sacred postpartum care
rebecca cohen, M.D.
obstetrician, midwife, birthkeeper
postpartum care is about mothering the mother.
When you gave birth, you rebirthed yourself. Be as tender with yourself as you are with your newborn.
The 4th trimester is a time of profound physical and psychological change for a mother. Ancient postpartum traditions throughout the world all share deep common roots - honoring women’s physiologic design with an extended resting period, warmth, nourishing foods, healing bodywork, and a supportive community.
Yet in our modern Western society, the attention often turns entirely to the baby after birth. Women are expected to ‘bounce back’ and often suffer silently through exhaustion, overwhelm, and the fear that they are ‘damaged’ when things don’t feel right physically.
When the most sacred part of a woman’s body - her pelvic bowl - is neglected or shrouded in shame, women that experience challenges often have no one to turn to, and no idea what is normal or not.
I hope to give you a very different experience. Through mother-centered postpartum care, I’m here to support your body, mind and spirit through this pivotal time, so that you can begin your journey of mothering from your true center.
sacred postpartum sessions are tailored to your unique needs, and may include:
witnessing
Whether you need to process your birth experience, or the physical and emotional challenges of early motherhood, I am here to be your loving witness.
root care
Using Maya Abdominal Therapy® and Holistic Pelvic Care techniques, we’ll gently realign your uterus and pelvis, encouraging involution and helping your body heal from tears, prolapse, cesareans, and birth trauma.
herbal remedies
As a herbalist, I can handcraft nourishing herbal infusions, herbal remedies for after pains, sore nipples and other common postpartum concerns.
natural treatments
These include Vaginal Herbal Steams, which help clear the womb and heal sensitive tissues of the birth passage; and Moxibustion, which helps close the mother’s ‘Life Gate’ to preserve her qi (life energy).
education & self-care
I can support you with breastfeeding, and teach you self-care practices to heal your pelvic floor, abdominal separation, and vaginal tears. These might include sitz baths, v-steams, nutrition, movement, self-massage, mindfulness, etc.
sacred ritual
Rituals to sanctify the sacred right of passage into motherhood can be included such as closing of the bones, honoring the placenta, sacred mother blessings. and birth energy meditations.
postpartum care options
home visits
$395 | travel + 2h session | louisville
As early as 3 days after birth, I visit you in your home to protect the sanctity of your postpartum bond and recovery, while giving the nurturing care you deserve.
root care package
$420 | 2 x 1h sessions | over zoom or in-person
Root Care - the care of your vagina, uterus and pelvic bowl - is a foundational part of your healing and future health, particularly in the case of prolapse, incontinence, c-sections, or birth trauma.
single sessions
$240 | over zoom or in-person (louisville)
You are also welcome to book sessions as and when you need them. While in-person sessions allow for bodywork and hands-on treatments, online sessions can include talk therapy, postpartum education, and self-care tools such as v-steams, movement, self-massage, mindfulness, sacred rituals, etc.
Women’s stories
FAQ
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I offer Home Visits for those in Lousiville to protect the sanctity of your postpartum recovery.
In-office treatments can be resumed 2-6 weeks after birth. Online session can happen any time after birth.
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You can purchase and schedule all sessions and package offerings here.
To book in-home Postpartum Care, please contact me directly.
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The uterine ligaments stretch significantly during pregnancy and birth. Abdominal massage helps the uterus return to its optimal position in a timely manner and strengthen the ligaments. Techniques to minimize diastasis recti (the separation of abdominal muscles) are applied and taught to the mother as part of her self-care. Instruction in use of the faja (support wrap) as well as use of castor packs to heal the ligaments is given. Vaginal Steam Baths help nourish and heal uterine and vaginal tissues.
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Did you know that in France and other countries around the world, pelvic rehabilitation after pregnancy is considered a routine part of postnatal care? Read an amusing article about it written by an American woman who gave birth in France here. Postpartum pelvic floor care is an essential part of women’s healthcare which decreases pelvic floor difficulties including incontinence, pelvic pain and prolapse later in life.
As early as six weeks postpartum, I offer a treatment designed for new mothers to revitalize the root after the birth of your baby. This helps to resolve postpartum symptoms such as pelvic pain, discomfort, or muscle weakness and greatly assists overall healing. Women who have experienced trauma during childbirth find that restoring pelvic balance aids their recovery. Women who have experienced cesarean sections can benefit the nourishing practices of Holistic Pelvic Care, particularly following a prolonged labor process preceding the cesarian. This modality can also provide assistance with fascial release in the cesarean scar tissue and may help to energetically complete the birth process.
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If you feel that you are in need of these services and the prices are a barrier, please reach out to me directly. I am open to exploring creative ways of reciprocity.
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I do not contract with or bill insurance companies directly. I am not considered “in network” with any insurance companies. Upon request, a detailed receipt will be provided so that you may send it to your insurance company for reimbursement as they allow. I do not fill out forms or respond to requests from insurance companies, which may affect reimbursement.
GET YOUR eBOOK ON HOLISTIC POSTPARTUM ROOT CARE NOW.
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Pelvic Bowl Care: The importance of REST and honoring the sacred postpartum time, as well as an understanding of pelvic floor challenges and how to support them.
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I expand upon the concepts in this eBook in thorough detail in my new course with the Free Birth Society, Your Postpartum Pelvis. In our self-guided online course, you’ll learn about pelvic care, soft-tissue care, the energetics of postpartum, ancestral practices that have supported women for generations, and more. You can buy the course as of November 2023 at freebirthsociety.com !