Case in W. Australia cont, heavy blood loss

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On Fri, Mar 26, 2010 Julia wrote:

 

Thanks again, your help at this time is so reassuring.

 

We've started her on pro-biotics, a brand called babybiotic that makes a paste

to rub on my nipple. Goes down very easily that way. I'm on probiotics too.

 

I rarely take antibiotics but in the hospital they thought it might have been a

uterine infection that caused my bleed so kept us both on iv antibiotics until

the tests came back clear. My waters broke early and I resisted antibiotics and

induction but wasn't prepared to take the risk again after a bleed like that.

 

Yes dummies are pacifiers! I agree a finger is better and I hope this little

colicy stage passes so no need for a dummy.

 

She has put on a pound in her first week so I am reluctant to feed her more.

Particularly since I lost all my pregnancy wieght in just a few hours and need

to reserve some energy for myself. Everyone is especially surprised by her

wieght gain, given that I lost blood, had general aneasthetic and didn't have

the opportunity to establish breastfeeding straightaway. I attribute her wieght

gain to all the ghee, milk and jaggary I'm being fed. And lots of cuddles since

I love with my parents and sister!

 

The community nurse visited and said I'm looking surprisingly well so that's

good. But subtly I still feel too light and I tire so easily. Just starting to

go on short outings with Harriet now, but I get a sore tummy if I hold her for

too long

 

She's sleeping well between feeds at night which is a godsend. And I don't know

how anyone does this without other people around to help.

 

Love and thanks,

 

Julia

 

Dear Julia -

 

Yes, we all have to go with the hospital protocols even if it wasn't necessary,

just to be sure. I would have done the same thing with so much trauma and

bleeding. This is all very good news of course except that you are going on

outings now. I'd stay in a few weeks best you can, and if you crave sunshine and

fresh air, in a quiet, beautiful place only for the joy of it and to soak up

some of those wonderful rays. But with what you have been through, it isn't

wise to go out much at all yet in my opinion.

 

The abhyanga is much better for you and your circulation now than little walks,

which is the best the medical community probably can suggest without such common

sense in our or their traditions *-) I'm glad even from a distance this all can

be so much help - amazing, isn't i? Yes, and the community around you is SO

important. The incidence of mental health and physical health problems is so

high so much because so many do not have enough support, as you can more clearly

see now Im sure! Lots of compassion for those women and babies.

 

I'm pretty sure the upset tummy is from the probiotics, but it might be from

some food thing also. Do you want to share with me what your meals are like?

What you eat, how freshly prepared it is, temp, what is combined with what, is

the hot milk boiled or just warmed, are you eating fruits with other things, or

any salad or heavy stuff? I know you have the guidelines and are pretty

familiar with it, but it helps to be reminded sometimes.

 

Also, I would have you on an herbal combination now which includes 2 part

ashwagandha, 1 each shatavari, bala and jatamamsi, and 1/8 each pippali and

cardamom adding 1/2 tsp twice or thrice daily to hot milk, almond milk or if

need be, water. Steep or simmer, and sweeten as desired and I would be using it

for at least 3 weeks, checking in about any experiences with it and to update

special herbal support before you run out. You sound very clear, how are your

moods?, elimination? It will be natural to be teary with so much depletion and

these will provide strength, groundedness, hormonal and mental calm and

serotonin also.

 

Thank you for the opportunity to share your " case " also - made easy by the

necessity to speak and write it when we can with the time differences!

 

Much love,

Ysha

 

On Mon, Mar 29, 2010 julia wrote:

Not many outings, and not far from home. The weather is very favourable, hot and

humid, so we walked five minutes to the river at the top of my street and saw

dolphins. There's also a park outisde the back gate of my house and we sit there

and watch sunset sometimes. I did feel really tired afterwards so I'm staying in

again now! My family are still supporting me by doing all the shopping and

errands.

 

Probiotics have helped Harriet instantly. I found a brand called babybiotics and

you can see the difference in her mood when she's due for a dose.

 

I have been sticking to the diet fairly well. Adding ghee and garlic chutney to

every meal. Lots of spiced boiled milk (we have an excellent suply of local

organic unhomogonized milk) jaggary, blanched almonds, soupy stewy foods and

mashed root vegetables. A few times I have strayed from the diet, but not often.

My appetite is still low though so I would like to work on that.

 

Unfortunately I don't have access to all the herbs you advised. I have

shatavari, bala and cardamom, is it worth taking these without the others or do

I need to take the full combination for it to have full effect?

 

My elimination is surprisingly good, especially given that I am taking iron

suplements. I am thinking about starting some basti, would you advise this?

 

My mood is good. Variable and a bit weepy, but nothing beyond the usual baby

blues. I look forward to many things and take great pleasure in spending time

with Harriet, but I still need to have a little cry every now and then.

 

Thanks again,

 

Julia

 

Dear Julia -

 

This is all such good news, very good. Except the appetite level. Here's a

line of questioning to help find best way to support it - since you are eating

ample garlic chutney, it seems something else needs attending.

 

1. Do you start your day with a tall glass of warm or hot water, then the

dashmool decoction?

2. are you drinking lots of something like the very weak fennel-fenugreek tea,

or are you mostly drinking room temp water? I would try maybe just warm liquids

for a day.

3. what does your breakfast look like? I wouldn't use the garlic chutney with

this if taking milk too.

4. Double checking on food combining issues - are you familiar from Ayurvedic

perspective?

5. We can consider also to lighten the ghee (just less) for a day or so and see

how your appetite responds.

6. Does macadamia nut oil appeal, or olive? - something lighter than ghee maybe.

7. How about more sweet fresh fruits, or soaked dried ones? I'm sure you are

using some.

8. Perhaps the milk should just be 2 cups a day or some such for a bit.

9. Root veggies - do you avoid yams and rice in same meal?

10. pay attention to anything which makes you feel heavy or dull as opposed to

just grounded and nourished.

11. Perhaps as we attend to agni, the root veggies will do better as a soup

rather than mashed?

 

Explore how you feel about any of these changes and try one or few, to give your

body a chance to come up to speed with all the important rejuvenative foods we

want to see you eating. It's a way of thinking, not that you necessarily have

to go there.

 

As long as your lochia is phase 3 (see consulting chapter notes) ie almost gone,

and your agni up a little more, the small oil bastis should be good for you.

 

Yea on the results for Harriet! Thanks for mentioning the brand.

 

Yes on time in the sun, when you feel to, and the blessings of the dolphins,

beautiful! It is no surprise that even that short outing made you feel weak

though - some more traditional practice of postpartum kayakalpa doesn't go out

for 4-6 weeks, and that is without the trauma you went through. The sunshine

probably felt heavenly though - so nourishing.

 

When your agni is stronger it will be good to use the shatavari with a hint of

cardamom. Shatavari is a rich nutritive root which takes more work to digest,

hence the use of some digestive in this case cardamom. The proportions in the

larger formula would change when choosing only 2 or 3 herbs; " large " amounts of

cardamom can aggravate pitta.

 

You might very gently saute the shatavari in ghee to just a shade darker and add

a little boiled jaggery syrup and hint of cardamom to make a shatavari kalpa,

easy to use a tsp or more at a time; nice in hot milk. It should help stabilize

the hormonals as well as supporting lactation and reproductive system

rejuvenation, so should help stabilize the moodiness too.

 

I don't believe you need the bala with it now unless feeling still shakey and

really weak, kind of nervous system shakey. It is a good vata rasayana and

there is unfortunately I feel, guidance from a large international herbal

advisory organization to avoid its use internally as one bioconstituent when

used isolated, creates some problem. It has been safely used for thousands of

years, but I have to responsibly tell you this.

 

You chose a good client to gain a lot of practicum experience, eh? When you get

a chance, use the attached (not sure I had it when you started studying) to

check off the requirements you are getting exposure to, ok? No strain, and it

might be easy to keep it nearby along with some daily results sheets to help log

things in a timely way.

 

Thank you for your good reporting and organizing to take such good care of

yourself! It is an inspiration for everyone.

 

Many blessings -

Ysha

 

PS – I'd like to suggest you do the simple alternate nostril pranayama for 5-10

minutes once or twice a day. You can do it if needed while Harriet is falling

asleep in your lap. This may gently help the agni also.