When I think about womb wellness and the intricate dance of hormones that govern our bodies it like drinking from unending cup—one that pours life, strength, and vitality into the very core of who I am and what my work life’s purpose is.
The womb is a garden; the sun and rain- both crucial elements to help us bloom.
When I first felt the call to birthwork but stepped with baby-like unsteady feet, my Abuela steadied me with this: she spoke of the womb as a garden— a place of creation and nurturing, much like her own kitchen where she would whip up meals that nourished not just our bodies, but our souls.
In this garden, the health of the uterus and our digestive systems are like the sun and rain—both crucial elements that, when in harmony, help us bloom, lighting us up with energy and balanced well-being. Abuela always knew the value of warming teas and gentle, rhythmic massages to soothe the belly and nurture the womb, especially after the miracle of childbirth. Her hands, moving with the wisdom of generations before her, would trace circles of comfort and healing, each touch a whisper of love and care.
Postpartum recovery, she’d tell me, is like mending a quilt after a storm. It requires patience, tenderness, and a deep respect for the body's natural rhythms. Hormone regulation, in this context, feels like the delicate balance of spices in our family’s cherished recipes—each one essential to the whole, creating a symphony of flavours that sing to the senses.
In moments of reflection, I realize how deeply these practices are woven into my life. They are like lanterns guiding me through the ever-changing paths of womanhood, reminding me that in caring for my womb, I am honouring the sacred vessel of life and love that it is.
As I get older I find myself often returning to these familial traditions, these practices that root me in a lineage of wisdom. Womb massages, with their gentle, intentional pressure, are healing rituals that connect me to the women of my family, each one a thread in the Rebozo tapestry of my life. It's about nurturing the self with the same love and attention we give to others, ensuring our cup never runs dry.
When we face injury we often turn immediately to cold therapies as the source of healing. We know that cold therapies decrease swelling, give moderate forms of pain relief and lower the risk of infection. Here’s some benefits the internets provided:
Boosted immune system
Cold therapy can help boost the immune system and lower the risk of infection.
Weight loss
Cold therapy can help burn extra calories by prompting the body to make brown fat instead of white fat
Improved mental health
Cold therapy can help build mental resilience and discipline by teaching the body and mind to remain calm in extreme situations.
Cold therapy works by constricting blood vessels, which reduces blood flow to the affected area.
While cold therapies have their benefits and their place in healing this is also a very western world reactive medicine approach, responding to symptoms. Heat-based therapies often increase swelling, may even increase pain responses but don’t let that scare you! Here’s what the internets said:
Pain relief: Heat therapy can relieve muscle aches and pains, and joint pain from arthritis and other chronic conditions.
Improved circulation: Heat increases blood flow, which can help deliver more nutrients and oxygen to injured tissues. This can help promote healing and tissue relaxation.
Improved muscle elasticity: Heat can increase muscle elasticity, which can help with stretching and exercise.
Reduced stress: Heat therapy can have relaxing effects that can contribute to reduced stress levels and improved mental well-being.
Improved sleep: Heat therapy can encourage better and deeper sleep.
Improved digestion: Heat therapy can encourage improved nutrient absorption and digestion.
Improved skin: Heat therapy can cleanse, tone, and tighten the skin, giving it elasticity and firmness.
Boosted immunity: Heat therapy can stimulate the immune system.
When we heat the injured area we’re telling the body to focus on it. Swelling is not necessarily bad- swelling is our body’s natural defence shield. It cushions to help prevent further injury.
Cold therapy responses are often like procrastinating on a project- you wait it out, time runs short, you get it done but you miss out on some enhancing details. When we put this into context of the womb and it’s postpartum recovery this can look like continual pelvic floor issues, Diastasis Recti, urinary incontinence, lower back pain and painful intercourse, decreased baby-bonding and milk production issues.
When we energetically and physically bring warmth back to the mother this translates to loving the mother and this is why “Cerrada Postparto,” a postpartum closing, is often also called a Mothering Ceremony. It marks the end of a powerful cycle in our lives. The intention is to bring back warmth into the new mother’s body and primarily the womb. When a baby is in gestation we literally call the womb an oven, the baby is birthed and is like a hot freshly baked bread. And then the hormones change and the heat leaves. But when we intentionally return the heat to the vessel we increase the blood flow back to the area putting the body’s attention to healing it.
Traditionally, mothers are told not to walk on the cold floor bare foot, to cover their heads and keep their chest and backs covered. Only drinks and food that are warm in nature are allowed to be consumed during this time.
This service is not just for new mamas, it’s for anyone who is still healing from traumatic births, regardless of when they took place. Even if your journey into motherhood was a bit rocky, or happened a while back, this service is here for you too. It is particularly advantageous for any woman who has experienced significant opening in her womb area, known as “Frio en el vientre.” This condition can arise due to cesarean sections, sexual assault, miscarriages, childbirth, surgical procedures and more. We got you chica! This journey is all about you. It's about restoring your strength, healing your womb-centre, restoring your life, bonding with your little one, and ensuring that you're producing leche in abundance. Not to mention, it could help keep any womb-related troubles away. It's like a warm abrazo for any woman who's felt a big opening in her womb space.
To learn more about Womb Wellness and a "how to" massage your womb and create a sacred routine around your Ebb + Flow, join our Sister Circle for an interactive lesson and workshop!
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