a few postpartum practices from around the world

i've recently begun reading a fabulous book on mothers and the postpartum period.  if you are in need for a postpartum read, i recommend robin lim's after the baby's birth. . .a woman's way to wellness.  the unique part about this book is that robin wrote this book while she was pregnant with her fourth child and during her own postpartum phase.  much of the advice comes straight from a mother's heart.

here are a few excerpts from robin's book in regards to postpartum practices around the world:

the balinese begin honoring new life in the third month of pregnancy by holding ceremonies in which offerings are given to ensure the health and well-being of the mother and child.  once the baby has been born a ceremony is held, during which the afterbirth and apropriate offerings are buried.  at twelve days postpartum the new mother is "purified". for the first 105 days of life, the child never touches the ground.  she is held in arms continuously until the ceremony that officially welcomes the baby into the family.  

sweden encourages mothers to stay home with their babies by giving them two years of maternity leave with full pay.  this paid time off from work to nurture the baby may be used entirely by the mother or split with the baby's father.

in india, ayurvedic tradition encourages a new mother to stay at home and be pampered for the first twenty-two days postpartum.  her role as an exalted one is honored.  this time of rest helps strengthen the infant/mother bond.  in this precious laying-in time, breastfeeding becomes smooth, and a feeding routine is established.  rest and protection of both mother's and baby's delicate nervous systems are priorities.  few visitors are allowed, and mother and baby stay out of the wind and weather, decreasing the possibility of exposure to disease.  specially prepared foods are served to the mother.

most births in holland take place at home, and excellent in-home postpartum care is provided by midwives in training.  these mother's helpers live in for eight to ten days.  they do virtually everything from cleaning to cooking to child care.  the helper reports to the midwife who managed the mother's labor and delivery.  at day ten and six weeks the managing midwife also checks on the mother and her baby.

touch beyond belief

i recently finished the vital touch by sharon heller, ph.d.  wow, it's amazing.  i think we all intuitively know how important touch is in our lives.  however, we don't live in a touch driven society.  i wonder how many of us think to our cultural patterns in the united states and consider the rise of behavioural disorders, consumerism and disease with the link to lack of touch.  sharon heller touches on these topics, while focusing on the experience of american babies, and why they rank the least held on earth.

this book is now in the top ten of my most recommended books for parents to be and parents who are smack dab in the midst of action.  my favorite point that heller touches on is how touch actually creates brighter and more balanced babies, leading to emotionally balanced people.  as sharon heller notes, when we carry our infants they experience our body warmth, frequent position changes, deep pressure, rocking, bouncing, and other forms of movement.  they are often kissed, stroked, patted, nuzzled.  

unfortunately, our consumer culture has convinced us that a container culture is the norm.  so normal, that if you count families out and about on a weekend, it's rare to find babies in the arms of parents.  most are in strollers or carriages.  while being wheeled to and fro, the baby has limited vision and awareness, and is far from the warmth and safety of the parent's body.  she is vulnerable to the loud sounds in the world around her, without the protection of a parent.  

hugging a baby close and having her hang on your hip is proven to stimulate her development.  neurons in the brain fire off with the movement.  in various indigenous cultures, babies who are held throughout infancy often skip the crawling phase and go straight into walking, after a few stumbles or so.  it's important to bring awareness to what we consider the "norm" and reflect on the pros and cons. 

heller's work also stimulated some other thoughts.  we simply don't offer enough support as a culture to the postpartum mom enough in this society.  so often, the mother is left on her own.  our nuclear families are spread like smooth peanut butter across the states, and often the mother's and father's families live miles away.  in turn, this affects the entire bonding process for the mother and the baby.  taking a shower or having a few minutes each day becomes a rare treat when a new mother is left at home alone with a newborn.  many cultures take care of a new mother for up to 6 weeks after birth, so that all she may do is breastfeed and bond with her little one.  

mother and baby need to bond, so that she may learn the signs of her baby's communication.  often a newborn will cry just because they cannot yet control their muscles and being held or swaddled helps bring comfort.  only a mother that is nurtured and supported can truly give full attention to her newborn's development.

we are raising the next generation of consciousness on this planet.  the moment from our conception, to growth in the womb, our birth and the early weeks of infancy all assist in molding our personalities as adults.  for parents who are interested in becoming fully aware of how they may positively affect their baby's development, i highly recommend the vital touch.  this book will open doorways into your mind, your emotions, and most significantly into your body.  may we all become more comfortable, open and aware of what it truly means to be in body.