Ayurveda's Approach to Postpartum Care
Ayurveda offers a holistic approach to postpartum care that focuses on nourishing the mother, restoring balance, and promoting vitality
Ayurveda’s Approach to Postpartum Care
Welcoming a new baby is a joyous and transformative experience, but it also comes with challenges that require careful attention to the mother's well-being. Postpartum care is essential for both the mother's health and the newborn's development. Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine, provides a holistic approach to postpartum care, emphasising nourishment, balance, and vitality.
Firstly, Ayurveda acknowledges that childbirth significantly depletes a mother's strength and vitality. Therefore, the primary goal is to replenish her energy and support her body's natural healing processes. This is guided by Ayurveda's "Sutika Paricharya," specific guidelines tailored for the postpartum period.
Food as Medicine
Central to Ayurvedic postpartum care is a diet rich in warm, nourishing foods that are easy to digest and packed with nutrients. Think comforting soups, cooked vegetables, wholesome grains like rice and quinoa, and nourishing fats such as ghee (clarified butter). These foods strengthen digestion, promote healing, and support lactation. Incorporating herbs like fenugreek, turmeric, and ginger aids digestion, reduces inflammation, and enhances overall well-being. A simple recipe to start with is kitchari.
Avoiding foods that are overly spicy, salty or sour after delivery is also recommended as these may affect the baby’s digestion.
Ayurvedic Herbs and Treatments for Postnatal Recovery
Ayurveda offers targeted herbal formulations such as Shatavari and Ashwagandha to address common postnatal concerns like fatigue, hormonal imbalances, and lactation difficulties. These natural remedies, rooted in centuries of traditional wisdom, synergistically support the body's innate healing abilities to promote recovery and vitality.
Emotional and Spiritual Well-being
Ayurveda also highlights the importance of emotional and spiritual well-being during the postpartum period. Although it can be difficult to find time, practices like meditation, gentle yoga, and breathwork can help calm the mind, reduce stress, and cultivate inner peace amid the challenges of new motherhood. Even a few minutes can make a big difference—whether it's during a quiet moment or while feeding your baby.
3 Essential Stages of Ayurvedic Postnatal Treatments
Stage 1. Relaxation
Ayurveda places great importance on Abhyanga, a daily self-massage using warm oil. This soothing practice not only relaxes tired muscles and improves circulation but also nurtures emotional well-being. Massaging the abdomen with specific herbal oils can also help tone the uterus and promote its return to its pre-pregnancy state.
Stage 2: Strengthening
Kizhi poultice treatments involve heating medicinal herbs and oils in a cloth pouch. This warm herbal pouch is applied to areas of the body to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and enhance healing. It's beneficial for addressing muscle pain, joint stiffness, and supporting postpartum recovery.
Stage 3: Sustenance
Njavara kizhi is a specialised treatment where a unique rice called njavara is cooked with herbal decoctions and milk. The warm rice is tied into cloth pouches and used in massage. This therapy promotes overall health, improves skin texture, and enhances muscle tone, supporting recovery from various postnatal conditions.
Tips for Postpartum Care
Ayurveda's approach to postpartum care centres around nurturing both the physical and emotional needs of new mothers. By following these time-tested practices—supported by diet, lifestyle adjustments, and herbal remedies—you can honour your body's natural rhythms and recover fully as you embrace this transformative phase of life.
1. Eat Warm, Nourishing Foods: Prioritise soups, cooked grains, and healthy fats.
2. Stay Hydrated: Drink warm fluids like herbal teas and ginger tea.
3. Practice Abhyanga (Self-Massage): Incorporate daily self-massage for relaxation. Alternatively you can book a postpartum massage at our Melbourne-based clinic.
4. Rest and Relaxation: Allow yourself time to rest and recover as much as possible.
5. Herbal Support: Include Ayurvedic herbs like shatavari, ashwagandha, turmeric, and ginger into your daily routine.
6. Reach out for support: If you need some extra support, nurturing, or guidance, reach out to our team for a personalised Ayurveda consultation or appointment. We know how challenging those first few weeks, months and years can be.
By embracing Ayurvedic principles and seeking professional guidance, you can ensure a smoother transition into motherhood and prioritise your health and well-being during this special time.
Ayurveda Consultations
Meet with our Ayurveda Doctor face-to-face or online for a comprehensive assessment using traditional techniques such as pulse diagnosis, tongue diagnosis, eye diagnosis, face, lips and nails examination to confirm your dosha (mind-body type), any current imbalances and develop a personalised wellbeing plan.
Based on the findings you will be given an individualised plan to follow which may include a number of approaches to restore balance and harmony to your body, mind and life such as:
- Nutritional suggestions
- Daily routines and lifestyle practices in accordance with the season
- Yoga, meditation and breathing practices
- Therapeutic treatments
- Herbs and herbal oils
- Cleansing techniques and detoxification
SHOP
View our collection of organic, handcrafted, herbal tea blends and Ayurveda lifestyle products to help balance your dosha and restore harmony to your body, mind and life.