Becoming a new mother is an exciting and rewarding experience, but it can also be overwhelming. During the first six weeks after childbirth, your body and mind need to heal and renew naturally. It's essential to have proper support from those around you to ensure that the physical and emotional stress of motherhood doesn't interfere with your healing process. As a new mom, it's understandable to feel pressure to handle everything perfectly on your own. However, it's crucial to remember that you don't have to do it all alone. With the help of family, friends, or an ayurvedic postpartum doula, you can receive the empathetic care you need to ensure complete healing after the birth of your baby. This nurturing care will help you connect with your little one and create a beautiful bond that will last a lifetime.

The Ayurvedic postpartum doula shares support through the Four Pillars of Care. These Pillars are:

• Nourishment through healing foods and herbs specific to postpartum recovery and lactation
• Yoga (meditation and breath-work)
• Bodywork- Daily self-nurturing, including Benkung belly binding and warm oil massage (Abhyanga)
• Rest 

The Pillar of Nourishment: Healing Foods, Herbs and Teas:

It is essential to consume healthy food during pregnancy to aid the growth of the baby. However, many individuals do not realize the significance of eating the right foods after giving birth. After childbirth, the body enters survival mode, and many regular functions slow down to save energy. This is why new mothers are prone to irregular digestion, including gas, bloating, and constipation. To balance your system, regain digestive strength, and rebuild your body's vitality, it is essential to consume nutrient-dense foods that are well-cooked, warm, and soupy with lots of digestive spices and oils. Proper nourishment helps to maintain hormone balance, sleep, memory, emotional well-being, and more. When you are well-nourished, you will have the ability to produce milk for your baby and ensure that your baby is also receiving the necessary nourishment.

The Pillar of Yoga: The Importance of Meditation and Breath-Work:

Yoga means the union of a new mother with her baby. Once ready, you can work up to a more defined meditation and breathwork and eventually postures and movement. Yoga is the container for your health and well-being through your commitment to the 42 days.

The Pillar of Bodywork:

• Benkung Belly Binding - After childbirth, the female body goes through many changes. Wrapping the belly can help bring the organs back to their original position, which can reduce discomfort and improve physical health. It may also help to bring abdominal muscles closer together, aiding in the healing and recovery process post-childbirth. Belly wrapping has been used in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for centuries to prevent cold or wind from entering the body after the womb space becomes empty. This traditional practice can be grounding for new mothers, providing comfort like a warm hug around the abdomen, especially when many women feel the loss of not having their babies safely inside their bodies any longer. Additionally, it can provide extra support for the lower back, which may experience strain while caring for the newborn.

• Warm Oil Self Massage (Abhyanga) - New mothers often experience dryness, which can be due to hormonal changes and lack of hydration after giving birth. This dryness can cause discomfort, itching, and skin irritation. To alleviate this issue, it is essential to incorporate healthy fats such as ghee, butter, and coconut oil into your diet. These healthy fats can help nourish your skin, improve digestion, and provide energy to your body.

Additionally, performing a warm oil self-massage as part of your self-care routine for 10-20 minutes at least twice a week can help nourish your tissues, improve lymph function and circulation, and ground and strengthen your nervous system. This practice involves applying warm oil, such as sesame, almond, or coconut oil, to your body and massaging it in a circular motion. It can help stimulate your lymphatic system, which helps remove toxins from your body, promote healthy blood circulation, and reduce stress and anxiety.

It's important to note that this practice can benefit not only you but also your baby. The bonding experience between you and your baby during the massage can help strengthen your relationship, improve your baby's sleep, and promote healthy growth and development. This practice can be a pleasant addition to your daily routine, and it can help you feel more relaxed, rejuvenated, and connected with your body and your baby.

The Pillar of Rest:

A new mother must get adequate rest after giving birth. This rest is essential for her body to recover, as well as for her mental and emotional well-being. When a mother is well-rested, it helps to stabilize her nervous system, which can reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. Additionally, rest can aid in lactation, which is important for providing nourishment to the baby.

Rest is not just about sleeping; it is also about creating a supportive environment at home. During the early weeks after giving birth, a mother should feel comfortable and relaxed in her surroundings. This includes having a space to rest and recover, as well as having supportive people around her who can help with household tasks and childcare. The mother mustn't feel stressed or obligated to attend to others, especially visitors, during this time.

Overall, getting enough rest is crucial for a new mother's recovery, as well as for her ability to care for and bond with her new baby.