Blessed is the mother who bore
thee and the breast whose milk
suckled thee and the bosom
wherein thou wert nurtured…
~ Abdu’l-Baha
Today I would like to share with you about a new skill, new service I offer to families – Postpartum Sealing Ceremony.
It is possible you’ve heard about it but under a different name (Binding ceremony, Bone binding ceremony, Bone sealing ceremony – there are so many). Perhaps, you even observed or experienced one. However, in my experience a lot of families don’t know what it is. It is an old tradition that has pretty much ceased to exist in many cultures and is holding by a thread in others.
Let’s talk a little bit about what it is.
What is Postpartum Sealing Ceremony?
It is a special type of care for a mother after birth. The Ceremony can be practiced almost immediately after a natural birth, or as soon as 21 days post a C-section. It is considered to be the most effective in the first 40 days. However, it is not less beneficial to women in later post-partum and even few years after birth.
This care is believed to restore the mother quickly, enhance baby bonding, breast milk production,
prevention of womb ailments and prevention of arthritis in old age. It is a great overall healing tool,
that’s why it is still so beneficial in the late postpartum period as well.
This ceremony allows replenishing of energy and concentrates love on a Mother. So it’s other name is a Mothering Ceremony, because it allows us to hold the Mother, mother the Mother, love the Mother.
What does the Ceremony look like?
There are several steps:
– An opening conversation with a mother over a cup of tasty beverage about her birth experience
– A relaxing essential oils massage
– A warming bath with herbs
– A visceral massage of a mother’s abdomen
– An actual binding process with rebozo-like fabric
– A closing meditation
What if I have a breastfed baby and/or older children?
Your breastfed baby can be around and brought to your for nursing, however, you would need someone to help you care for this baby. And if you have older children, you can choose to include them into the ceremony (their gender doesn’t matter, but some older girls particularly may want to be around), but you would still need someone to tend to their needs. You husband, friend or relative can also assist in the Ceremony.
What if I still don’t feel like I’ve had closure post the Ceremony?
Sometimes it takes a couple of days for your body to start feeling it. Sometimes your experience affects you so deeply you may need another session. But either way, the time you spend at the ceremony will definitely allow you to feel connection to yourself and others because the attention will always be on you. You will be unconditionally loved and cared for.
Are there any contradictions to having this Ceremony?
Yes. A mother should be in good health. She should have a clean bill of health from her physician (e.g. tearing/episiotomy should be healed, C-section scar should be healed as well). Mothers with heart conditions shouldn’t go through the whole process, so usually we would have an interview to understand whether this service is suitable for you or not.
How can I book the Ceremony?
Please download this file with information, fees and conditions that apply for books. Please note, since I live in China, I can only offer this service here.
Whether you ever experience this ceremony or not, I am happy to provide you support in your postpartum experience.