Ayurvedic Postpartum Care Guide for New Moms
Learn all about ayurvedic postpartum care to help new mothers with the postpartum period. You’ll learn about the practices, benefits and even some postpartum ayurvedic recipes too!
Ayurveda is an amazing way to care for your mind and body, especially as a new mom.
Let’s take a look at ayurvedic postpartum care to help with your recovery and give you a fresh healthy start as a new mother!
In this ayurveda postnatal care guide, you will learn all about what is involved, the benefits, and a few great tips to help you along the way.
I am a certified birth and postpartum doula and trained herbalist, not a licensed medical doctor. The information shared on this website is based on my education, experience, and personal research, and is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your health or the health of your baby—especially if you are pregnant, postpartum, have any medical conditions, or are taking medications. Any use of herbal remedies, natural products, or wellness practices discussed on this site is at your own discretion and risk. The content shared here is meant to support, not replace, the relationship you have with your trusted medical provider.
What is Ayurvedic Postpartum Care?
Ayurveda, or the science of life, is a holistic approach to caring for new moms and their little ones. It has been a timeless practice that many find very effective when helping with your postpartum recovery.
In Ayurveda, the time of birth and postpartum is a time of rest and self-care. It is said that the first forty-two days after childbirth is supposed to be a time for rest, bonding, and rejuvenation for both mom and baby [source].
In modern times, few mothers actually have the care or time they need. There is so much focus on getting back to normal and rushing to achieve this. Some even believe this is sometimes the cause of postpartum depression.
Ayurveda chooses to focus on three doshas, or energies that make up the human body.
- Vata which consists primarily of air (and space)
- Pitta which consists of fire (and water)
- Kapha which consists of water (and earth)
When you give birth, your Vata becomes unbalanced. Vata is related to the extra air in your uterus from giving birth.
But the Vata is also the nervous system. So after birth, the imbalance of hormones severely disrupts the nervous system.
Thus, ayurvedic postpartum care tries to focus on balancing your Vata. It is also a time to help heal your reproductive tissues and promote healthy lactation and breasts.
In the early days where Ayurveda was practiced, the entire village came to help out a mom after she gave birth. That is why these principles involve the use of many hands and helpers.
Ayurveda Postpartum Care Principles
Let’s take a look at many principles of ayurvedic postpartum care.
Get Plenty of Rest
In ayurvedic post natal care, you want the mom to rest for a period of 42 days. They say that you rest for 42 days so the next 42 years will be good.
I know in some cases that is not possible, but do your best! Start the first two weeks with complete rest.
Have your mother or spouse or other friends come help out so you can focus on rest and recovery.
Many believe that most women do not get the rest they need, which contributes to moms never fully recovering from giving birth. So while it may seem silly or not worth it, take that time now to help your body in the future.
Have a Calm Environment
To properly rest and heal, you need a calm environment. There are many things you can do and a lot depends on you and what you like.
Make sure to meditate frequently. Many mothers find it easy to do while breastfeeding. I love using FitOn for their meditations. Even something as little as 5 minutes can help you feel calmer.
Take that time for yourself, especially if you have extra hands to help out.
Part of balancing the Vata is balancing out your spirit too. Take time for some spiritual self-care and be one with your body again.
Practice getting in a self-care routine. This will help you keep doing self-care things even after you become a busy mom.
A mom’s dinacharya, or daily routine is severely altered with a new baby. Get some family members or a calming friend to come to help you during this new change to still allow you to rest and find your new routine in a calm environment. This is crucial in your postpartum ayurvedic care.
While you want to avoid exercise during those first six weeks or 42 days, after a few weeks, it is also nice to take short walks outside with the baby. Nature is super grounding for a new mother and brings a unique sense of peace.
Check out these top postpartum mental support essentials I found crucial for my recovery.
Belly Wrapping
Wrapping your belly, or belly binding can support your uterus and help your stomach muscles return to normal functioning.
However, this is not just for physical comfort. Wrapping your belly also helps emotionally as it gives you a sense of stability and brings peace.
A cloth baby carrier will work great for belly binding, but will also be good when you babywear your newborn!
Ayurveda Postpartum Massage
A daily self-oil massage or an abhyanga is vital for a mother during postpartum. These ayurvedic postpartum massages will help ground a mom and her baby all the while healing her body.
It does help a lot to have a family member or someone else perform these massages. But, you can do them on your own as well.
Even your little one should have baby massages! These daily massages create a special bond for you and the baby, but will also provide nourishment as well.
Use a warm massage oil. Many ayurvedic doulas prefer Ashwagandha Bala oil. This oil heals the tissues, keeps the skin from becoming too dry, and grounds a new mother.
Aim to have an ayurvedic postpartum massage at least once a day, even if it is just your head and feet.
Ayurvedic Postpartum Diet
Your body needs nourishment, and the most important thing you can do is to eat nutritious food. During the first 42 days of your 4th trimester, this is crucial.
Because the diet is such a big deal, here are a few key principles for a good ayurvedic diet for postpartum.
Here are some Ayurvedic postpartum recipes to give you some ideas!
Breastfeeding Support
This helps you recover from childbirth and it also helps your baby to grow.
A healthy ayurveda postpartum diet is important for postpartum women but it’s also important for their children.
If you breastfeed your child, you should be aware that a healthy diet is even more important than ever.
Many ayurvedic practitioners believe that you cannot breastfeed if the moms are tired, angry, hungry, or upset. In order to feed your baby to help them be healthy, you must first do the same for yourself.
Get some breastfeeding teas, a great breastfeeding must have, and which will help with lactation and your milk supply. Many of the ayurvedic postpartum teas offer breastfeeding support to help with milk production.
Regular Meals
It is essential to have regular meals and to eat in intervals. This makes sure you are always fed. It is very easy to forget to eat, especially when you are exhausted and focused on your baby!
Some mothers find it successful to eat whenever their baby eats. This can be little snacks and then meals when the baby is resting. Find a balance that works for you!
What Foods to Eat During Postpartum?
You want to have warm and grounding foods, which are the opposite of Vata. This will help to restore the balance.
You also don’t want to have raw foods like vegetables and salads. The best thing a mother can have as soon as she comes home with their baby is to have a warm home-cooked meal.
Avoid processed foods as much as possible. It is best to avoid dry, raw, or crunchy foods, at least for a bit.
You also want to eat foods that are extremely easy to digest. Simple nourishing foods are the way to go.
Here are a few foods that many ayurvedic postpartum recipes include:
- Mung beans
- Ghee
- Basmati rice
- Broths
- Soups
- Root vegetables
- Legumes and grains (after the first week or so)
- Protein
- Dates
Labor and delivery take a huge toll on your digestive system. That is why it is crucial to eat very carefully during those 6 weeks of postpartum. Just like with anything, if the gut is out of balance, so is everything else.
There are extensive protocols you can follow, but I won’t get into those right now since everybody needs a different approach. You can find an ayurvedic postpartum doula who can help you learn exactly what to introduce at certain times.
Hydration
You need to always stay hydrated. This is also important for breastfeeding, but also your recovery as well.
There are many herbal teas that work great for postpartum. These not only provide your body with the nutrition it needs but also keep you hydrated! Plus, warm water is better for this stage of your life as well.
Try some ayurveda postpartum teas, dashamoola tea, and some golden milk with ashwagandha.
I love adding the postpartum teas into a postpartum care kit for my mom friends.
Ayurvedic Postpartum Herbs
Herbs are a big part of ayurvedic postpartum care. Herbs are used in teas, massage oil, food, and just about everything!
Here are just a few of the herbs you might want to incorporate during your postpartum recovery.
Fenugreek is a great herb for lactation. It is also helpful for lower back discomfort. Most lactation teas will include this.
Tumeric and ginger are good to have during the 4th trimester, but also in general. Golden Milk gives these as well as ashwagandha.
Ashwagandha helps to relieve stress and anxiety, which helps balance out the Vata.
Fennel is another herb used to help increase milk supply but also aids digestion. A fennel essential oil diluted in coconut oil can be rubbed onto the breast (not nipple) for milk supply. Be sure to wash off before breastfeeding your little one though.
Some other great herbs for postpartum:
- Dill
- Cumin
- Coriander
- Vakumba
- Ginger
- Shatavari
- Cardamon
- Lavender
You can find all these organic herbs from Mountain Rose Herbs.
Herbal Baths
Herbal baths help return your body back to normal. It is incredibly soothing for your muscles, but also your vagina.
For women who tear during childbirth may especially want regular sitz baths. This can be done with a sitz bath cover for the toilet or in a regular bathtub.
Final Thoughts
Ayurvedic postpartum care is such a great way to help new moms fully recover and be their best selves to raise their children.
If you want to heal your mind, body, and spirit, try some of these postpartum ayurveda care practices!
If you ever find yourself wanting extra support during your pregnancy, birth, or postpartum journey, I’m here to walk alongside you through my virtual doula services — offering encouragement, guidance, and a listening ear whenever you need it.
