In the weeks after a baby arrives, the sentence we hear most often is some version of “I feel completely emptied out.” Lower back ache, night sweats, waking to nurse and then not being able to fall back asleep, hair coming out by the handful in the shower \u2014 none of that is in your head. It is the body running on depleted qi (\u6c14) and blood, with residual blood stasis (\u7600\u8840) and a strain of liver qi stagnation (\u809d\u90c1) layered on top. Richmond is home to one of the largest Chinese-Canadian communities in the region, and many of the families we see want to continue the recovery work after the confinement month is over. For Richmond postpartum TCM care, Sky TCM sits inside Aberdeen Plaza, and Dr. Judy Chu, R.Ac has been a steady part of that picture for local mothers for years.<\/p>\n
In TCM the postpartum body is described as being in a state of compound deficiency and stasis. Ten months of pregnancy already redirect qi and blood toward the baby, birth itself draws on the reserve again, and breastfeeding continues that outward flow. At the same time the uterus is returning to size, lochia is clearing, and hormones are dropping fast. Your western six-week check covers blood pressure, the incision, and mood screening \u2014 all of it useful. TCM adds a second lens: pulse, tongue, and a longer conversation about how qi, blood, and the liver-kidney-spleen network are doing. From there we use acupuncture, moxibustion (\u827e\u7078), herbal formulas and tuina (\u63a8\u62ff) to refill what is empty, soften what is stuck, and ease what feels tight. The two systems are not competing \u2014 they sit alongside one another.<\/p>\n
Postpartum mothers have always been one of the largest groups walking through our door, and Dr. Judy’s habit is to read the person first and write the plan second. Two mothers can describe the same fatigue and need completely different work \u2014 depleted qi and blood goes one way, liver qi flaring into low-grade heat goes another. Each first visit begins with a long conversation, pulse and tongue reading, and then a decision about how to weave acupuncture, moxibustion, herbs and tuina together, and how quickly or slowly to move. Dr. Judy trained at Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine and has practiced for more than 20 years across China, Taiwan and Canada. She is registered with CTCMA of British Columbia and consults in Mandarin, Cantonese and English.<\/p>\n
For a vaginal birth, once lochia has cleared and the wound is healing well, most mothers can begin gentle acupuncture from around two weeks postpartum. The first few sessions stay light \u2014 the focus is rebuilding, calming the nervous system, and helping you sleep. For a C-section, we usually wait until the six-week check is complete before adding acupuncture, and we avoid points around the abdomen until the scar is fully healed. Breastfeeding is fully compatible with both acupuncture and moxibustion; Dr. Judy will skip specific point combinations that can reduce supply. If you are still in the confinement period and unsure whether to begin, please call us and we will help you decide what is appropriate now.<\/p>\n
Dr. Judy Chu, R.Ac at Sky TCM
\n3779 Sexsmith Rd, Unit 1138, Richmond BC V6X 3Y6
\nAberdeen Plaza (Lansdowne area), upper floor
\n778-681-8886
\nDaily 10AM \u2013 6PM by appointment<\/p>\n
Canada Line Aberdeen station is a short walk away, with free underground parking at the plaza.<\/p>\n
Can I take Chinese herbs while breastfeeding?<\/strong> Can I bring the baby to the appointment?<\/strong> Will acupuncture affect my milk supply?<\/strong> Is acupuncture covered by insurance?<\/strong> Is it too late to start at six months or a year postpartum?<\/strong> Dr. Judy Chu, R.Ac at Sky TCM<\/strong> Further reading: Postpartum TCM in Richmond at Sky TCM. Dr. Judy Chu, R.Ac offers acupuncture, moxibustion, herbs and tuina for new mothers \u2014 Aberdeen Plaza, by appointment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":23795,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_hreflang_en":"https:\/\/skytcmrichmond.com\/blog\/richmond-postpartum-tcm\/","_hreflang_zh":"https:\/\/skytcmrichmond.com\/blog\/richmond-postpartum-tcm-zh\/","footnotes":""},"categories":[28,31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23734","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-en","category-womens-health"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/skytcmrichmond.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23734","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/skytcmrichmond.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/skytcmrichmond.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skytcmrichmond.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skytcmrichmond.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23734"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/skytcmrichmond.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23734\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23768,"href":"https:\/\/skytcmrichmond.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23734\/revisions\/23768"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skytcmrichmond.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23795"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/skytcmrichmond.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23734"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skytcmrichmond.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23734"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skytcmrichmond.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23734"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nYes, in many cases \u2014 but it is case-by-case. We adjust formulas based on whether you are nursing, avoid specific herbs that are not suitable for either mother or baby, and choose the formula only after a proper assessment. When the timing is not right for herbs, we often lean on acupuncture, moxibustion and food-based therapy in the meantime; the body still recovers.<\/p>\n
\nYes \u2014 many mothers do. The clinic is quiet, and we suggest bringing a family member along to hold the baby so you can fully relax during your session.<\/p>\n
\nWith the right point selection, no. Some mothers actually feel that fullness flows more easily afterward. We avoid the specific combinations known to reduce supply.<\/p>\n
\nBC’s provincial MSP does not generally cover acupuncture or TCM (a limited supplementary program exists for premium-assistance beneficiaries). Most private extended health plans do include R.Ac acupuncture coverage \u2014 please confirm the exact amount with your insurer. We provide receipts for reimbursement.<\/p>\n
\nNot at all. The first year still counts as a recovery window \u2014 qi, blood, pelvic stability and mood can all keep moving. Even later, we can build a plan around what you are feeling now.<\/p>\n
\n
\n3779 Sexsmith Rd Unit 1138, Richmond BC V6X 3Y6 \u00b7 778-681-8886 \u00b7 Daily 10AM\u20136PM by appointment
\nBook a first consultation<\/a> \u00b7 About Dr. Judy<\/a> \u00b7 Our treatments<\/a><\/p>\n
\n– C-section recovery: a six-month TCM path<\/a>
\n– Postpartum 42 days: rebuilding qi and blood<\/a>
\n– Vancouver’s damp-cold climate and the confinement month<\/a>
\n– Richmond TCM clinic overview<\/a>
\n– Vancouver TCM clinic overview<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"