MĀLAMA da MAMA

MĀLAMA, Hawaiian To take care of, to serve, to attend, to support, to preserve, to protect, to honor

The Post Partum time is what is known in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as one of the “Three Golden Opportunities”. These opportunities appear in a woman’s life as the powerful transition periods of Menarche (when girls first begin their monthly bleed), Birth/Post Partum, and Peri-Menopause. During such intense transitions, TCM explains that we lose some of our personal life essence or Jing…and how much we lose all depends on how we care for ourselves during these times. However, within these shifts also lies the potential for radiant health as we age, an invitation to replenish and restore our Jing, to optimize our vitality for the rest of our lives. During the Post Partum time in particular, deep nourishment, rest and warmth are considered by many traditions to be some of the most effective ways to enhance a woman’s long term health. It is understood that how a mama is cared for in the first 40 days after giving birth affects the next 40 years of her life.