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Drop us a comment! Note: If you submit a comment, you agree that we have the right to publish it on all our digital platforms. Thank you! If you've felt blindsided by how hard a particular moment is in your 2 years of postpartum, this episode of The Postpartum Wellness Show will validate and acknowledge your frustrations.  Dr Kristal Lau breaks down the five pivotal postpartum moments which are predictable pressure points across your two-year postpartum journey. This is where chaos tends to erupt, emotions run high, and even the best-laid plans unravel.  Drawing on her medical background and her own raw experience as a mother of two (including an ADHD diagnosis she didn't see coming!), Dr Kristal Lau ditches the toxic positivity and gives you something far more valuable: the truth about what's coming, why it's hard, and why struggling doesn't mean you're failing.  ------------------ EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS The five pivotal postpartum moments are predictable — and knowing they're coming is your greatest advantage. The first week home, the week before returning to work, the first week back at work, the six to eight week postpartum checkup, and any major adjustment point in the two-year postpartum window are all moments of heightened chaos. Anticipating them means you can prepare rather than be caught off guard.Your postpartum plan is meant to be revised, not followed perfectly. Plans made before baby arrived will almost certainly need adjusting, and that is not failure; it's just reality!Emotional exhaustion is just as depleting as physical exhaustion. Navigating big feelings (guilt, grief, overwhelm, frustration) takes enormous energy. Most of us were never taught how to process these feelings, which compounds the chaos at every pivotal moment.The modern system was not built for families — and that is a structural problem, not a personal failure. From inadequate parental leave to fragmented postpartum care to unsupportive workplaces, the challenges of postpartum don't exist in a vacuum. If you feel like you're behind or failing, much of that is by design (unfortunately!).The six to eight week postpartum checkup is your moment to advocate for yourself — come prepared. Writing down your questions in advance and asking for the care you need can make a difference in your postpartum recovery.------------------ QUOTES " [...] think about these five pivotal moments for yourself in your postpartum journey, so that when you notice these things happening and you suspect [...], there's a pattern here [...] then you have a gear that you go into, you prepare yourself for it, and you are also kinder to yourself during this time." " [...] changes like this, again, they're temporary, but when you're in the thick of it and when it's happening, it's just chaos. And then a lot of things that you might have set in place just don't work anymore, and you have to change." " [...]  just because an event or a situation is emotional, it doesn't mean that it takes less energy from you to tackle. In fact, it is very exhausting to have to navigate a lot of feelings, even to let the feelings pass. It's something you kind of have to learn how to do, and a lot of us didn't really le CONNECT WITH DR KRISTAL LAU! Website: Bridges In HealthBuy My Book! 'Postpartum 30: Thirty Days To A Nurtured Fourth Trimester'YouTube @drkristallauInstagram @mamaswingwomanLinkedIn @kristallau

Drop us a comment! Note: If you submit a comment, you agree that we have the right to publish it on all our digital platforms. Thank you! Checking in on parents navigating postpartum Confinement month during Chinese New Year and Lunar New Year! Just wanted to see how you're doing during this festive season regardless of whether you're participating or not. And to reassure you that there's no right or wrong choices when it comes to this specific event. No quotes and such for this episode as I'm just checking in with ya! ------------------ CONNECT WITH DR KRISTAL LAU! Website: Bridges In HealthBuy My Book! 'Postpartum 30: Thirty Days To A Nurtured Fourth Trimester'YouTube @drkristallauInstagram @mamaswingwomanLinkedIn @kristallau

Drop us a comment! Note: If you submit a comment, you agree that we have the right to publish it on all our digital platforms. Thank you! Preparing for your postpartum Confinement during Chinese New Year and Lunar New Year can be exciting but also emotionally complicated. In this special episode of The Postpartum Wellness Show, Dr Kristal Lau explores how to navigate Confinement during the festive season, especially when family expectations, cultural traditions, and FOMO all intersect. She discusses boundaries with elders, the emotional realities of postpartum recovery, and practical ways to still participate in celebrations while prioritizing healing and well-being. This episode is especially helpful for new parents who are navigating their postpartum Confinement month during this festive season. ------------------ EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS Why festive seasons can create pressure for new parentsNavigating expectations from elders and extended familyThe emotional load of boundary setting during postpartumUnderstanding FOMO during cultural celebrationsHow food traditions and confinement practices may conflictPractical ways to celebrate CNY & LNY while prioritizing recovery------------------ QUOTES “Your confinement period is just this one time. The festive season comes every year.” “You enter postpartum depleted in every single way, so protecting your rest matters.” “The whole point of confinement is to rest. That includes resting mentally and emotionally.” ------------------ RESOURCES MENTIONED Award-winning book Postpartum 30 by Dr Kristal Lau  - Chapter 3: Managing Expectations and Setting Boundaries in the Postpartum Year Available via online retailers (link below!) ------------------ CONNECT WITH DR KRISTAL LAU! Website: Bridges In HealthBuy My Book! 'Postpartum 30: Thirty Days To A Nurtured Fourth Trimester'YouTube @drkristallauInstagram @mamaswingwomanLinkedIn @kristallau

Drop us a comment! Note: If you submit a comment, you agree that we have the right to publish it on all our digital platforms. Thank you! Let's talk about why the First 1000 Days of Life matter not just for children—but for parents, postpartum care, and the future of families. In this episode of The Postpartum Wellness Show, Dr Kristal Lau explores the first 1000 days of life concept of early childhood development and explains why postpartum care must be part of this critical window.  This episode connects science, lived experience, and common sense to challenge the status quo that postpartum is still treated as an afterthought. Dr Lau reframes postpartum care for parents as central to early childhood development. ----------------------------------------------------------- EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS What the first 1000 days of life actually meanHow postpartum fits directly into early childhood developmentThe intergenerational impact of stress, disadvantage, and biologyWhat children truly need to thrive beyond nutritionWhy supporting parents is essential to supporting childrenHow clinicians and caregivers can apply a two-year postpartum lens today----------------------------------------------------------- QUOTES “Children are like sponges. Even before they can speak or really process a bunch of stuff that’s happening, their nervous system can already sense and read the room.” “If we’re not able to give parents both education support and the confidence to feel like they can do the job, then how are they supposed to provide a stable and responsive and loving type of nervous system output for their children?” “When we’re not able to love ourselves and care for ourselves as parents, there’s a high chance that kids pick up the message that being a parent must be terrible.” ----------------------------------------------------------- P.S. The free membership resource hub is still in development. Check back soon for the link! ----------------------------------------------------------- Episode Links: My email: [email protected] First 1000 Days of Life RCH Melbourne----------------------------------------------------------- CONNECT WITH DR KRISTAL LAU! Website: Bridges In HealthBuy My Book! 'Postpartum 30: Thirty Days To A Nurtured Fourth Trimester'YouTube @drkristallauInstagram @mamaswingwomanLinkedIn @kristallau

Drop us a comment! Note: If you submit a comment, you agree that we have the right to publish it on all our digital platforms. Thank you! Learn why the clinical definition of postpartum as “six to eight weeks” is outdated, where this timeframe possibly came from, and why redefining postpartum as a two-year period is critical for parents, families, and long-term population health. In this episode, Dr Kristal Lau breaks down the science, history, and lived experience behind postpartum recovery, briefly explains what the 2023 Lancet maternal health series revealed, and makes the case for extending postpartum care to align with the first 1000 days of life. ----------------------------------------------------------- EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS The current clinical definition of postpartum and why it falls shortWhat the Lancet maternal health series revealed about postpartum complicationsThe overlooked role of lived experience in postpartum careWhere the six-to-eight-week postpartum timeframe likely originatedWhy redefining postpartum as a two-year period makes clinical and public-health senseHow the first 1000 days of life framework supports this shift----------------------------------------------------------- QUOTES “The majority of health problems after childbirth start after the six-to-eight-week mark.” “We rely so heavily on evidence-based data that we forget women have been telling us this for generations.” “If we don’t change how we define postpartum, no amount of money will fix postpartum or birth-rate problems.” ----------------------------------------------------------- P.S. The free membership resource hub is still in development. Check back soon for the link! ----------------------------------------------------------- CONNECT WITH DR KRISTAL LAU! Website: Bridges In HealthBuy My Book! 'Postpartum 30: Thirty Days To A Nurtured Fourth Trimester'YouTube @drkristallauInstagram @mamaswingwomanLinkedIn @kristallau

Drop us a comment! Note: If you submit a comment, you agree that we have the right to publish it on all our digital platforms. Thank you! ~~~ I'm back on The Postpartum Wellness Show! It's been a very unexpected 2025 with major life changes. While I've been silent on the digital front, my plate has been overflowing. Yet, this podcast hit 1000 downloads in November last year (2025)!!!! I'm so thrilled!!! THANK YOU for the new listens and for those who are sticking around. I've scheduled a bunch of weekly episodes starting today - so you'll be hearing more of me this year! Welcome back and I appreciate you 3 ~~~ Disclaimer: The content in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only. Please see your medical provider for medical advice. ~~~ CONNECT WITH DR KRISTAL LAU! Website: Bridges In HealthBuy My Book! 'Postpartum 30: Thirty Days To A Nurtured Fourth Trimester'YouTube @drkristallauInstagram @mamaswingwomanLinkedIn @kristallau

Drop us a comment! Note: If you submit a comment, you agree that we have the right to publish it on all our digital platforms. Thank you! A special episode for Podcasthaton 2025! Please support, donate, or volunteer with MBRNPC: Military Birth Resource Network and Postpartum Coalition. Military Parental Leave Program (MPLP) information here. Military Parental Leave Program (MPLP) FAQs here. ~~~ EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS Support for MBRNPC: Military Birth Resource Network and Postpartum CoalitionWhat is the 12-Week Parental Leave for US military membersThis parental leave is NOT a holiday! ~~~ Disclaimer: The content in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only. Please see your medical provider for medical advice. ~~~ CONNECT WITH DR KRISTAL LAU! Website: Bridges In HealthBuy My Book! 'Postpartum 30: Thirty Days To A Nurtured Fourth Trimester'YouTube @drkristallauInstagram @mamaswingwomanLinkedIn @kristallau

Drop us a comment! Note: If you submit a comment, you agree that we have the right to publish it on all our digital platforms. Thank you! Storytime episode with Dr Kristal Lau where she shares her brush with grief for her "old self" during her Matrescence and motherhood journey. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS Why I felt grief despite having a healthy pregnancy and smooth birth experienceStages of GriefHow to hold space for a mom if she's experiencing this type of grief QUOTES "I'm gonna talk about grief that's not related to a physical loss. In fact, it's grief related to feeling like you losing your old self before you became a mom or dad."  "It's not just made up and you're not feeling selfish or dumb for having the sense of loss for your old self or your old life." "When I first started feeling this intense sensation of loss. I didn't know what to do with it because I had a healthy pregnancy. I didn't understand why I was feeling this way because I really felt it not just a deep, heavy feeling in my chest, but this pit in my stomach, like something is gone forever and that I was never gonna get it back. " ~~~ Please seek help from your family and friends, your health provider, or your counselor and therapist, if you need to talk to someone. Even your religious or spiritual advisor or community member if you're more comfortable with them. Read the blog & transcript: https://www.mamaswingwoman.com/ep14 ~~~ I offer postpartum coaching to help new moms and their families adjust to the big changes when a new baby arrives. This takes time and someone to really care about the unique-ness of what you and your family need and want. Book a free 30-minute Discovery Call with me to see if we jive and how you can reach your postpartum goals with me! [https://calendly.com/drkristallau/ppconnect] CONNECT WITH DR KRISTAL LAU! Website: Bridges In HealthBuy My Book! 'Postpartum 30: Thirty Days To A Nurtured Fourth Trimester'YouTube @drkristallauInstagram @mamaswingwomanLinkedIn @kristallau

Drop us a comment! Note: If you submit a comment, you agree that we have the right to publish it on all our digital platforms. Thank you! Learn why many Chinese and East Asian parents want a baby born under this zodiac sign and how this cultural belief leads to a baby boom that affects mothers, families, population census, services, and businesses. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS Why the Year of the Dragon is a BIG DEALA Brief Introduction to the Significance of this Chinese Zodiac SignEffects of this cultural belief on individuals up to population levelQUOTES "The dragon is the most revered and majestic animal and Chinese mythology and culture. It symbolizes power, nobility, honor, luck, and success."  "...roughly 25% more babies were born among the Chinese populations of Singapore and Malaysia during the 1988 year of the Dragon compared with the previous year. In response, Singapore, three quarters of which is ethnically Chinese, opened nine new primary schools." Want to DIY your confinement month? Buy my book 'Postpartum 30' to learn how! https://www.mamaswingwoman.com/postpartumbook Read the blog: https://www.mamaswingwoman.com/ep13 ARTICLE LINKS China Highlights: https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/chinese-zodiac/dragon.htmNational Post: https://nationalpost.com/news/world/many-chinese-believe-dragon-babies-destined-for-greatness-but-baby-booms-have-unintended-consequencesBBC World Asia: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-16589052Al-Jazeera: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2012/1/23/year-of-the-dragon-roars-into-asiaMedium Master Steven Chen: https://medium.com/@thechinesezodiac/is-2024-a-good-year-to-have-a-baby-befd6abbca65Courtly: https://www.courtly.com/resources/couples-rush-to-have-baby-dragons-chinese-zodiacThe Star: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/11/01/getting-wed-to-get-little-dragonsMothership: https://mothership.sg/2023/11/luxurious-confinement-centre-6000-a-night/CONNECT WITH DR KRISTAL LAU! Website: Bridges In HealthBuy My Book! 'Postpartum 30: Thirty Days To A Nurtured Fourth Trimester'YouTube @drkristallauInstagram @mamaswingwomanLinkedIn @kristallau

Drop us a comment! Note: If you submit a comment, you agree that we have the right to publish it on all our digital platforms. Thank you! Christmas has just passed but the end year festivities continue! Here's some quick tips of joining in on the fun even while you're doing your confinement this holiday season. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS Quick tips on how to head out for the festivities during your confinement month. QUOTES "If you really wanna go out and enjoy and you're still in your confinement month, please do. I know it goes against the rule of leaving home because you know it's gonna be cold and everything, but we are in 2023. This is the modern times..." "Most importantly, during this time when you wanna head out during your confinement month, is dress really, really warm. Even for those of you living in the southern hemisphere..." . Postpartum 30 Book Owners! Please Email Dr. Kristal Lau HERE to get access to her private FB group! . READ THE  BLOG POST HERE CONNECT WITH DR KRISTAL LAU! Website: Bridges In HealthBuy My Book! 'Postpartum 30: Thirty Days To A Nurtured Fourth Trimester'YouTube @drkristallauInstagram @mamaswingwomanLinkedIn @kristallau

Drop us a comment! Note: If you submit a comment, you agree that we have the right to publish it on all our digital platforms. Thank you! There are 2 major celebrations for the baby after completing the confinement month; the full moon and 100th day. And Dr. Kristal Lau brings a modern twist to these baby-centered celebrations by reinstating you, the mother, back in the spotlight during this time. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS What is the full moon and 100th-day celebration?Why it's important to celebrate the mother as much as the baby.Ideas for throwing a full moon and 100th-day celebration. QUOTES "The 100th day is huge for many East Asian families; hotel ballrooms can get booked out. " "This full moon period also marks the end of the new mom's confinement month, and she's now able to bathe, wash her hair, and be presented together with the baby to the family." "I feel really strongly that by doing things this way, by bringing the woman and the mother back into the picture, it's going to help our next generation of women and mothers to feel really appreciated and to look forward to this." . Email Dr. Kristal Lau with your questions! . Get your FREE CONFINEMENT PLANNER HERE . BUY POSTPARTUM 30 BOOK HERE . Need more help with your confinement planning? Book Your Free 30-Minute Discovery Call to start your Confinement & Postpartum Planning . READ THE  BLOG POST HERE . Resources mentioned in the episode: The Book of Rites: worldhistorycommons.org/book-rites-birth-childCONNECT WITH DR KRISTAL LAU! Website: Bridges In HealthBuy My Book! 'Postpartum 30: Thirty Days To A Nurtured Fourth Trimester'YouTube @drkristallauInstagram @mamaswingwomanLinkedIn @kristallau

Drop us a comment! Note: If you submit a comment, you agree that we have the right to publish it on all our digital platforms. Thank you! The Chinese confinement practice is essentially a postpartum recovery program steeped in tradition and traditional Chinese medicine principles. Learn why you should create and personalise your confinement plan and how to do it with my Postpartum 30 method. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS Why you should create and personalise your confinementConfinement planning as a family affairHow to create your confinement using my Postpartum 30 Method QUOTES "...what I wish for you to take away from today's episode is to have a rough idea on how to approach your confinement month as though it is a recovery program." "...personalizing your confinement month helps you retain a lot of your family's traditions and beliefs as well. It also really allows you and your spouse, husband, or partner to come up with a 30-day plan that makes sense to what you need in your modern life. " "I think it's wise to have a look at your finances. Can you afford to do a full 30 days traditionally? Because... you have to get all your herbs, you have to cook. If you want to follow specific Chinese diet, the confinement diet. Are you able to cook those meals fresh? " . Get your FREE CONFINEMENT PLANNER HERE . BUY POSTPARTUM 30 HERE . Need more help with your confinement planning? Book Your Free 30-Minute Discovery Call to start your Confinement & Postpartum Planning . READ THE TRANSCRIPT AND BLOG POST HERE . Resources mentioned in the episode: Ng Siong Mui's book: The Chinese Pregnancy and Confinement CookbookEu Yan SangGary Chapman's 5 Love LanguagesCONNECT WITH DR KRISTAL LAU! Website: Bridges In HealthBuy My Book! 'Postpartum 30: Thirty Days To A Nurtured Fourth Trimester'YouTube @drkristallauInstagram @mamaswingwomanLinkedIn @kristallau

Drop us a comment! Note: If you submit a comment, you agree that we have the right to publish it on all our digital platforms. Thank you! Learn about the challenges and benefits of following a traditional confinement practice in our modern time after you've given birth. And why this paves the way for a modernised confinement practice; an approach I take in my book 'Postpartum 30' to respectfully adapt a traditional and cultural practice to fit the needs of modern mothers and families! EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS 3 Challenges of following a Traditional Confinement Practice.3 Benefits of following a Traditional Confinement Practice.Why it's important to make space for a Modern Confinement Practice. QUOTES "Modern women everywhere these days also have to think about how much maternity leave they and their partner or spouse can get. Is it financially feasible to carry out a very traditional confinement month? Can modern moms and modern women get the physical support to do it, especially for those of you like me who have migrated overseas?" "...a lot of confinement centers did not allow fathers to stay overnight or really participate, which we now know that paternal participation in the postpartum period does make a difference, both in their own postpartum journey" "...for those of you who want to follow the very traditional style of confinement, there are also some benefits to it, and it's mostly related to feeling of fulfillment and honoring your elders." "If you and your spouse or partner are the first to raise a mixed-race family like mine, this holds even more value because you're able to pass down your joint heritage once you've tailored a confinement practice to your family." . BUY POSTPARTUM 30 HERE . READ THE TRANSCRIPT AND BLOG POST HERE . CONNECT WITH DR KRISTAL LAU! Website: Bridges In HealthBuy My Book! 'Postpartum 30: Thirty Days To A Nurtured Fourth Trimester'YouTube @drkristallauInstagram @mamaswingwomanLinkedIn @kristallau

Drop us a comment! Note: If you submit a comment, you agree that we have the right to publish it on all our digital platforms. Thank you! Learn about the origins of the confinement practice and some of the taboos and superstitions behind this Chinese postpartum recovery practice. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS Why is confinement usually performed for 30 days?The ancient Chinese origins of confinement.  KEYWORDS MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE Integrative careIntegrative medicine ARTICLE CITATION Lee, J. (2006). "Childbirth in Early Imperial China". In Medicine for Women in Imperial China. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789047409922_006 QUOTES "...the postpartum period, where the postpartum confinement recovery is expected to happen, ranged from three days, seven days, 30 days, the whole month, 100 days, and up to half a year, or even as long as a year of resting after childbirth." "...when women back in ancient China days did not go to a delivery house or a birthing house, and they could not go home to their family's home to give birth, it was customary from the Han Dynasty onwards to set up a special birth room either inside the house where they're currently living with their husband and their immediate family or outside the home." "...the reason for them to do a confinement practice away from everyone else. It was absolutely related to the cultural belief and the taboos and superstition around how dirty the childbirth process is." . READ THE TRANSCRIPT HERE . CONNECT WITH DR KRISTAL LAU! Website: Bridges In HealthBuy My Book! 'Postpartum 30: Thirty Days To A Nurtured Fourth Trimester'YouTube @drkristallauInstagram @mamaswingwomanLinkedIn @kristallau

Drop us a comment! Note: If you submit a comment, you agree that we have the right to publish it on all our digital platforms. Thank you! Learn about the confinement practice and some of the principles behind this Chinese postpartum recovery practice. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS - Why is Zuo Yue Zi also called confinement? - The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) principles behind some main confinement practice rules - Introducing the importance of mental health support during the confinement practice QUOTES "This practice is rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, which underlies a lot of health philosophies and practices in the East." "...definitely have a chat to your TCM providers about what foods in the Western grocer falls under Hot, Warm, Yin, and Yang. And then you can create your menu from there and start preparing your food that way." "So, strong emotions are definitely going to happen during the confinement period and all the mental health advances that we know today encourages us to not ignore those feelings, to address them and have healthy and safe outlets for them." READ THE TRANSCRIPT HERE . CONNECT WITH DR KRISTAL LAU! Website: Bridges In HealthBuy My Book! 'Postpartum 30: Thirty Days To A Nurtured Fourth Trimester'YouTube @drkristallauInstagram @mamaswingwomanLinkedIn @kristallau