Mindful Ayurvedic Postpartum Care
The Sacred Window
What is it?
The postpartum window is recognized as a significant and vulnerable time that follows after a woman has given birth usually lasting up to 8 weeks. However, it varies from one mother to another, and can last up to a year or more depending on the state of health, complications, and/or trauma that may have been experienced during pregnancy, birth, or afterward.
A woman’s whole system is in deep recovery, change, and adjustment during the postpartum window, as tissues are rebuilding, organs and bodily systems are moving back into size and place, and excess fluids and metabolic wastes are eliminated. My task is to make sure that a mother has the support and care that she needs, so she can truly provide for her baby from a place of fullness, rest, and ease.
Mindful Ayurvedic postpartum care involves attuning to the mother’s individual daily needs, and making adjustments regarding diet, routine, massage, herbal preparations and baths, and meditations.
Services
The services are provided for you at your home, and these may vary depending on you and your family’s needs and desires.
The following information is a general idea of what can be offered.
Ideally we’ll discuss your wishes and desires in detail before the baby arrives.
Daily Check-Ins
I’ll start each visit by sitting down with you to check in. How are you feeling? How is baby doing? What feels most present for you today and what do you need? (Maybe you don’t know, and that’s okay). These check-ins help me to attune to what you’re needing so that I can adjust your meals, herbal preparations, guided meditation, and general care for that specific day.
Education
Learning about why your postpartum window is important is of great significance. You’ll receive a PDF book with extensive information about your postpartum window, as well as options for joining a 4 week postpartum course, in collaboration with studio VANSI in Den Haag.
Diet
In getting to know your dietary preferences, likes and dislikes, I’ll be able to provide nourishing but appropriate meals for you as you continue to enjoy your favorite flavors. The daily check-ins help me gauge what is best to prepare for that day specifically. The state of your digestion/metabolism may differ greatly from one day to another and it’s important we continue to adjust as needed.
Massage
I generally provide a 30 minute head massage for the mother each time I come for a visit. This is given whilst lying down with the option of having baby lying on top of mom for extra bonding, connection, warmth and tranquility.
Home Remedies
Home remedies can include:
Herbal vulva/vaginal baths to help support healing
Specific care and remedies for cesarean births (belly births)
Herbal teas for metabolism and lactation support
Helping to accommodate the environment such as : Soft lights and sounds (to avoid over-stimulation of nervous system), and more.
Mindfulness & Meditation
A whirlpool of physical bodily sensations, thoughts, and emotions will likely be surfacing during this very vulnerable time. For this, I offer mothers a 20 minute guided mindfulness practice as a tool for being with what is. The pleasant, the neutral, and the unpleasant.
As one’s capacity for being present with what is grows, acceptance also grows. And in acceptance we find both softness and possibility.
Community Support
It can be helpful to organize community support from friends and family and brainstorm different ways in which they can help during this period such as chores around the house, home-cooked meals, or caring for older children. It’s about finding creative ways to ask for help from our community. I can help support you and your family in finding structured ways for doing this.
Routine
Establishing routine is a crucial and vital part of postpartum care. We will be working together to find a routine that feels good to you, and that honors each week of the sacred window with lots of rest, slowness, warmth, and simplicity. Routine will provide a stable and nurturing environment on which you and your baby can count on.
Client Experiences
“Claudia has been an invaluable part of my postpartum journey. After giving birth, I unfortunately developed trombose in my leg, which made it even more difficult to navigate this new chapter of becoming a mom. I really could not have managed without the help of Claudia.
Claudia's presence was calming and reassuring, not only for me but also for my daughter Frida. It was heartwarming to see the connection Frida had with Claudia.
In moments of stress or worries she was there to listen and provide calming exercises. I could not recommend this service more ! I think every parent would benefit from the postpartum help Claudia provides.”
- Louise Hansen
For more information
c.shravani.ayurveda@gmail.com