Pelvic Steaming is Medicine for Labor and Postpartum!
Why is Pelvic Steaming recommended for Labor Preparation?
Pelvic Steaming helps to prepare for labor through:
Adding moisturization, nourishment (antioxidants and other phytonutrients from the plants), and improved tissue tone to the pelvic floor and vulva which helps with yield and elasticity during birth, helping to decrease tearing or potential severity of tears.
Improving circulation and lympathic drainage.
Adding moisturization and strength to the vaginal canal.
Helping to balance the vaginal microbiome.
Promoting vasodilation and relaxation, which improves blood pressure and overall organ health.
Warming the uterus to support contractions and alleviate pain from contractions, and also help to soften scar tissue from previous C-sections.
Supports cervical tissue to prepare for dilation.
Relaxation is a precursor to the feeling of safety and the release of oxytocin, which is a necessary component for labor to progress.
Helping mom to become rooted into the pelvis energetically, emotionally, and somatically. This embodied connection is essential to progress into labor and also helps baby connect to the cervix and pelvis (i.e communicating with baby that the outside environment is safe and to stay low in the pelvis).
How does steaming postpartum help with healing?
Decreases inflammation and swelling
Adds nourishment and moisturization to help with wound healing (including hemorrhoids, tearing, previous scarring, placental detachment site wound)
Reduces edema (fluid retention) that creates excess weight (see the fourth trimester steam study which showed faster weight loss results with women who steamed postpartum).
Alleviates constipation
Improves lympathic drainage which supports immune health
Helps with removal of additional pregnancy remains through the lochia and reducing postpartum contractions
Facilitates circulation which helps with nutrient absorption from the plant medicines and toxin drainage through the lymphatic system
Decreases blood pressure and helps with stress relief
Alleviates bladder incontinence or retention
Prevents or alleviates prolapse
Reduces swelling in the vulva
Tones the uterus and helping the organs to shift back into place
Promotes healthy period return
Alleviates suture discomfort (i.e. itchiness or tightness)
Promotes general circulation, relaxation and decreased inflammation for breastfeeding
Helps mom return back to her body and self during a period where she is giving a lot of that energy to her baby.
For more information you can look at the fourth trimester steam study here and also check out some other research such as this one.
FAQ:
What time of day should I steam?
The best time is whenever you feel like you can do it. If also doing postpartum belly wrapping it can be helpful to steam before or after showering and wrapping after. Night time steaming is nice to relax the body and help you get prepared for good rest. Depending on your recommended steam plan you may steam multiple times a day.
What can I expect to happen?
You may feel tired after steaming because of the relaxation effects. Dizziness after steaming may be a sign of dehydration–it is important to stay hydrated with mineralized water in pregnancy and postpartum especially while steaming. It is common to have a sudden need to urinate and it is recommended to go before steaming. Please read over the risks FAQ for potential unwanted effects.
There may be increased discharge when you first start steaming in postpartum which is a sign more material is being moved out of the womb, this should decrease over time (this could look like brown or black clotted blood with contractions depending on how long ago birth happened). Many women observe pregnancy matter in the steam bowl– retained tissue in pregnancy is a risk for infection and means your womb is holding onto potentially toxic byproducts. Stop steaming if any bright red bleeding and contact me– this shouldn’t happen after the uterine arteries have closed in the immediate postpartum.
Does steaming hurt?
Steaming should never cause pain but there may be something deeper that needs to be looked at. If using postpartum pads with essential oils on them they can transfer to the skin and the steam may cause the skin to sting in which case wash with soap and water before steaming (you may need to wait some time for the oils to dissolve off).
What are the risks of pelvic steaming?
Like any use of heat, there is a risk of burning that includes stripped skin with inappropriate use of steaming therapy. Please follow the guidelines above, and ensure the steam is at a good temperature before lowering down. People with perineal scarring or decreased pain sensation related to neuropathy or aging should be more mindful when working with heat. Steaming may aggravate situations with a burning itch or active herpes outbreaks. Steaming may interfere with certain medical procedures including birth control through arm implants or patches, IUDs, Assure coil impants, tubal coagulation, uterine ablations, or uterine fibroid embolizations. Caution use if prone to low blood pressure or taking medications that lower it, certain heart conditions, or if dehydrated. Pain after steaming is never normal and you should follow up with a medical professional to check for certain health conditions (i.e for a pap smear). Sensitivities to certain plants may be experienced as itchiness and rashes, diarrhea, or nausea. If you are dehydrated or of a certain cardiovascular consitution you may experience headaches, in which case you will need to be more mindful of rehydration and rest after steaming. Post-steaming bumps may be a sign of toxin release that would benefit from additional steaming, sitz baths with clay, or topical application of clay (i.e diatomaceous earth).