When I gave birth to my son, I knew nothing about the postpartum period, often referred to as the 4th trimester. This information was not offered to me by my GP, midwife, doula, family, friends or even during prenatal classes.  

I had no idea that a new mother is fragile and vulnerable in the first few weeks after birth and needs to be looked after. If I knew that, I surely would not be vacuuming three days into my postpartum after a cesarean section! 

The Western Health System

The reality is that Western 'technocentric' or modern cultures focus primarily on two aspects. First, antepartum, where progression of healthy pregnancies is monitored, and potential abnormal pregnancies are identified. And secondly, intrapartum, which is caring for healthy women in labour at term. 

There is a comparative lack of attention to the postpartum period, which does not typically extend beyond the first few days postpartum, which a new mother usually spends in hospital. And the focus is on looking after the baby and not the mother. 

Yet many 'ethnokinship' or collectivistic cultures, such as in East Asia, South Asia, South America and the Middle East, place considerable attention on the postpartum period. 

Researchers conducted a qualitative systemative review of traditional postpartum practices and rituals. Unsurprisingly common themes among the postpartum practices were evident. 

I say 'unsurprisingly' because there is much to say about a woman's intuition and the collective intuitive feminine wisdom, particularly around childbirth and caring for the new mother. And such wisdom is kept intact in societies where the whole is valued over individualism.

These are the five commonalities that were found in the various postpartum practices around the world:

1. Organized Support

Organized support usually comes in the form of family members, such as the mother or mother-in-law, female relatives or the husband. 

Respected female elders and community members, traditional birth attendants or other young females from the community may be involved. 

The support they provide includes practical assistance such as household chores, cooking and educating the new mom on how to take care of herself and the new baby.

2. Rest period and restricted activities

Organized support typically corresponds to a prescribed period of rest where the new mother is not allowed to perform regular household chores and cooking. Instead, the focus is on the new mom to heal from pregnancy and birth and bond with her baby. 

This rest period differs among cultures. However, it ranges from 21 days to 42 days.  

What is very clear is that the common thread is to ensure that the new mother rests so that she can heal her body, ensuring good health for years to come and bonding with the baby. 

According to Ayurvedic postpartum practice, if the Ayurvedic principles are followed in the first forty-two days, Kayakalpa can be achieved. This is where the entire physiology of a new mother can be reset, enabling her to come out of the postpartum period fully rejuvenated and revitalized. 

3. Special attention to food

Certain foods are especially encouraged to promote healing or restore health in many cultures. In contrast, others food are discouraged as they are thought to cause illness immediately or in the future. 

Most of these cultures believe that foods may be classified as hot or cold in their intrinsic properties. This is usually considered independent of the food's temperature. The postpartum period is regarded as a cold and vulnerable state. Therefore, hot foods are encouraged to restore harmony and balance, while cold foods should be avoided.    

The Ayurvedic practices recommend that foods of warm, soft, moist and grounding qualities are fed to a new mother, which aids in digestion, absorption and assimilation of nutrients. In addition, sattvic foods which promote a sattvic mind are also highly recommended in the Ayurvedic tradition. Such foods enable an ability to concentrate and calmly shift your attention, self-confidence, sound sleep, emotional stability, and sustained energy. Qualities are all essential for a new mom.   

There are special tonics that these various cultures use during the postpartum period, consisting of herbs or foods with special medicinal properties. 

For example, in Nepal, haluua, a kind of wheat semolina with added heating substances such as ginger, cumin and turmeric, is used to promote milk production.  

In the Ayurvedic tradition, a somewhat similar food consisting of semolina, water, ghee, dark sugar rich in iron, nutmeg, ginger and cardamom is also served to a new mom as a first meal. It is replenishing and easily digestible, providing the nutrients required to heal.

Many traditions also believe that what you eat can affect your baby. For example, some Kanadier Mennonite women believe that watermelon, cabbage, beans and hot peppers may stimulate the infant and interfere with sleep patterns. 

4. Physical warmth practices

As the postpartum period is regarded as a cold and vulnerable state, the new mother is encouraged to stay warm.

Anything that may make a new mother feel cold must be avoided, such as air conditioning, cold drinks or foods, being in a draughty room, having cool showers or baths, and being outdoors even if it is slightly windy.

Special herbs and spices are also consumed to stoke a new mother's digestive fire, enabling proper elimination and digestion. 

5. Postpartum rituals

A common practice among many cultures is that of belly binding, which occurs around the fifth day and is worn for about 40 days or longer. There are numerous benefits of belly binding, including core, pelvic floor, pelvis, low back and breastfeeding support.     

Special oil massages are also common, particularly in the Ayurvedic practice of abhyanga and Hawaiian lomilomi. These oil massages remove tensions, emotional anxieties and negative thoughts and feelings.   

Several cultures also have special practices related to the placenta. For example, in Malaysia, the placenta, considered the baby's sibling, is placed in a 'winding' sheet and coconut shell and then buried. 

What can we as women do to support each other

I do not foresee the Western medical system placing resources in the space of prolonged postpartum care for new mothers anytime soon, if ever. 

And I feel that it is us women who need to take power back into our own hands. 

Firstly, education about the postpartum period and its unique requirements is critical, and thus we need to spread this knowledge far and wide. 

Secondly, we need to start creating communities in our neighbourhoods that help and support new mothers without family or support structures to experience the postpartum window enabling them to heal and bond with their new baby. 

As and when you have the capacity to pay it forward to a new mother in your neighbourhood, remember that slowly but surely, this will all make a massive difference in the long run for women and their children.