Self-care and healing embodied trauma after cesarean birth with Lilliana Rivera

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Cesarean births are on the rise globally. And though the numbers are staying pretty stable in the US, they account for about 1/3 of all births here.

Regardless of where you live, the healing process afterwards is something we absolutely do NOT talk about enough. It's multifaceted and different for everyone. 

For some, cesareans are a chosen form of birth. But for many, they're a completely unexpected direction for a birth to go, and they are sometimes very rushed.

While you might have been preparing for the birth process (homebirth or hospital, natural or otherwise), you probably weren't anticipating a cesarean birth, so you probably didn't learn everything you would want to know about them.

And even beyond that, you probably weren't considering the much more intensive postpartum healing journey that takes place after major abdominal surgery.

Needless to say, there's a lot to this. And whether or not the cesarean was desired, there's often some kind of trauma, whether physical or emotional, that comes along with it. 

This is what we dive into in today's episode with abdominal massage therapist and holistic womb coach, Lilliana Rivera. 

She shares all about her own cesarean births and womb story, and how she healed her chronic pain and numbness in her lower belly, and also worked on integrating her emotional trauma that was held in that place for years after her second cesarean. 

It's a beautiful conversation about the depth of healing possible when you offer yourself self-care and therapeutic practices to support your healing process.  

Listen to the episode to learn:

• different modalities to support your healing after cesarean birth
• how abdominal massage therapy can help with scar tissue, pain, numbness
• why your womb may be holding emotional trauma (from birth or otherwise)
• that healing is possible whether your cesarean was last year or 40 years ago
• how cultivating a relationship with your womb is deeply healing in itself
• ways to navigate body image issues and self-acceptance post-cesarean

Resources:

• Today's shownotes: Get Lilliana's links + more
• Sign up for the Pelvic Health Summit (use discount code: LOVEYOURWOMB)
• Episode 10: Traditional womb healing practices 
• Episode 25: Immediate postpartum care with herbs 
• Episode 42: Reclaim your menstruation
• Episode 49: How to create a sacred window in transitional times

If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.  

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DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.

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