The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) or Eastern Asian Medicine (EAM) approach to postpartum recovery emphasizes the month immediately after birth. This time is considered the “golden period” when mothers are encouraged to rest and regain their strength, limiting the amount of physical strain, and most importantly, avoiding anything cold. In Eastern Asian Medicine, cold slows down the body’s healing process as it congeals the blood and penetrates cold deeper into the body. Immediately after birth, we focus on increasing blood flow to encourage a new mother’s healing.

I will provide two, four, or six in-home postnatal visits and consultations as needed by phone (call/text) or email. In-home services include:

• Each session will range from 1.5–2 hours
• Acupuncture and Tui Na (Chinese Medical Massage) — Including, but not limited to, facial massage, scalp massage, and foot massage
• Abdominal binding
• Treatment to encourage the opening of milk ducts as a prevention measure for blockage, mastitis, and thrush
• Herbal foot soaks
• Preparation of tonifying herbal soups
• Preparation of warming herbal teas – These teas are ordered from Taiwan, are weather dependent, and may vary:
  • Loquat and Mulberry leaf Tea · Cinnamon Tea · Perilla leaf Tea
  • Hawthorn Tea · Black Tea · Ginger Black Tea · Marigold Tea
• Preparation of Herbal Classic Dishes – All dishes are plant based and are family friendly:
  • Vegan black fungus collagen soup
  • Vegan white snow fungus and lotus seed soup
  • Black sesame glutinous rice dumpling soup
  • Fresh ginger tonic

To secure your treatment plan, it is required to become an established patient in my practice with two prenatal in-office appointments before you are 34 weeks pregnant. (Exceptions can be made for extenuating circumstances.) Postpartum recovery can be a very vulnerable time, and many women experience various degrees of mood and anxiety changes. Our first in-person meetings will help us get to know each other and will provide me with additional context to help me better assist you. The postpartum recovery period can be a time for a person to heal completely both physically and emotionally. Honest communication of medical conditions and/or emotional situations are key for a successful recovery.

In addition to the services listed above, on the date of service, it is required that ample supplies are provided for the preparation of herbal soaks and soups. This includes pots, towels, and food storage containers. Please make sure you have a clean, functional kitchen. Upon my arrival, please be ready for treatment; this includes nursing the baby prior to my arrival and eating a meal or snack, so you are not being treated on an empty stomach.

The TCM postpartum treatments are not meant to replace your postpartum visits with your OB/GYN, nor the pediatrician visits. I do not provide a western medical diagnosis. Please consult with your Primary Care Physician and/or OB/GYN if you or your newborn have medical issues or concerns. You will obtain optimal healing results when combining both eastern and western medicine practices.

Abdominal binding is generally a safe method of treatment to support internal organs and prevent prolapse. Some patients have experienced side effects including dizziness, headache, pressure on the hip joints, pressure on vaginal stitches, pressure on the vagina, and pressure on the thorax which may result in shallow breath. These are normal reactions to the binding process. Excessive physical activity including walking may exacerbate these reactions. This document describes the common side effects; however, other side effects and risks may occur. Please contact me immediately if you experience any other side effects from the abdominal binding.

The herbal decoction and medicinal foods which I prepare as part of the postpartum care packages are plant derived and traditionally considered safe in the practice of Eastern Medicine; however, in rare situations some patients may not be suitable for eastern medicinal prescriptions. Possible side effects of taking herbal decoctions are stomachache, vomiting, diarrhea, rashes, hives, and tingling of the tongue. Please notify me immediately if you experience these or other side effects so we can alter your treatment plan accordingly. All materials included in your postpartum care packages including herbal prescriptions are non-refundable.

Please contact me within 48 hours of hospital admittance or your baby’s delivery. You can contact me by phone (917) 929-4457 (call or text), or email (Lily@lili.care). This will help us confirm the dates for your in-home postpartum care sessions.

Please discuss and choose which Traditional Chinese Medicine Postpartum Care Package you would like to purchase.

Elite — $5,500 — 6 in-home visits, all attended by Dr. Lily Yeh Gillespie
Premium — $4,000 — 4 in-home visits, all attended by Dr. Lily Yeh Gillespie
Single Visit — $1,500 — 1 in-home visit, attended by Dr. Lily Yeh Gillespie

Additional home visits for Premium and Elite packages can be purchased at $850/visit. Additional home visits for Single Visit can be purchased at $900/visit.

For Premium and Elite packages, 50% of the total fee is to be paid upon contract signature and is a non-refundable retainer to be applied towards services. The balance will be paid on the first postpartum visit to retain services. If you decide to purchase additional teas/herbs, payment is expected the day of service by cash or electronic payment (Zelle or Venmo).

If you wish to terminate my postpartum services, at the point of termination, it is expected that all unpaid, contracted appointments will be paid in full if termination occurs prior to the end of our agreement date. If you cancel prior to the first in-home session, the deposit is non-refundable; however, you will not be responsible for the unpaid balance. If any party needs to change appointment dates/times, please allow a minimum notice of 24 hours.

TCM Postpartum Package: 

I require a non-refundable deposit fee at time of contract signing; it will be put towards the full fee of . This deposit ensures a spot for you on my calendar for your due date and my on-call period after you give birth. The remaining balance, which is will be paid on the first postpartum visit to retain services. Any additional charges or services for the client will be added in the “Additional Notes, Services and Charges” section.

I have read this contract describing the TCM postpartum care services and agree to enter into a client–TCM PPC relationship for the pregnancy and birth with a due date of  .