SIDEBAR: How to best support post partum healing

Having a baby is one of the most precious times in a woman’s life. Thankfully, in the last twenty-five years there has been a change in the attitude about birth from viewing it as a medical emergency to the natural process it is. Families can now choose birth at home, with a midwife or drug-free in the hospitals. Hospitals now have birthing rooms with hot tubs and dim lights and accept the help of doulas to support the mother in having her ideal birth plan. This change in the way our culture views birth is so important in creating happy, healthy babies and families, yet there is still a very big missing link: postpartum care.

When women entered into the work force in World War II, women put great emphasis on having careers and proving our equality with men. As a result, the role and attitude of mothers and homemakers has drastically changed. We tend to pride ourselves on having little maternity leave as possible. If we are not career women, we still are expected by our society and ourselves to be back to the household chores in no more than two weeks, tops. This cultural expectation can be very detrimental to a mother’s health and the long-term well being of the family as a whole.

Many practitioners in our present medical system will admit that this gap in post-natal care does exist and that the problems that stem from it are many and far too common to keep ignoring, but present medical philosophy has little knowledge of how to rejuvenate the body, in general.

The statistical numbers for postpartum depressed women are higher in our country than most developed countries in the world. Lots of health problems such endocrine disorders, excessive weight loss or gain, chronic reproductive problems and even arthritis start to take seed in this postpartum time. When couples are asked when they remember difficulties beginning in their relationship, it is not uncommon for the time to be right after the baby came. Why? Because a mother need time to fully heal physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Otherwise, she is left feeling depleted and will likely burn out more in one way or another, as time goes on.

In many cultures around the world and among most indigenous peoples it is insisted that the mother and newborn are completely removed from daily affairs and chores for two to six weeks after birth. Not only are they not expected to return to life as usual, they are cooked for and cared for in very specific therapeutic ways that encourage the mother’s strength and vitality. The care given at this time enables a woman to serve her family and community from a deep developed internal resource.

So what can we do? Ayurveda, the ancient medical system of India offers us profound wisdom and a detailed therapeutic routine in how to care for a postpartum mom and why it is so necessary. In India, it is customary for a woman’s feet to not even touch the ground for six weeks after delivery. All the women in the family help with the household chores, childcare, and preparations of special foods for the mother. We obviously live in a very different culture from India, but there are still lots that we can integrate therapeutically from their system.

Ayurveda acknowledges that there three very important times in woman’s life. The first one is marriage, which traditionally meant she left her home to live with her husband’s family, but this often happened when she was just old enough to bear children (puberty). The next most important time is the 42 days after childbirth, and the last one is menopause. The 42-day window after birth is an extremely sacred time for a woman to do lots of invisible work on all levels of her being. If she is carefully nurtured, she and the baby will benefit by avoiding most common health disorders associated with this time (such as colic or other digestive problems, insomnia, irritability or baby fussiness and postpartum depression). A mother will also deepen and gain the mental, emotional, and spiritual resources needed to carry her though all the demands of family life without feeling depleted. Ayurvedic caregivers attend to new mothers’ needs with foods, herbs and daily oil rubs. This work is not just for the woman, or the baby, or the family but for the community, as a whole. Peace begins at home, and supporting a six-week healing time for mothers, no matter what our culture, is one very powerful way we can continue to create healthy, happy families.

How to best support post partum healing
Encourage mothers to do as little as possible for 42 days (or as long as she can). That means avoiding all housework and driving around. Even limit guest visits in number and time they stay. Keeping visits to fifteen minutes is good. Create a food tree of friends and nearby family who are willing to bring mom yummy and easy to digest foods everyday, and won’t mind doing some laundry or dishes.

Ayurveda emphasizes proper diet for this time to ensure the health of both baby and mom. Foods need to be fresh, not processed, served warmed, very soupy, and moist in consistency. Dishes should be prepared with digestive spices such as cumin, caraway, ginger, mustard seed, clove, basil, turmeric, fenugreek, cinnamon, and garlic (roasted only).
Avoid eating meat for at least two weeks. Soup stocks are okay. Avoid caffeine; white sugar; raw vegetables’ dry, light, crunchy foods; too many beans (including tofu); and too many eggs.

Make sure mom and baby are warm, oily, and feeling loved. That means lots of sesame oil rubbed gently on their skin daily. Use lots of sesame oil, olive oil, or ghee internally. Stay warm indoors. Most importantly, assure mom that it is okay for her to take this time to receive so much love and support, no matter how awkward it may feel for her.

Tovia Safford provides postpartum care services and apprenticeship. She is also the creator of Mother’s Touch organic essential oil blends for infants and children, with info at www.motherstouchoils.com or 828-651-9335.

Back to New Life Journal..