Rituals + Ideas to Honor Your Womb Blood Every Month, After Birth, or Miscarriage

by Midwife Monika Rosicka, LM, CPM

Plant Allies

• Gather your herbs to put in your bath, foot bath, body scrub, tea, or water
• Barefoot walk in the garden
• Flowers: all over your home and especially in your bedroom and kitchen
• Make a special infusion with herbs that help build your blood and nourish your womb such as nettles, red raspberry leaf, and alfalfa.
• Put your moon blood into your plant friends: they love the nutrients. Can do so off cloth pads, sponge, or cup.

Movement

• Yoga for womb health
• Dance, especially on the beach/near the ocean
• Walk or gentle hike
• Avoid running on concrete or doing excessive cardio or weight lifting the first few days of your flow. This is to help the uterus relax and release without creating prolapse or endometriosis, two painful medical conditions that can last a lifetime if not treated properly.
• Feet up the wall, bicycling and low impact movement can help ease discomfort

Food as thy Medicine

• Extra snacks: nuts, seeds, seaweeds, fruits, protein rich
• Morning water
• Remember the chocolate: oh ya!! Raw, organic, fairly grown and traded…rich in minerals including magnesium and potassium. Skip the processed stuff.
• Eat a red fruit or veggie such as: beet, tomato, radish, dragon fruit, pomegranate, or?
• Red wine, a glass or two can help with cramps, sometimes. Use wisely as some prefer no alcohol while bleeding, particularly after birth.

Cramp Ease

• Have sex
• Heating pad, hot water bottle, hot bath: comfort measures
• Herbs such as: cramp bark, blue and black cohosh (careful, these can increase clotting for incomplete miscarriage) and some of the nervines such as: lemon balm, valerian, and passion flower can help, as can poppy tincture, particularly if headaches are common. Please keep in mind that nervines may be too strong to take while breastfeeding.
• Massage, especially: feet, hands, belly.
• Music, especially toning music, such as didgeridoo, chimes, or singing bowls can be especially soothing on relaxing the smooth muscle of the uterus. The uterus is an involuntary muscle like the heart and can respond to sound in a positive way.
• If you need something stronger than herbs such as pharmaceuticals, don’t feel shame. Do speak to your care provider about best treatment options. If you feel pain often or it’s persistent for you to the point where it’s debilitating, please speak with a midwife or women’s health provider as there may be another health issue that needs to be screened for so you can get relief.

Rest & Rejuvination

• Meditate
• Naps, sleep in, stay cozy
• Time in nature
• Do nothing day: Cancel all your plans and turn off your phone (if you can, gatta plan for this in our modern world).
• Burn a special candle

Body Adornment

• Red clothes: detail or full piece
• Red jewlery: fit for a queen
• Red lipstick: what you speak becomes reality
• Red nail polish, scarf, or accessory

Art, not War

• Make art: Be creative! Use this time to tap into higher self
• Blood art: direct prints or paint or draw with your moon blood
• Blood body adornment: paint on your skin with your blood or with a lover
• Little altars can be set up to celebrate this special time in your month
• Journal and write poetry
• Go see a play, movie, or art installation in your community that honors women and the Earth.