366: Respecting and Adapting Cultural Practices: Postpartum Confinement with Dr. Kristal Lau, MPH, MBBS, BMedSc (Hons), ELMO

Mom and Mind

It is an undeniable fact that our Western norms for prenatal and postnatal care of mothers are very different from other countries and cultures. Even the term “confinement” is not as familiar to most Americans as it is in other countries. Join us as we explore this topic further with today’s expert.

Dr. Kristal Lau is a certified European Lifestyle Medicine (ELMO) Health and Fitness Advisor and a leading postpartum wellness consultant specializing in bridging cultural practices with modern postpartum care. She is an author, former physician, veteran’s spouse, and the mother of two. Her mission is to revolutionize postpartum wellness for mothers and their families through holistic postpartum wellness experiences that blend modern healthcare and science with personal lifestyles and cultural practices. Currently living in France, Dr. Lau is originally from Malaysia, where she grew up using the best of both worlds in Chinese medicine and allopathic medicine. She serves as a board member for the non-profit Military Birth Resource Network and Postpartum Coalition (MBRNPC) and continues to volunteer with the Army Community Services in USAG Wiesbaden as a military retiree’s spouse. Her book, Postpartum 30: Thirty Days To A Nurtured Fourth Trimester, was published in 2023. In this episode, Dr. Lau shares her experience in following the Chinese postpartum confinement practice after birthing her children, along with the collaboration work she’s doing on snoring and sleep apnea in pregnancy and the postpartum. She also discusses modern confinement practices and the rising interest in this form of postpartum care.

Show Highlights:

• Confinement practices for postpartum rest are common in other parts of the world and rooted in Chinese medicine.
• Dr. Lau’s experience with postpartum depression even after following the structure of her confinement practice
• Largely unknown outcomes for migrant Asian women around the world who follow traditional confinement practices
• The boom of postnatal retreats in the US
• Dr. Lau explains traditional Chinese principles around proper nutrition and rest for the new mother.
• Dr. Lau’s journey to write her book, Postpartum 30
• Variations in confinement days from culture to culture
• The partner’s important role as the main support person in a new mother’s confinement
• The need for modernization and adaptations in traditional confinement practices
• Dr. Lau’s advice for those seeking to use traditional Chinese herbs in postpartum care
• Dr. Lau’s experience with sleep issues, like snoring and daytime sleepiness–even though she doesn’t “fit the bill” for sleep apnea
• The anatomical changes during pregnancy that can lead to sleep apnea
• The need for more clinical data in the area of pregnancy, snoring, and sleep apnea (Sleep above everything!)

Resources:

Connect with Dr. Kristal Lau: Website, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Postpartum 30 book

Please find resources in English and Spanish at Postpartum Support International, or by phone/text at 1-800-944-4773. There are many free resources, like online support groups, peer mentors, a specialist provider directory, and perinatal mental health training for therapists, physicians, nurses, doulas, and anyone who wants to be a better support in offering services.

You can also follow PSI on social media: Instagram, Facebook, and most other platforms

Visit www.postpartum.net/professionals/certificate-trainings/ for information on the grief course.

Visit my website, www.wellmindperinatal.com, for more information, resources, and courses you can take today!

If you are a California resident looking for a therapist in perinatal mental health, email me about openings for private pay clients!