Closing The Bones
I learnt to close the bones in Cotacachi, Ecuador, with traditional Kichwa midwives, Martha Arotingo and her mother Luzmila. This practice goes back thousands of years and is central to postpartum recovery in Central and South America.
I have decided to embrace and honour this ritual to close the pregnancy physically, energetically and spiritually. For natural births, this can be done from the 5th day postpartum. For caesarean births, it’s best to wait a few weeks.
On a physical level, I reposition the uterus centrally, by hand, and with the help of a rebozo (scarf), and then I bind the mother’s hips and abdomen overnight using a sheet or a rebozo and faja (strap).
I offer a warm herbal foot bath before the closing, and then I help the mum to bed, where she will rest and feed her baby overnight. It is a beautiful ritual - a gentle and nurturing transition from pregnancy and birth into motherhood.
Martha closing my bones 19 years after I had my baby!
Herbal prepartions for baths, balms and oils
Cost for Postnatal Home Visit
€150 Cascais - Oeiras
€170 Lisbon
€180 Ericeira
€180 Caparica
For a complete and restorative postpartum recovery program, steeped in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Traditional Midwifery ritual
My Colleagues:
Alexander Ahamer, Shiatsu Therapist and Chinese Medicine Herbalist
Alexander is a Shiatsu therapist and Chinese Medicine herbalist with over nine years of clinical experience in energetic bodywork and Traditional Chinese Medicine. His work focuses on supporting mothers through the postpartum period with precision, depth, and a holistic understanding of recovery.
Drawing on meridian theory, structural awareness, and individualized herbal medicine, Alexander helps restore circulation, rebuild Qi and Blood, and regulate the nervous system after birth. His treatments offer mothers a grounded, protected space to release tension, regain strength, and recover in a way that honors the body’s natural healing process.
Qilian Shang, Traditional Lineage Acupuncturist
Qilian is a traditional acupuncturist specializing in women’s health and postpartum recovery. As a mother of three, she brings both clinical experience and lived understanding to her work with new mothers.
Rooted in classical acupuncture theory, her treatments support circulation, hormonal balance, nervous system regulation, and deep postpartum recovery. Qilian combines precise technique with compassionate care, helping mothers feel supported, grounded, and strengthened during this important healing window.