Ayurveda & Post Natal Care: What can we learn?

There is nothing more beautiful than holding the miracle of new life in your arms and caring for them. Pregnancy can be difficult for various reasons, but it all seems worth the effort when the mother carries her little one for the first time. Postnatal care is just as important as prenatal care because the infant is still dependent on the mother for food and her welfare plays a major role in their healthy development. Apart from that, delivering the child is not an easy process and can take a toll on the new mother's health if she does not take care of herself.

Following an Ayurvedic postnatal care regime will not only help the mother nurse her baby to good health but will also help her recuperate mentally and physically after the pregnancy. Since Ayurveda consists mostly of natural remedies, it ensures that there are no side effects on the mother and the baby's health is not compromised. 

The postnatal period is called sutika and the mother must take the utmost care of her health so that she can lactate properly and feed her child without any obstacles. The duration of this period varies from person to person and it can range from six weeks after delivery to six months. The diet in this period is structured in a way to help the mother recover from the loss of blood and reproductive fluids from childbirth.

It is advised to consume light yet nourishing food during this period because the mother's body is still recovering from the effects of childbirth. According to Ayurvedic science, the agni in the mother's body is at an all-time low and the vata is high. One of the primary goals of postnatal Ayurvedic care is to restore a balance in the doshas and increase the agni in the mother's body. 

 Other goals of postnatal Ayurvedic care include:

• Ensure adequate production of nutritious breast milk 
• Build the immunity of the mother 
• Help the mother avoid physical and mental exertion 
• Maintain a good energy level of the mother

There are various practices recommended by Ayurvedic practitioners to ensure that the mother is well cared for during the sutika period. Some of the tips include:

• It is important to maintain a positive atmosphere around the mother and the child because Ayurvedic science believes that the environment that the new mother and the baby are in has a significant impact on their health and well-being.
• Some new mothers might face problems related to digestion and bowel movement after their pregnancy. Adequate amounts of ghee and oil can be consumed to avoid such problems. 
• In terms of food, the mother can consume light but nutritious food which is in semi-solid form. Milk is a staple.
• The mother must remember to stay hydrated because dehydration affects the amount and quality of the milk produced. Turmeric milk is consumed by many lactating mothers because it prevents swelling of breast tissues during feeding and makes them immune to common ailments like cold and fever.
• Teas made of herbs (fenugreek, fennel, cumin, caraway, and shatavari) that enable more milk production can be consumed during this period.

Following the above tips will ensure that the mother regains her health. Resting during this period is also extremely important for both the mother and the child and it is recommended that the former rests at least for six weeks before returning to her regular life. It is also important to follow these steps only under the guidance of a trained Ayurvedic practitioner after getting approval from one's regular physician.  One must also be cautious of the intake of the herbs because it can cause allergies for some people. This is a significant period in any woman's life and both the mother's and child's health take the utmost precedence.