Ayurvedic Self-Care for Mother’s: Choosing the Ayurvedic way to heal after the postpartum period is helpful in a way that it is not restrictive and is easy to accommodate in your daily routine. It isn’t demanding and the methods prescribed by Ayurveda are pretty flexible, exactly what is needed for a new mother whose entire life is now unpredictable.
Post-birth, a mother loses all her balance and her whole body is changed, her mental state is now different and she now is responsible for two lives. Her own and her baby’s. Ayurveda helps to balance the vatas that are disturbed by the delivery. Here are some ways the mother can restore her energies by implementing some of these Ayurvedic recommendations.
Rest!
The mother must rest as much as she can along with her baby at least for the first six weeks after birth. Going out should be limited to doctor’s appointments and most necessary tasks. Family members can come home to help with the household chores, but outside contact should be as limited as possible.
Getting a Massage
Getting a massage with warm oil can help soothe the nerves and help to calm the unbalanced vatas. It helps in skin restoration and healing tissues as well. Mother’s can get a body massage, head massage or a foot massage or literally all of these.
Covering the Ears
When the ears are covered and kept warm, you ensure that the entryway for all unnecessary air is blocked and the body is protected. This helps to prevent any further imbalance and helps to regain composure and balance in the body.
Controlling the Environment
When the surroundings around the mother are created into those she can stay happy and comfortable in, she will automatically thrive and recover quickly. So surround the place with activities you like to do. You favourite books, play the music the mother loves etc.
Anything that helps the mother relieve stress is advisable. If the mother is happy, it will also have a positive effect on the baby.
Dietary Changes
Using a good amount of ghee in the food for the mother can help her restore her digestive fire and also help to resin lost energy. Herbs and spices like black pepper and ginger can help promote healthy lactation. Spicy food must be avoided in the first few weeks. The healthier the mother’s diet is, the healthier the breastmilk will be. Some other recipes a mother can try are turmeric infused milk and kheer (rice pudding).
