As long as there have been people, communities have come together to support postpartum parents for the first six weeks or forty days after delivery.
Why Ayurvedic and East Asian Postpartum Care
As long as there have been people, communities have come together to support postpartum parents for the first six weeks or forty days after delivery. Vedic, Chinese and Moroccan cultures, to name a few, all understand that proper nutrition, rest, emotional support and practices such as oil massage and bellybinding in this forty-day-window sets the individual up for health for the next forty years.
You might have heard this as “forty days for forty years”.
Modern Culture’s Misstep
This unique opportunity is fading and practically unheard of in a culture that values “productivity”, activity and financial gain above wellness, rest and recovery. This not only leaves the Postpartum Person feeling like they need to get back on their feet and back to work as soon as possible, but provides little room for community members to set aside time to care for one another.
Parenting The Parent
Additionally, once Baby is born, all attention and concern is on them, while the Postpartum Person is practically forgotten even though they have just gone through an exhausting and transformative process. For postpartum rejuvenation to take place, the Postpartum Person must also be considered as someone needing to be taken care of, “mothered”, and looked after. If the Postpartum Person is well and healthy, Baby will be well and healthy.
Role of Ayurvedic Doulas
Nourishment
This is where the role of Ayurvedic Doula becomes of the utmost importance. With seasonal, well-spiced, warm, easy to digest and nourishing foods and drinks that Doula prepares, the Postpartum Person begins to regain energy, digestive fire - Agni - , heal and produce healthy and productive milk for Baby.
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| Photo credit: Pratiksha Mohanty |
Rest
Proper rest allows for healing, mental and physical wellness and routine to set in. A Doula can offer support by holding Baby while parents sleep or tend to personal routine, and help to implement routine that will help everyone rest more.
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| Photo credit: Joshua Oluwagbemiga |
Oil Massage
Ayurvedic oil massage - Abhyanga - is a warm and grounding massage that Doula or parents can do for themselves and Baby. This special massage supports deeper sleep, improves strength, minimizes pain, supports mood and nourishes tissues. In many cultures, it is considered essential in the postpartum time.
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| Photo credit: Khoa Pham |
Belly Binding
Belly Binding is an ancient tradition where the belly is wrapped in a long, soft cloth. It not only acts as a support to a belly that now feels more empty and open post-delivery, but provides stability and helps to naturally promote the abdominal wall rejoining and connecting. The Ayurvedic Doula demonstrates how to apply and massage herbal oil onto the abdomen and wrap the cloth, ensuring the Postpartum Person has the skills to do it on their own.
Emotional Support
Perhaps one of the most overlooked aspects in the postpartum time, the Doula is there to offer an open and non-judgemental ear. The transformation from pregnancy to delivery to postpartum is large, often spiritual and can be ungrounding. The Doula is there to hear you, offer reflection and help to recover pieces of the birth story that may be lost.
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| Photo credit: Oliver Hihn |
Contact
If you are interested in Ayurvedic Postpartum Care, Ayurvedic Cooking Services, Belly Binding or any of the services mentioned above, check out Body Song Bundles or email to set up a free 20 minute consultation.
