sesame oil is actually mildly antiseptic on its own right but for a few days it

is wise to let the doctor's protocol take place.

 

As you know, moms are usually delighted to have some essential oil of lavender

or helichrysum dripped over the bandage or incision directly before that, since

these oils when proper quality, help reduce itches, scarring, and inflammation,

and speed up tissue healing. It seeps right through the bandage alsom and is

greatly appreciated. It is often appropriate to help the mother order some of

her own supply right away, as this on the site of the spinal medication, and

base of brainstem helps avert the horrible headache and pain experienced a few

days out after C's, and many mothers are concerned about the scar.

 

The other thing we have to take into consideration in general around care for

mothers in western culture is that many mothers, such as Andrea's recent client,

simply do not want to believe they have to be so careful in general with keeping

their activity minimal, favoring special foods, or in other ways prioritizing

for their deeper balance and rejuvenation. Especially first time moms, who are

young and vibrant before giving birth, and perhaps are yoga teachers or other

natural health followers, can go seemingly well for a while - first from the

burst of high cortisol the first days, then on willpower and stamina and some of

the forgiveness of youth and good lifestyle.

 

These moms too often discover over time there is more going on than they

wanted to believe in terms of the effects of ageing and unexpected symptoms,

complications, or just weaknesses - things just don't continue to work they way

they did before unless they really have a good support system around them and

from whatever cultural guidance are receiving enough " a rose by any name is

still a rose " wisewoman care.

 

I'm sure you see this too. Look forward to teaching with you this fall!

 

Ysha

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Vicky -

 

Whenever there is dryness, oiliness tends to be very helpful. Vit E is very

thick and unctuous, which is why it is also so helpful on cracked nipples, in

addition to it's other virtues. The bandages these days I see are basically a

thin translucent tape they expect to come off on it's own after a week-10 days,

and the oils being lipid go thru these hmm, seems some kind of plastic, also

lipids really, quite easily; I do'nt feel there is a lot of waste. particularly

the first few days, I don't know the real timing, but the incision needs the

help of the bandage to hold it together from movement's pulls, you know? We

don't want to interfere with that, though I tend to think like you did for

personal choices. Anyway, even tho the oils gradually loosen the effectiveness

of this tape, it isn't immediate. SOme mothers choose to loosen the tape for

the eoils when they feel the incision is beginning to hold together well.

 

These particular oils do not need to be diluted, helichrysum and lavender are

very skin friendly. Please be sure they are organic or better (many things

claim certification and the standards aren't the greatest now being nationally

dictated, you know?) because otherwise they are likely to have concentratoin of

neg petrochemies. If there happens to be brief stinging anyway, it will be

because there was some infection beginning, and it is being reversed.

 

Any irritation with essential oils can be eliminated very quickly with slight

dilution (applicatoin) with a little vegetable oil - or vit E, though the

helichrysum doesn't sting by my experience, is so good for pain. Lavender just

more gently so and might on really raw wound briefly as it cleans. Because in

this case the free radical reducing and oxygen enhancing properties are so

valuable, I'd choose not to dilute with veg oil since the food/massage oils

create anaerobic environ (more infection risk) whereas nearly all essential oils

don't. (don't dilute with water, then it might sting).

 

So some essential oils certainly need dilution or with reg use it is

recommended, depends on the oil. Those ordering from Young Living receive a

nice color coded clear guide pamphlet on applications, which oils need dilution,

which can be safely taken internally/how, which can create photosensitivity etc

how to properly use. Very well done.

 

Yes, the headaches (and spinal insertion site) at that time are definitely

classic experiences after a C, and from some action over that time period in the

brain tissues it comes up. I don't know why, just to expect it. Hmmm, it seems

it comes up about the time the initial postpartum few day's cortisol rush might

be subsiding. I wonder if there could be some relationship?

 

During what time period do you see the headache/spinal pain usually come up for

these mothers? Maybe it is related to the volume of fluid/or both.

 

Ysha

 

> Ysha, I have often heard of people putting Vit E on sores and incisions to

help with healing so It would seem that the essential oils could be put directly

on incisions rather than wasting it on the bandages which will soak up so much.

Are the oils too strong and should be diluted with something or are they ok

straight? And I think you are right about liability thinking/bandages/waiting

for many days. I wonder if the headaches can be from anesthesia. Spinal

medication might imbalance the spinal fluid volume which is so sensitive,

causing the headache. But this is all guessing on my part. and curiosity. Vicky

[Guest guest]

thank you for such good info. You're a veritable walking encyclopedia, Ysha. I

believe it is paper tape, seems the oil would cause it to lose it's stickiness

and come off, thought maybe they make it stronger now since it is, as you say,

being used to hold the surgical site together. In fact the tape might keep it on

the site even longer. This is good info to know.

I have not noticed they often have headache after c-sections. But I remember

that spinal anesthesia, such as they had many years ago, would cause spinal

headaches if the mother stood too soon. I had a spinal with surgery myself once

and I had a spinal headache for 6 weeks. I was told it was something about the

loss of spinal fluid. Wish I could remember more.

You mention Vit E on cracked nipples. I have been of the belief that nothing is

as good for cracked nipples as keeping them clean and dry after nursing. The

breastmilk itself has antibodies in it that kill bacteria and the nipple is

bathed in breastmilk when the baby is nursing. So if she then lets it air dry

before closing her bra, while of course correcting the latch the nipples will

heal just as quickly without the vit E. Then you don't have more to rub off the

nipple and something for the baby to ingest.

Obviously Young Living is the best quality of essential oils. Are there any

other brands that I may find in my health food store that are acceptable?

So..I presume it is ok to lie on the belly when the mother doesn't feel pain

doing so? I know scar tissue is already very strong when she leaves the

hospital, especially as the wound heals from the inside out. The times that the

incision bursts open, may that be when the wound heals on the outside before the

inside and is therefore not as strong, maybe even a little infection was in

there weakening the area. Guessing again here. I shouldn't guess so much for a

public forum, eh?

Vicky York, CPD, IBCLC

Postpartum Care Services

Portland, OR

 

www.vickyyorkdoula.com

references: www.ikarma.com/user/vmyork