Pregnancy is an expansive journey, physically, mentally and emotionally. Women birth through a rite of passage from self into motherhood. With each pregnancy and birth a deeper level of consciousness awakens within us.

In the 4th trimester, women in the west are not taught about the importance of slowing down and resting. Instead, the focus is around the external. Unfortunately, due to lack of education; the postpartum period is the most important phase for women post pregnancy. This phase and transition sets a women up for the rest of her life.

Duality exists in all of life. With expansiveness must come containment. The 4th trimester reflects this – a coming home. A cocooning, a wrapping and gathering for the mother, who has held and birthed her child. A time to nurture, nourish, bond and create the foundations for your family.

In the 4th Trimester, the mother must be supported and cared for so she can nourish her child/children. In Chinese medicine we call this the “Sheng cycle”.

Every woman must be given the opportunity to be heard, for each woman needs to share her birth story – positive or traumatic. Closing the birth and debriefing allows every woman to heal. All births require a closing ceremony, just like the ancient traditions “Closing the bones”.

In Chinese medicine the Ren Mai – front meridian “sea of Yin” is our conception, birthing and chakra meridian. When we expand we must contract. In the 4th trimester we focus on nourishing the Ren Mai to bring women back to centre. To bring them back to their container. To support them energetically with rest, nourishing foods, breath work, moxa, gentle core restore movement through gathering and containment, to connect them back home to their alchemy centre “lower Dantian”, so their mind, heart and womb can integrate and unite back as one.

The 4th trimester is truly about integration. The welcoming of a new body that has expanded to birth your little soul earthside.

Ladies, there is a new way of doing things! Bring the ancient traditions back. A time to come home and honour the essence of woman and birth. To rest, to nurture, to nourish and surrender. YIN. To expand we must contract to renew

Amanda is the founder of Angea and has over 12 years of experience working with women to support their health journey. In addition to being a registered doctor of Chinese medicine, Amanda is a yoga teacher and founder of Mindful Pregnancy Yoga Training. Amanda offers acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and womb healing treatments at Angea.