S2: Ep2 Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine in Pregnancy and Postpartum with Lena Fong

In this episode, Suzanne speaks with Lena Fong, a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner who uses acupuncture, herbs, moxibustion and cupping to heal to maintain vitality and wellbeing. Lena is a highly learned and experienced practitioner and explains the TCM approach to health.

Lena is also a  yoga teacher and a doula, and is passionate about working with pregnant and postpartum women to maintain health and wellbeing. 

Listen to this episode to find out:

• the TCM approach to fertility
• the TCM approach to reproductive health
• how TCM approaches health in an individualised way
• how TCM uses holistic means in convalescing from an illness or surgery
• what cupping is and how it works
• the intricacy of TCM - pulse taking as a diagnostic skill so different than the Western approach
• different pregnancy conditions that TCM is useful for, including hyperemesis and SPD (symphysis pubis dysfunction)
• how moxibustion works for breech presentation - or any fetal positioning you'd like to encourage to move
• acupuncture for a postdates pregnancy to help stimulate spontaneous labour
• acupuncture with mastitis
• the TCM approach to postpartum care - the mother's 40 days and how to care for her
• the difference between acupuncture delivered from a TCM approach and acupuncture from a Western approach

Further Reading

The Spark in the Machine by Dr Daniel Keown

Lena can be found at www.lenafong.com

Suzanne's website - podcast, blog, booking and resources:
www.motherheal.com

Suzanne is mother.heal on Instagram

Suzanne is at Suzanne.mother.heal on Facebook

music by Shooglenifty with Dhun Dhora
https://www.shooglenifty.com/

The Mother Podcast is produced by Garry Finlayson and Suzanne Maier