The Postpartum Wellness Show Dr. Kristal Lau

Storytime episode with Dr Kristal Lau where she shares her brush with grief for her "old self" during her Matrescence and motherhood journey.


EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
Why I felt grief despite having a healthy pregnancy and smooth birth experienceStages of GriefHow to hold space for a mom if she's experiencing this type of grief
QUOTES

"I'm gonna talk about grief that's not related to a physical loss. In fact, it's grief related to feeling like you losing your old self before you became a mom or dad." 

"It's not just made up and you're not feeling selfish or dumb for having the sense of loss for your old self or your old life."

"When I first started feeling this intense sensation of loss. I didn't know what to do with it because I had a healthy pregnancy. I didn't understand why I was feeling this way because I really felt it not just a deep, heavy feeling in my chest, but this pit in my stomach, like something is gone forever and that I was never gonna get it back. "

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Please seek help from your family and friends, your health provider, or your counselor and therapist, if you need to talk to someone. Even your religious or spiritual advisor or community member if you're more comfortable with them.

Read the blog & transcript: https://www.mamaswingwoman.com/ep14

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I offer postpartum coaching to help new moms and their families adjust to the big changes when a new baby arrives. This takes time and someone to really care about the unique-ness of what you and your family need and want.

Book a free 30-minute Discovery Call with me to see if we jive and how you can reach your postpartum goals with me! [https://calendly.com/drkristallau/ppconnect]
CONNECT WITH KRISTAL
Get Your FREE RESOURCE: 3 Essential Postpartum Changes That No One Really Talks About And What To Do About Them And Grab Your Free Confinement Planner Here! Book Your Free 30-Minute Discovery Call to start your Confinement & Postpartum Planning, and Postpartum Wellness journey Buy My Book 'Postpartum 30: Thirty Days To A Nurtured Fourth Trimester' Instagram @mamaswingwoman TikTok @drkristallau LinkedIn @klyql

Learn why many Chinese and East Asian parents want a baby born under this zodiac sign and how this cultural belief leads to a baby boom that affects mothers, families, population census, services, and businesses.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
Why the Year of the Dragon is a BIG DEALA Brief Introduction to the Significance of this Chinese Zodiac SignEffects of this cultural belief on individuals up to population levelQUOTES

"The dragon is the most revered and majestic animal and Chinese mythology and culture. It symbolizes power, nobility, honor, luck, and success." 
"...roughly 25% more babies were born among the Chinese populations of Singapore and Malaysia during the 1988 year of the Dragon compared with the previous year. In response, Singapore, three quarters of which is ethnically Chinese, opened nine new primary schools."

Want to DIY your confinement month? Buy my book 'Postpartum 30' to learn how! https://www.mamaswingwoman.com/postpartumbook

Read the blog: https://www.mamaswingwoman.com/ep13

ARTICLE LINKS
China Highlights: https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/chinese-zodiac/dragon.htmNational Post: https://nationalpost.com/news/world/many-chinese-believe-dragon-babies-destined-for-greatness-but-baby-booms-have-unintended-consequencesBBC World Asia: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-16589052Al-Jazeera: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2012/1/23/year-of-the-dragon-roars-into-asiaMedium Master Steven Chen: https://medium.com/@thechinesezodiac/is-2024-a-good-year-to-have-a-baby-befd6abbca65Courtly: https://www.courtly.com/resources/couples-rush-to-have-baby-dragons-chinese-zodiacThe Star: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/11/01/getting-wed-to-get-little-dragonsMothership: https://mothership.sg/2023/11/luxurious-confineCONNECT WITH KRISTAL
Get Your FREE RESOURCE: 3 Essential Postpartum Changes That No One Really Talks About And What To Do About Them And Grab Your Free Confinement Planner Here! Book Your Free 30-Minute Discovery Call to start your Confinement & Postpartum Planning, and Postpartum Wellness journey Buy My Book 'Postpartum 30: Thirty Days To A Nurtured Fourth Trimester' Instagram @mamaswingwoman TikTok @drkristallau LinkedIn @klyql

Christmas has just passed but the end year festivities continue! Here's some quick tips of joining in on the fun even while you're doing your confinement this holiday season.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
Quick tips on how to head out for the festivities during your confinement month.

QUOTES

"If you really wanna go out and enjoy and you're still in your confinement month, please do. I know it goes against the rule of leaving home because you know it's gonna be cold and everything, but we are in 2023. This is the modern times..."

"Most importantly, during this time when you wanna head out during your confinement month, is dress really, really warm. Even for those of you living in the southern hemisphere..."

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Postpartum 30 Book Owners! Please Email Dr. Kristal Lau HERE to get access to her private FB group!
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READ THE  BLOG POST HERE
CONNECT WITH KRISTAL
Get Your FREE RESOURCE: 3 Essential Postpartum Changes That No One Really Talks About And What To Do About Them And Grab Your Free Confinement Planner Here! Book Your Free 30-Minute Discovery Call to start your Confinement & Postpartum Planning, and Postpartum Wellness journey Buy My Book 'Postpartum 30: Thirty Days To A Nurtured Fourth Trimester' Instagram @mamaswingwoman TikTok @drkristallau LinkedIn @klyql

There are 2 major celebrations for the baby after completing the confinement month; the full moon and 100th day. And Dr. Kristal Lau brings a modern twist to these baby-centered celebrations by reinstating you, the mother, back in the spotlight during this time.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
What is the full moon and 100th-day celebration?Why it's important to celebrate the mother as much as the baby.Ideas for throwing a full moon and 100th-day celebration.
QUOTES

"The 100th day is huge for many East Asian families; hotel ballrooms can get booked out. "

"This full moon period also marks the end of the new mom's confinement month, and she's now able to bathe, wash her hair, and be presented together with the baby to the family."

"I feel really strongly that by doing things this way, by bringing the woman and the mother back into the picture, it's going to help our next generation of women and mothers to feel really appreciated and to look forward to this."

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Email Dr. Kristal Lau with your questions!
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Get your FREE CONFINEMENT PLANNER HERE
.
BUY POSTPARTUM 30 BOOK HERE
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Need more help with your confinement planning? Book Your Free 30-Minute Discovery Call to start your Confinement & Postpartum Planning
.
READ THE  BLOG POST HERE
.

Resources mentioned in the episode:
The Book of Rites: worldhistorycommons.org/book-rites-birth-childCONNECT WITH KRISTAL
Get Your FREE RESOURCE: 3 Essential Postpartum Changes That No One Really Talks About And What To Do About Them And Grab Your Free Confinement Planner Here! Book Your Free 30-Minute Discovery Call to start your Confinement & Postpartum Planning, and Postpartum Wellness journey Buy My Book 'Postpartum 30: Thirty Days To A Nurtured Fourth Trimester' Instagram @mamaswingwoman TikTok @drkristallau LinkedIn @klyql

The Chinese confinement practice is essentially a postpartum recovery program steeped in tradition and traditional Chinese medicine principles. Learn why you should create and personalise your confinement plan and how to do it with my Postpartum 30 method.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
Why you should create and personalise your confinementConfinement planning as a family affairHow to create your confinement using my Postpartum 30 Method
QUOTES

"...what I wish for you to take away from today's episode is to have a rough idea on how to approach your confinement month as though it is a recovery program."

"...personalizing your confinement month helps you retain a lot of your family's traditions and beliefs as well. It also really allows you and your spouse, husband, or partner to come up with a 30-day plan that makes sense to what you need in your modern life. "

"I think it's wise to have a look at your finances. Can you afford to do a full 30 days traditionally? Because... you have to get all your herbs, you have to cook. If you want to follow specific Chinese diet, the confinement diet. Are you able to cook those meals fresh? "

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Get your FREE CONFINEMENT PLANNER HERE
.
BUY POSTPARTUM 30 HERE
.
Need more help with your confinement planning? Book Your Free 30-Minute Discovery Call to start your Confinement & Postpartum Planning
.
READ THE TRANSCRIPT AND BLOG POST HERE
.

Resources mentioned in the episode:
Ng Siong Mui's book: The Chinese Pregnancy and Confinement CookbookEu Yan SangGary Chapman's 5 Love LanguagesCONNECT WITH KRISTAL
Get Your FREE RESOURCE: 3 Essential Postpartum Changes That No One Really Talks About And What To Do About Them And Grab Your Free Confinement Planner Here! Book Your Free 30-Minute Discovery Call to start your Confinement & Postpartum Planning, and Postpartum Wellness journey Buy My Book 'Postpartum 30: Thirty Days To A Nurtured Fourth Trimester' Instagram @mamaswingwoman TikTok @drkristallau LinkedIn @klyql

Learn about the challenges and benefits of following a traditional confinement practice in our modern time after you've given birth. And why this paves the way for a modernised confinement practice; an approach I take in my book 'Postpartum 30' to respectfully adapt a traditional and cultural practice to fit the needs of modern mothers and families!

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
3 Challenges of following a Traditional Confinement Practice.3 Benefits of following a Traditional Confinement Practice.Why it's important to make space for a Modern Confinement Practice.
QUOTES

"Modern women everywhere these days also have to think about how much maternity leave they and their partner or spouse can get. Is it financially feasible to carry out a very traditional confinement month? Can modern moms and modern women get the physical support to do it, especially for those of you like me who have migrated overseas?"

"...a lot of confinement centers did not allow fathers to stay overnight or really participate, which we now know that paternal participation in the postpartum period does make a difference, both in their own postpartum journey"

"...for those of you who want to follow the very traditional style of confinement, there are also some benefits to it, and it's mostly related to feeling of fulfillment and honoring your elders."

"If you and your spouse or partner are the first to raise a mixed-race family like mine, this holds even more value because you're able to pass down your joint heritage once you've tailored a confinement practice to your family."

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BUY POSTPARTUM 30 HERE
.
READ THE TRANSCRIPT AND BLOG POST HERE
.
CONNECT WITH KRISTAL
Get Your FREE RESOURCE: 3 Essential Postpartum Changes That No One Really Talks About And What To Do About Them And Grab Your Free Confinement Planner Here! Book Your Free 30-Minute Discovery Call to start your Confinement & Postpartum Planning, and Postpartum Wellness journey Buy My Book 'Postpartum 30: Thirty Days To A Nurtured Fourth Trimester' Instagram @mamaswingwoman TikTok @drkristallau LinkedIn @klyql