It’s hard to believe the changes a baby brings into your life
It’s hard to believe the changes a baby brings into your life. It’s hard to believe that you’re a hero for doing this. But you are.
Let’s take a poll!
Raise your hand, if you suffered from baby blues or postpartum depression with your firstborn?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, 50-75% of new mothers experience baby blues. Baby blues may affect mothers in the first four days after giving birth.
In some women, baby blues may turn into postpartum depression. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), research has shown that 1 in 8 women experience symptoms of postpartum depression after giving birth.
This may include symptoms such as crying often, feeling disconnected or angry, feeling guilty, and having doubts about your ability to care for your baby.
Postpartum Depression Risk Factors
Women that have a history of anxiety or depression disorder are 30-35% more likely to develop postpartum depression. Women with lower income or lack access to quality health care and education are 25% more likely to develop postpartum depression.
Other risk factors include:
low social support
stressful life events
pregnancy and birth complications
difficulty getting pregnant
Prevention through an Ayurvedic lens
During the first weeks after giving birth, you will notice an increase of vata in your body. Women may increase high levels of anxiety, panic attacks, and feelings of being overwhelmed. Due to this, your pitta will flare up as there’s a great degree of irritability and anger, shame, or guilt.
However, despite the mother’s mental constitution, women are more likely to clasp onto what is familiar. When this is not the case, the mental channel becomes unbalanced.
So how can we balance our vata and pitta dosha during the first 6 weeks of postpartum?
Here are 5 tips you can try or suggest to a family or friend.
Go for a walk
Connect with another mom
Take a warm bath
Include a vata pacifying diet
Use herbs
1.Go for a walk
Go on daily walks with your baby. This will allow you to get out of the house, connect with your baby, and get some fresh air and vitamin D.
According to Healthline, if you get between 10-30 minutes of midday sunlight you will maintain healthy blood levels, and increase mood, and energy.
2. Connect with another mom
Connecting with another mom that has gone through a similar experience can provide some guidance, encouragement, and understanding towards you. You are never alone in this, so reach out! Many moms are willing to help and support one another.
3. Take a warm bath
Take a warm bath before bed. This will automatically relax your nervous system. Add some epsom salt (about ¼ cup) and soak in for at least 15 minutes, it will surprisingly relax your muscles, nervous system, and even help with headaches/migraines.
Epsom salt also helps stabilize mood, depression, and decrease inflammation in the internal organs.
You can add a few drops of organic lavender essential oil to help increase your level of relaxation.
4. Include a vata pacifying diet
Including warm foods into your diet will also help relax the nervous system. Check out some vata pacifying meals in my “Did you get vata” blog.
5. Use herbs
Why is using herbs so important? It helps warm the body, decrease your anxiety/depression, and help with digestive issues.
Try implementing these herbs into your diet [disclaimer: please check with your doctor before taking any supplements or adding certain herbs into your diet]
Ashwagandha - helps strengthen your immune system. It helps calm the nervous system and helps focus the mind. It also reduces anxiety/depression.
Ginger - helps with your digestive issues as it improves your gastrointestinal function. Ginger also has the ability to boost your immune system and even help relieve nausea and vomiting related to pregnancy or if you suffer from motion sickness.
Shankhapushpi - helps support brain function and nervous system. It also helps support mental health and emotional stability.
There are ways to help relieve “baby blues” and prevent “postpartum depression”. Although maternity can be so unpredictable, these are just a few tips you can try to help ease the stressors of motherhood.
Please note that these are just suggestions you can implement into your routine, but please consult with your doctor first if you have any concerns.
Namaste!
Andrea xoxo
References:
Bjarnadottir, M. A. S. (2021, February 18). How Much Vitamin D Should You Take For Optimal Health? Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-much-vitamin-d-to-take#How-common-is-vitamin-D-deficiency?
Depression Among Women | CDC. (n.d.). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved June 20, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/depression/index.htm#:%7E:text=Using%20the%20Pregnancy%20Risk%20Assessment%20Monitoring%20System%20%28PRAMS%29%2C,state%E2%80%99s%20prevalence%20of%20postpartum%20depressive%20symptoms%20using%20PRAMS.
Devani, V., MD. (2021, February 2). Birthing Ayurveda: Postpartum Part 4—Postpartum Blues and Mental Health. Banyan Botanicals. https://www.banyanbotanicals.com/info/blog-the-banyan-insight/details/birthing-ayurveda-postpartum-part-4-postpartum-blues-and-mental-health/
Postpartum Depression Statistics. (n.d.). Postpartum Depression. Retrieved June 20, 2022, from https://www.postpartumdepression.org/resources/statistics/
