“THE GREATEST GIFT AND BLESSING IN WOMANS LIFE IS BEING A MOTHER”

               MOTHERHOOD:

                              It’s beautiful journey for every mother and family too…

                              A feel of would be mother can’t be expressed……it’s to be experienced .

Though it’s a happy moment for every family, mother faces huge physical , mental and emotional changes during this journey . Hence at most care and support have to provide to would be mother .

                              After child birth, whole world pampers the new born and ignores the mother.

Transformation of woman to mother involves great physical and mental stress and it is almost are birth for mother . Drastic changes at harmonal level have tremendous impact on mothers health. So after delivery every mother needs affection, love and the best care which helps to rejuvenate and regain her vitality and wellbeing.

                              Hence  POSTNATAL CARE,

                                                         Is very important for every new mother.

Care in this period following childbirth is critical not only for survival but also for future health of both mother and new born baby. Postnatal care provide full comprehensive and holistic assessement of mother and her baby.

                            Globally less than half (48%) of all woman and babies receive postnatal care SO there is need for new focus and efforts are required to ensure improved access to availability and quality of postnatal care for wellbeing of mother. The care is to be given to mother after child birth and upto 6 weeks of birth.

                            Ayurveda says the importance for the care of mother at every phase of her life especially, when it comes antenatal to postnatal care. It is a ancient science focusing every minute aspect at every stage of  life.                     

                           SUTIKA PARICHARYA” is one of its concept

The word sutika comes from the word “PRASUTA” means who has given birth to child.

                              Sutika paricharya involves the restablishment of health of woman after delivery and it also focus every aspect required to nurture, replenish the health of woman . first 6 weeks is the active care given to mother which focusing on restoring the mothers physiology and psycology that have been exhausted during pregnancy and delivery and prepare her to take care of herself  and new born.

                               Ancient ayurvedic acharya has mentioned ABHYANG (oil massage) as an important aspect of postnatal care.

                                Every leading ayurveda text mentioned the benefits of proper postnatal care which includes ayurvedic oil massage therapy, proper diet and rest.

                                  Ayurvedic oil massage to new mother stimulates the blood and oxygen circulation of the body by reducing,

• Anxiety, Fatigue and other health issues in new moms…
• It enhance the production of breast milk
• Remove stretchmark
• Controls stress harmones
• Recovers from sleeplessness by relaxing whole body and so on…………

                                Massage with ayurvedic oils, helps in rejuvenating and regaining  the energy of new mother . Hence by considering all these benefits

                       This transformation  of a woman  to a mother involves great strain  and is almost a rebirth so it is mandatory that every mother needs affection , love and best care during this  POST PARTUM STAGE.

                       Qu. WHAT IS POST PARTUM PERIOD?

   It is period begins upon birth of the newborn. it is often considered the six to eight weeks after birth because the effects of pregnancy on many systems have largely returned to the prepregnancy state by this time.

                      In Ayurveda this phase is called “SUTIKA KALA.”

During pregnancy fetus  gets nourishment from mothers body , making 7 dhatus of mother weakened  and diminished from usual state . After delivery mothers become  weak due to loss of fluid and blood and hence vata vitiated this is sutika kala and mode of life to be followed in this kala is called “SUTIKA PARICHARYA “

                    It mainly involves

• AHAAR (DIET)
• VIHAR (LIFESTYLE)
• AUSHADHI

                         It is said that mother is weak due to development of fetus ,loss of dhatus , excretion of kleda , blood and exhaustion  due to labor pain can regain her pregnancy state  by following this paricharya.Proper sutika paricharya causes complete involution of uterus and other pelvic organs to their pre pregnant state.

                          Proper management and care with specific diet , lifestyle ,and aushadhi results in healthy growth of new born baby as well as wellbeing of mother.

                         Qu. WHAT IS POST NATAL CARE?         

                          It is a care that is given to the mother and her newborn baby after birth to 6 weeks of birth .it aims to ensure the mother and her baby are healthy and mother is supported to take care of herself and her new born baby.

                           Qu.  WHY POST NATAL CARE IS IMPORTANT?

                         Post Natal Care is very important step towards long term health and wellbeing of woman after giving birth.

                         Following childbirth woman’s body undergoes many changes and at the same time she has added responsibility of feeding and taking care of baby. Adjusting to this new role baby is first priority so, sleepless night , fatigue, anxiety, bodyache ,  lack of support in nuclear families  and hurry to get back to normal life ……neglects mothers health.So postnatal care is incredibly important as it ensures that mother is recovering properly from labor and delivery.

                   Qu. WHAT ARE COMMON PHYSICAL AND MENTAL ISSUES FACED BY A WOMAN POST DELIVERY?

• Harmonal changes
• Skin changes
• Weight gain
• Back pain
• Body pain
• Sleeplessness
• Infections
• Hair fall
• Mood swings
• Problems with production of milk and breastfeeding
• Post partum depression

                        And many more changes happens due to harmonal imbalance.          

                        Hence, if at right time, right efforts would be taken by mother , then the journey of motherhood will be ease for her and new born also.

                        As per Ayurveda vata and pitta dosha are severly affected during pregnancy and at the time of delivery. Lowered agni impacts the digestive system -reducing apetite  and ability to digest food properly.

                        Hence balancing vata and pitta doshas is the primary aim of postnatal care ie. Sutika paricharya .

                         So main Aims of sutika paricharya  are ::

• Agni deepanam
• Vata anuloman
• Stanya janan(improve breastfeeding)
• Yoni shodhan

                          This all is possible when woman follows proper sutika paricharya which includes ::

• AHAR (DIET)
• VIHAR (LIFESTYLE)
• AUSHADHI

                         Corrects all vitiated vata dosha , deepens  agni  and by these helps in proper production of breast milk.

                                                                AHAR (DIET)

                          A healthy nutritious and light diet is traditionally provided  to the mother, which helps in replenishing  the body with vital nutrients  to heal faster and  for adequate production of milk  for baby.

                            A nourishing diet includes milk, ghee, nuts, seeds, grains and fruits helps in faster recovery and strengthening of body .                                                                                                                                         

                                     VIHAR (LIFESTYLE)

                             This includes traditional practice which is followed on most Indian households  is ABHYANG  or full body ayurvedic oil massage.

In Indian houses , it is very common  to see an elderly woman or professional masseuse  coming to give new mother a through body massage for 40 days after delivery.

                ABHYANG

External body massage with ayurvedic oil. A body massage plays a very important role in relaxing and rejuvenating a new mother after distress of childbirth.

Massage with ayurvedic oil improves blood circulation and also can prevent thrombosis, because rubbing and friction during massage dilate superficial blood vessels and improve venous flow.

It also,

• Regulates harmones ::

 by releasing endorphins the body’s natural painkiller and feel good harmones  results into postpartum depression  thus boosts confidance  of mother to newely added responsibilities.

• Strengthing ::

Body massage strengthen your core and other muscles and brings back energy and vitality to body.

• Tones the skin ::

Massage by Ayurvedic oil therapy softens the skin, reduces stretch marks and tones up and brightened the skin.

• Toning and cleaning of uterus::

An abdominal massage helps the uterus in its natural cleaning process of removing lochia and also in returning to its original size.

It also tones the abdomen and other parts of body easing them back into shape, post weight gain during pregnancy.

• Reduces breast Pain and improves milk flow::

 Massaging the breast with light hands reduces pain due to fullness and sore and cracked nipples, it also improves proper flow of milk.

• Controls hairfall ::

                               As there is harmonal changes in body during pregency,delivery and motherhood phase . stress, anxiety …..causes several hairfall in about 80 to 90% of new mothers .A head massage with warm oil helps in nourishing the scalp and controls hairfall .

The daily massage for half hour also tones up muscles of abdomen,pelvic floor ,back and vagina . It also soothes the body, balances harmones  ,improves sleep , releaves  stress  , strengthen joints and tones up skin.

So giving stress free postpartum period  to new mother increases production of breast milk …..and thus making postnatal period a blissful experience  in new mothers life,where she can cherish her baby without affected by postdelivery issues.

• AYURVEDA

Is 5000 year old system of healing from India which teaches the way of life. It offers understanding about the basic energies of universe and how they manifest in different amount in each person.

                           Ayurveda places a great emphasis and the value of caring for the mother prior , to during and following pregnancy.

                           Every leading Ayurvedic text from Charaka , Sushruta  , and Ashtang Hrudayam mentions the benefits of proper postnatal care  which includes ayurvedic oil therapy , proper diet , and rest .

Ayurveda says 42 days of proper care after delivery ensures wellbeing for next 42 years.

                           So these ancient Ayurvedic Acharyas has advised Abhyang oil massage as an important aspect of postnatal care.

                             Ayurveda says that the strain of labor and delivery can be considered in terms of vatas  five subdivision . Apan vata is responsible for downword movment in lower pelvic region , and in Ayurvedic term it is this , that moves the baby out during labor .The supreme effort aggravates  apan vata and in the process throws off all the other vatas in the body .This can cause

• Fatigue
• Anxiety
• Weakness
• Worry
• Sleeplessness and
• Pain

              It also weakens the digestive fire so that digestion usually becomes delicate and digestive power is at its minimum, adding to the fatigue induced by sleep deprivation and nursing.

ON OTHER HAND

                     as per modern science

 postpartum care includes

After having your baby, it is important to keep your relationship with your obstetrician and communicate any questions or concerns you have post-birth. Your obstetrician will ensure that your labor and delivery recovery is going smoothly and work with you to create a postpartum care plan tailored to your needs.

The World Health Organization suggests that you and your newborn have at least three postpartum visits after delivery. The first should be within 48 to 72 hours after birth, the second between day seven and 14, and the third at six weeks postpartum. Visits to your healthcare provider after delivery may include:

• Evaluation of your newborn’s general health status and growth
• Checking in on your recovery process (e.g., from a Cesarean section)
• Help with breastfeeding
• Treatment of complications due to childbirth
• Screening for postpartum depression
• Discussion regarding birth control and family planning options
• A pelvic exam¹

Conclusion

To better the health of you and your newborn after delivery, be sure to engage in postpartum care. Postpartum care should be an ongoing process and not just a single visit. Additionally, your care should be unique to your individual needs and circumstances².