Becoming a mother is both beautiful and challenging. Many have described it as the most exciting moment of their lives. Undoubtedly, post delivery care of new mothers is almost as crucial as childbirth. The centuries-old practice of Ayurveda in postpartum care offers a set of guidelines that ensures a nurturing journey for both the mother and the newborn.
Since the postpartum period is transformative, proper after delivery care for mothers helps in their physical recovery, emotional stability, and lactation. Let’s see how Kerala’s traditional postpartum Ayurvedic treatments, combined with modern medicine, have been helping many mothers, including those who come from outside India, as they embrace this new journey.
Understanding Postpartum Care in Ayurveda
Many young allopathic physicians nowadays recommend against an intense Ayurvedic postpartum treatment. How wrong could they be? Postpartum care in Ayurveda involves structured dietary instructions and therapies dedicated to restoring the balance of energies within the postpartum body of new mothers. It helps them recover their strength and vitality.
Why is Ayurvedic postnatal care important?
Postnatal recovery is central to Ayurveda, where initial treatment is recommended immediately within 2-3 weeks after childbirth. Known as Soothika Kala in Ayurveda, the postpartum phase should be an enjoyable and relaxing experience for young mothers. They all deserve sensitive, holistic care that balances their doshas and rejuvenates them.
As you may already know, Ayurveda places great importance on postnatal care to support the well-being of both the mother and the newborn during the first 40 days after childbirth. Common issues like hormonal imbalances and fatigue are carefully addressed during this period with a set of dietary instructions, herbal and oil treatments, and healing practices.
The diet recommendations correct any imbalances in the mother’s Prakriti (inherent nature or constitution of an individual) that occurred during childbirth, whereas various Ayurvedic practices facilitate healing and provide a strong foundation for the baby’s health. Ayurvedic postpartum remedies can strengthen the health of both mother and baby for the next 40 years.
According to Ayurvedic texts, the process of giving birth and the quick transition from being pregnant to no longer pregnant can cause Vata aggravation. After the loss of energy, blood, and fluids, the mother’s condition becomes dry and cold. So, calming the Vata dosha is necessary to bring her back into a warm and nourishing state, both externally and internally.
Ayurvedic postpartum treatments will help you in;
- Restoring the metabolic and digestive state of the body
- Producing good quantity and quality of breast milk
- Strengthening of muscle and ligaments
- Normalizing physiological functions
- Improving the quality of eggs which is needed for the next fertilization
As a new mother, you need special care, a well-balanced diet, and a calming environment to regain your physical and emotional strength. Ayurvedic postpartum care or Soothika Paricharya, promises a sensitive approach to postnatal recovery and supports your recovery while promoting the healthy development of your baby.
Phases of Postnatal Healing in Mothers
During the postpartum period, new mothers may go through lots of stress and physical discomfort. All these should be considered in post delivery care for mom. Postpartum Ayurvedic care is usually given for two weeks starting from two weeks after childbirth. However, it often extends to 6-8 weeks, incorporating dietary control and herbal medication.
Let’s see the different phases of postnatal healing in detail;
● Phase 1: Recovery (first 2 weeks) – In the initial phase of postpartum healing, Ayurveda recommends active care, proper rest, light diets, and herbal medicines for new moms. They should rest at home with their newborn and avoid coming in contact with external energies.
New mothers are encouraged to rest as much as possible during the first two weeks to allow their bodies to recover from childbirth. Adequate rest supports hormonal balance, speeds up recovery, and replenishes energy. It also influences the health of the baby.
● Phase 2: Rebuilding strength (2–6 weeks) – To restore the health and digestion of new mothers, they should be given nourishing foods. In both natural and cesarean births, the first six weeks are crucial in rebuilding their physiological and psychological strength.
Since digestive fire plays an important role in postpartum recovery, freshly prepared warm, soft, and soupy foods are recommended. Foods cooked with ghee can promote digestion, keep energy levels high, and help soften stools. Gentle exercises are also advised during this period.
● Phase 3: Long-term health (beyond 6 weeks) – New mothers’ mental stress during the first 4-5 months after childbirth should be taken care of. Care should focus on their emotional stability and address postpartum depression, long-term health, and other challenges faced by them. Foods rich in spices and herbs are also given to support lactation and immunity.
Although the first 40 days or six weeks are crucial in postnatal healing and recovery, postpartum care may extend beyond that. Ayurvedic practices for each phase of the postnatal healing period aim to help mothers regain physical and emotional strength, boost immunity, improve the production of milk, enhance future pregnancy chances, and correct posture.
Key Challenges for New Mothers
Many joys of motherhood come with several challenges. Even while holding their little ones in their hands, many young mothers find themselves grappling with mental and societal stress. Some of these challenges are not yet acknowledged or understood by the majority of society, with one such struggle being postpartum depression.
Postpartum Depression: Causes and Ayurvedic Remedies
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a long-lasting complication of giving birth, so do not think of it as a character flaw or weakness. Sometimes, it can start during pregnancy and continue after childbirth, with more intensity. New mothers experience extreme levels of fear, mood swings, anxiety, and depression during this period.
Postpartum depression symptoms may include;
- Difficulty bonding with your baby
- Crying too much
- Severe mood swings or depressed mood
- Withdrawing from everyone, including your partner
- Overwhelming fatigue
- Eating more than usual or loss of appetite
- Sleeping too much or having difficulty sleeping
- Intense anger or irritability
- Hopelessness
- Thoughts like you are not a good mother
- Tendencies to harm yourself or your baby
Changing family roles, marital conflicts, new baby stress, or a family history of mental illness can all be causes of postpartum depression. However, Ayurveda supports the mental well-being of new mothers through a range of practices.
For example, abhyanga (oil massage) therapy can effectively reduce stress, and the extensive use of herbs like Ashwagandha in herbal remedies helps balance hormones and energy levels, thus taking care of the overall well-being of new mothers.
What else can trouble a new mother? What about breastfeeding struggles? Challenges a lactating mother could face include insufficient breast milk supply, sore or cracked nipples, baby not latching, and breast infection or swelling like mastitis.
Foods to promote breast milk
Ayurveda encourages breastfeeding, so, it advises including food to increase breast milk in the new mom’s diet. Spices such as shatavari, cumin, fenugreek, cardamom, cinnamon, and fennel seeds are real allies in healing and improving milk production. Plus, eating a handful of gooseberries every day can boost your immunity and also help in lactation.
The Ayurvedic Postpartum Care Program
Ayurvedic postpartum care combines certain practices and dietary recommendations for mothers. According to Ayurveda, a mother’s diet can influence the quality of breast milk and the health of the newborn. The treatment plan and diet will vary based on the individual’s Prakriti (constitution), Vikriti (imbalances), and the circumstances of childbirth.
What is the Ayurvedic Diet for Post Delivery?
What food is good for new mothers after delivery? The postpartum diet should consist of palatable foods or liquid or semisolid consistency, inclusive of all 6 tastes (sweet, salty, sour, bitter, pungent, and astringent). Easy-to-digest, warm-cooked soups, porridges, stews, or herbal teas made with nutrient-rich ingredients that can promote healing are preferred.
Foods to include in the diet for lactating mothers are given below;
- Foods cooked in ghee to promote digestion. They can maintain your energy levels and ensure soft stools.
- Foods rich in herbs and spices can be given to expel gas. For example, soups, porridges, and herbal concoctions made with warming herbs and spices.
- Cooked grains, such as barley and rice, well-cooked dal or lentils, and cooked vegetables. Choose whole grains over refined grains to get dietary fiber, and options include whole wheat bread, brown rice, oats, barley, quinoa, and whole grain pasta.
- Foods rich in fiber like leafy vegetables, nuts, pulses, papaya, almonds, whole grain breads, etc., can help avoid constipation in new mothers.
- Iron-rich foods can compensate for blood loss during childbirth and also prevent postpartum anemia to some extent. Lentils, spinach, beans, tofu, and dried fruits are good sources of iron.
- Calcium-rich foods should be included to promote milk production and bone health. Dairy products (milk, yogurt), almonds, sesame seeds, and leafy green vegetables should be strictly incorporated.
- Eat a wide variety of colorful fruits and vegetables in meals and snacks, as they can provide essential minerals, vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants during the postpartum period of healing.
Ayurveda prescribes specifically formulated herbal formulations and tonics to support postpartum recovery and lactation. The best herbs and spices for postnatal care are ashwagandha, guduchi, dashamoola (mix of ten roots) shatavari, ginger, fennel, and fenugreek. Chyawanprash and Rasayanas are also given according to specific needs and imbalances.
Foods to avoid during breastfeeding include spicy foods, processed foods, refined sugars, raw or cold foods, and heavy foods as they can easily disrupt hormonal balance and aggravate digestion. Gas-producing foods such as cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli are typically avoided during initial postpartum days to prevent digestive discomfort.
Herbal Medicines and Oils for Recovery
Ayurvedic herbal medicines can effectively manage postpartum depression and maintain the quality of eggs. Some popular medicines prepared are jeerakarishtam, ashokarishtam, dashamoolarishtam, shatavari gulam, dhanwantharam gulika, and puli lehyam. Triphala, licorice, fennel, ashwagandha, and shatavari, are the herbs used in most herbal remedies.
Postpartum massages using Dhanwantharam Thailam, Mahanarayan Oil, and Dashamoola oil are effective in the physical and mental healing of new mothers. Oil massages can aid in internal muscular repair and also provide much-needed relaxation. In Ayurveda, warm water baths are suggested after oil massaging. Warm water boiled with neem leaves is preferred.
Postpartum hair fall is temporary but it can be a stressful experience for many. Amla, Bhringraj, Hibiscus, and Ashwagandha are widely used to prepare Ayurvedic medicine for hair fall in new mothers. If the shedding continues and lasts for more than six months, specifically designed postpartum alopecia treatments are recommended to prevent further damage.
Ayurvedic Care Protocol for Newborns
While the mother’s recovery is crucial, Ayurveda also provides guidelines for the care of the baby to ensure proper growth. Gentle oil massages using herbal-infused oils can strengthen the bay’s muscles and bones and improve circulation. It is important to keep the baby warm, so you can swaddle them in soft, breathable clothes that can provide warmth and comfort.
Ayurveda encourages breastfeeding for at least six months as breast milk is the best and most balanced nutrition for the baby. After feeding, the baby’s mouth should be cleaned with clean, soft clothes to maintain oral hygiene. Based on the baby’s constitution, Ayurvedic practitioners may also recommend certain herbal supplements for better digestion in newborns.
Ayurvedic Therapies and Remedies for Postpartum Healing
Nowadays, everyone is returning to natural ways of delivery aftercare to promote healing post-childbirth using Ayurvedic therapies and remedies. Ayurvedic postpartum care, combining ancient principles and herbal remedies, gives greater importance to the nourishment and overall well-being of the mother during the postpartum period.
Ayurvedic Postpartum Care Treatments
As already mentioned, Ayurvedic treatment for mothers after delivery is known as Sootika Paricharya. These treatments support the new mother’s physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, and also benefit their long-term health. Plus, they provide the best and safest post cesarean section care, speeding up healing, and restoring balance after childbirth.
Ayurveda religiously opts for Panchakarma for postpartum recovery. Therapies like Virechana and Abhyanga are practiced in the initial 1-2 weeks of postpartum for detoxification and recovery. Abhyanga oil massage is a traditional practice followed for years in Ayurveda for postpartum care. It helps soothe sore muscles, improves circulation, and gives relaxation.
Massaging the abdomen and lower back with specially prepared warm medicinal oils can help tone and nourish the skin, and reduce stress. Practitioners usually perform gentle massages and herbal poultices to aid scar healing for those who have undergone cesarean births. New mothers are also given warm milk and soups with spices to strengthen their digestive fire.
Belly binding using herbal abdominal cloth bands is another Ayurvedic practice that can help new mothers get back in shape. The involution of the uterus, repositioning of the womb, and stomach muscle care are important aspects of postpartum recovery in Ayurvedic treatment.
Postpartum Recovery: Lifestyle and Daily Practices
Rest during the early days after childbirth is important for a complete postnatal recovery. However, gentle movements and simple yoga poses like the child’s pose and mountain pose can be introduced as the mother’s strength improves. Keep in mind that, as a new mother, stress can inhibit your bonding with your baby, so engage in activities that focus on relaxation.
It is important to give new mothers the support and care they need. Midwives and caregivers should support them in household chores and childcare duties. Following essential Postpartum recovery tips is equally important for both the mother and the baby. Mothers should prioritize rest, keep a calm and relaxed mind, and listen to the body’s signals for nourishment.
Why Choose Ayurvedic Postnatal Care in Kollam?
Chaithanya Ayurveda Hospital is the best postnatal care hospital in Kollam. It is a popular hub for postnatal recovery, prioritizing the overall healing of new mothers and the healthy growth of newborns. As a new mother undergoing significant physical and mental changes, you will receive personalized care treatment plans in our serene environment. Your first step to healthy motherhood starts here. Book your personalized postpartum care consultation today. Rest assured, you and your baby are in safe hands, and through our specialized post delivery mother care, you can definitely regain your vitality and strength, return to your pre-pregnancy shape, and ensure long-term health for yourself.