Ayurvedic post Partum Regimen
An Ayurvedic post partum regimen is an excellent way to help a post partum woman gain her health and strength rapidly, gently balance aggravated doshas and ensure that she is not stuck with the attendant issues of high hair fall that occur after delivery. High hair fall post partum is linked to a natural elevation in Vata dosha that Ayurveda says occurs after delivery. If this aggravated Vata dosha is left unchecked it can lead to higher pain, poorer recovery rates, higher incidence fo vata based disorders in post partyum women and also post partum depression. All of these along with post partum hair fall can be traced to uncontrolled vata dosha because of a lack of proper post natal care that follows Ayurvedic principles.
As we have discussed earlier, Ayurveda opines that the birth of a child causes an imbalance in the body’s doshas as a large gap is created in the womb that was once occupied by the fetus and her placenta. The process of childbirth which is physically demanding and rigorous excites Vayu. Once Vayu is aroused, it is in its nature to rush in and occupy empty spaces and childbirth gives Vayu a large empty space to occupy.
Traditional post natal practices therefore centre around nourishing, oil and ghee based warm food and regimens like abhyangas to remove fatigue, provide strength back to the body and reduce the likelihood of vayu rushing in and upsetting the body’s dosha balance.
Our posts on post partum health have led to a lot of enquiries on how mothers should be looked after post child birth for good health. So we are fortunate today to carry a piece co-written with Seetha Anand Vaidyam on the traditional post natal practices that were followed in her home for both her pregnancies. This information is important to document and present because many of us lack an awareness and knowledge on what should be done for post partum mothers.
Seetha is a holistic educator, remedial therapist and an author . Seetha works through Ananda Foundation for Holistic and Healthy Learning & Living. Ananda, through its 3 wings — Learn to Move & Move to Learn; Plate to Planet and Art of the Hearts — offers hands on workshops, talks and one on one counseling sessions on Early Childhood, Remedial Therapy, Sustainable Living and Holistic Wellness across India and abroad. Seetha has authored ‘ “Good” Food — a guide to right cooking and eating’ which has 2 editions and 1 reprint to its credit. She can be reached through email.
Along with her piece, we have also included textual references to the practices described wherever relevant to clearly establish that these time honored practices flow from Ayurvedic first principles.