How we sat the first forty days - Our postpartum experiences with Traditional Chinese Medicine

After a year hiatus, Elizabeth and Georgia have welcomed the arrival of their daughters and whilst undergoing the process of Matrescence both hosts had a break from the studio. Your hosts are now back on the microphones to discuss what they have learnt over the past 12 months.In this episode your hosts share insight into the reality of their own Postpartum experiences, the intentions they had as TCM Practitioners heading into the Fourth Trimester and Postpartum. They discuss the meaning of ‘sitting the month’ and its importance from a TCM perspective and delve into the expectations they had on themselves with their knowledge as TCM Practitioners.They discuss what worked well for them, and what didn’t by giving recommendations on practical ways to prepare for the first forty days and Postpartum by providing insight into TCM principles and how to integrate these into a Western setting for Postpartum so that listeners can practice these confidently at home. If you enjoyed this episode and are able to, we would absolutely appreciate a donation to support HeartKids. HeartKids helps little hearts in need and supports all people impacted by childhood heart disease. If you are able to, please Donate HEREThis episode is proudly sponsored by HQ Health. HQ Health has generously provided a 10% discount for our listeners. Use Discount Code ICM10 HERE Mental Health Support: PANDA National Helpline number: 1300 726 306COPEResources discussed in this episode:Why you should reconsider Placenta EncapsulationPostpartum Chinese Herbal Medicine and Chicken SoupThe Dinner Ladies delivered mealsSpectra S1+ Hospital Grade Breast PumpSilverettesDisposable Postpartum Underwear Period Porridge recipePeri BottleWhat is the process of Matresence?Follow us on Instagram @integratingchinesemedicineIf you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe and share a review to ensure we continue to bring you the most relevant and evidence based information and education in an integrative healthcare setting. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For our first episode for 2023, Georgia and Elizabeth share their insight into what actually is the Fourth Trimester from a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective. Also known as Zuo Yue Zi, the Fourth Trimester is the first forty days post giving birth. Your hosts delve into what this confinement period looks like culturally in China and in other traditions around the world and how this practice can be implemented into your postpartum period realistically in the Western world.After discussing the five insights to consider implementing into the first forty days, Elizabeth and Georgia discuss how Acupuncture, Mother Warming treatment and Chinese Dietary Therapy are key elements of support in the fourth trimester. They discuss Placenta Encapsulation and why to reconsider this practice, building your support network before Baby arrives as well as setting expectations of how you would like the first forty days to be post birth.Your hosts then dive into how an integrative model of care in the fourth trimester benefits the new mother in addition to where to seek support for your mental health. Resources discussed in this episode - The Golden Month by Jenny Allison https://www.chinabooks.com.au/search.cfm?UR=43703&search_stage=details&records_to_display=50&this_book_number=19The First Forty Days by Heng Ou https://motherbees.com/pages/book-the-first-forty-daysThe Dao Does journal post - TCM Postpartum Brothhttps://thedaohealth.com.au/the-dao-does-postpartum-tcm-broth/The Dao Does journal post - Placenta Encapsulationhttps://thedaohealth.com.au/why-you-should-reconsider-placenta-encapsulation/Pig Trotter Soup recipe for milk supplyhttps://whitepineinstitute.org/chinese-herbs-for-lactation/PANDA Postnatal support https://panda.org.au/Follow us on Instagram @integratingchinesemedicine If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe and share a review to ensure we continue to bring you the most relevant and evidence based information and education in an integrative healthcare setting. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

During this conversation, Dr Peric discusses PCOS diagnosis and Fertility. She explains the criteria for accurately diagnosing PCOS, how it can be misdiagnosed as well as emphasising the importance of regular cycles not only for menstrual health and fertility but also general health. From there, Dr Peric talks about her research into MTHFR gene mutation and her findings associated with miscarriage. She also delves into the diagnosis of recurrent miscarriage, and tests that she recommends to her patients who have experienced recurrent miscarriage. To finish off, Dr Peric gives advice to women and couples on their fertility journey.Dr Helen Peric is a reproductive specialist and gynaecologist from City Fertility. Dr Peric completed her medicine degree at Sydney University, and later undertook specialist training in obstetrics and gynaecology at Westmead Hospital as well as Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney. This led her to an interest in infertility and reproductive medicine and sub-specialty training at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Genea.For more information head to The Dao Health. Follow us on Instagram @integratingchinesemedicine & @thedao.If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe and share a review to ensure we continue to bring you the most relevant and evidence based information and education in an integrative healthcare setting. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

During this interview, Elizabeth and Georgia delve into all facets of pregnancy and birth with Midwife Em. They begin the conversation from the first moment a woman and her partner find out she is pregnant, and the next steps that ensue as she begins her pregnancy journey. Em discusses care provider options for pregnancy, she explains tests and scans that are offered throughout each trimester, as well as empowering the conversation about what tests and scans are optional and required. During this conversation Em talks about ‘colostrum expressing’ and the reasons why a woman shouldn’t be worried if she isn’t able to collect any, she explores ideas around preparation for labour and informs us about labour induction options. Midwife Em is an advocate for the postpartum period, and emphasises the importance of ensuring a new mother supports not only her new baby's health but also her own physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.Midwife Em is a registered midwife and has worked across multiple different hospitals, including two major tertiary level hospitals, predominantly in a postnatal setting caring for women and families. She is the host of her own podcast, “Welcome to the Womb”, which is an educational platform for women and families wanting to know more about pregnancy, birth, babies and the postpartum.For more information head to The Dao Health. Follow us on Instagram @integratingchinesemedicine & @thedao.If you want to hear more from Em head to:Instagram @midwife_em and @welcometo.thewombIf you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe and share a review to ensure we continue to bring you the most relevant and evidence based information and education in an integrative healthcare setting. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

During this interview, Elizabeth and Georgia discuss with Mike current research and clinical trials being completed in the Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture realm. Mike explains why Acupuncture dosage is important for therapeutic benefits especially for Endometriosis and pain conditions, he discusses his current research and clinical trial into Chinese Herbal Medicines for Endometriosis pain management as well as delving into emerging research into the benefits of CBD oil for symptom management of Endometriosis. He also explains and compares the different mechanisms of both CBD and THC and explains why the research into both of these counterparts are important and beneficial for pain management.Mike unpacks promising research into the benefits of Acupuncture and discusses what he hopes to see for the future of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture in Australia.Dr Mike Armour is currently a senior research fellow in reproductive health at NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University. Dr Mike Armour's passion is in Women's Health and he has extensive experience in research specifically pain conditions including Endometriosis and Dysmennorrhea. Dr Mike is heavily involved in research and treatment of Endometriosis and he was the invited complementary medicine expert on the Endometriosis expert working group (EEWG) for the Royal Australia and New Zealand College of Gynaecologists ( RANZCOG ).For more information head to The Dao Health. Follow us on Instagram @integratingchinesemedicine & @thedao.If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe and share a review to ensure we continue to bring you the most relevant and evidence based information and education in an integrative healthcare setting. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elizabeth and Georgia chat with Jo and Tamara, who share the best time to have a pelvic floor check up when family planning and when in pregnancy when the pelvic floor should be checked. Following pregnancy, we unpack when the pelvic floor should be assessed, is this only for vaginal births and why it is important to have clearance before returning to exercise. Tamara and Jo share what the Born Ready course is, why they created the course and what purpose it has to prepare women and their birth partner's for labour. We discussing positioning in the labour, the link between fear and pain and why patients possibly have improved birth outcomes when feeling empowered through education. Elizabeth and Georgia learn from Jo Murdoch and Tamara Woods, Pelvic Health and Musculoskeletal physiotherapists, Directors of The Physiotherapy Clinic & founders of Born Ready - A birth course focusing on empowering women with in depth knowledge about birth and how to prepare their bodies for birth. In this episode the Pelvic Health Physiotherapists explain the connection of Women's Health and Pelvic Floor health and what a patient can expect from their first Women's Health internal physiotherapy appointment.For more information head to The Dao Health. Follow us on Instagram @integratingchinesemedicine & @thedao.If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe and share a review to ensure we continue to bring you the most relevant and evidence based information and education in an integrative healthcare setting. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We had the absolute pleasure to have Dr Devora Lieberman as a guest on the podcast unpacking Fertility, IVF, IVM and where to next. Dr Lieberman unpacks the terms IUI ( Intrauterine insemination ), IVF and ICSI ( Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection ) and we discuss what IVM ( In vitro maturation ) is, how it differs to IVF and where it has a place in fertility treatment. Georgia and Elizabeth learn about the research into IVM and who the perfect candidate is to have this alternative from IVF. From there Dr Devora discusses how an individual's fertility journey is their own as well as a patient being an advocate for themselves whilst undergoing treatment. We discuss live birth outcomes from Frozen and Fresh embryos and delve into the topic of IVF Add On's, what they are and when are they necessary. We finish with why a patient centred model of care is beneficial and why it is important that patients openly communicate with their fertility specialist about other treatment they are receiving. Dr Devora Lieberman is the City Fertility's Medical Director, Fertility and Miscarriage specialist. Dr Devora gives us an insight into a day in the life of a Fertility and Reproductive specialist and when an individual or couple should seek out a reproductive specialist. We discuss if IVF ( In vitro fertilisation ) is the only option and three important questions an individual or couple should ask a fertility specialist when considering reproductive treatment.We thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful discussion and took a lot away from it, we hope you do too.For more information head to The Dao Health. Follow us on Instagram @integratingchinesemedicine & @thedao.If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe and share a review to ensure we continue to bring you the most relevant and evidence based information and education in an integrative healthcare setting. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Georgia and Elizabeth have the absolute pleasure to interview Dr Amani Harris. In this episode we discuss how Endometriosis effects Fertility and Pregnancy as well as the process of finding out you have Endometriosis and what a diagnosis and treatment can look like. From there, Dr Amani Harris unpacks our burning questions about types of Laparoscopies and post Laparoscopy management including types of Contraception and an emphasis on lifestyle advice than can be made to improve quality of life. The hosts then delve into the symptoms, management and treatment of Endometriosis' evil sister Adenomysosis and how they differ and relate.Dr Amani Harris is an advanced laparoscopic and robotic gynaecological surgeon, obstetrician and fertility specialist based in Sydney, Australia.We hope you enjoy this episode and continue raising awareness for our communities' Endo warriors by continuing the conversation about these two debilitating conditions being a whole body condition rather than a Women's Health issue. For more information head to The Dao Health. Follow us on Instagram @integratingchinesemedicine & @thedao.If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe and share a review to ensure we continue to bring you the most relevant and evidence based information and education in an integrative healthcare setting. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elizabeth and Georgia chat with Yoga and breathwork teacher, Kate Kendall. During this episode, Kate discusses the benefits of breathwork and ways to begin to incorporate this style of practice into our daily lives, she delves into the meaning of Kriya and how this ancient practice amongst others helps support our Parasympathetic Nervous System state, our digestion, our energy as well as our overall wellbeing. Kate explains some simple strategies into beginning breathwork practice and we finish off with Kate giving us her three top tips on ways to manage and reduce stress.​Kate is the co-founder and director of Yoga at Flow Athletic, Paddington. She is passionate about the benefits of breathwork and is a wealth of knowledge in the practice and teaching of this ancient art form.For more information head to The Dao Health. Follow us on Instagram @integratingchinesemedicine & @thedao.If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe and share a review to ensure we continue to bring you the most relevant and evidence based information and education in an integrative healthcare setting. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

*We apologise for the audio quality of this episode*We have the pleasure to interview our Paddington neighbour from Apotheca by Anthia. In this episode, we delve into the importance of our gut health and the role it plays for our hormones, fertility and our overall wellbeing. The role of the Vagus nerve is discussed and how it is connected to our mental and emotional health. From there, we discuss the benefits Anthia sees for her patients when working alongside a Chinese Medicine Practitioner and Acupuncturist. We jump into detoxing and Anthia's perspective on what realistic and seasonal detoxing can look like to support the body. The relationship with eating seasonally is discussed and how we can implement this into our lives. We unpack the impact social media has on diets and styles of eating and challenge the misinformation provided. From there we ask Anthia about her three top tips to reduce toxic build up and live a more holistic lifestyle. Anthia has been in clinical practice for 27 years, during this time she has created her own brand of certified organic teas, tisanes, herbs & elixirs which now goes by the name Apotheca by Anthia, she has released the book ‘I Am Food’ and is an ongoing advocate for a natural, whole food, natural medicine and toxic chemical-free lifestyle.For more information head to The Dao Health. Follow us on Instagram @integratingchinesemedicine & @thedao.If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe and share a review to ensure we continue to bring you the most relevant and evidence based information and education in an integrative healthcare setting. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.