Summary
Ayurveda understands the special needs of women (and their newborns) during their family years. It knows that if certain lifestyle routines are followed before, during and after pregnancy, women will keep their health and vigour in their role as a pillar of the family unit. Most importantly, Ayurveda has the tools to support this return to full health.
It is a tragedy that any woman should suffer post-natal depression, (either baby blues – just not feeling on top of life, or more seriously needing medical support) when the knowledge and tools are there for prevention. Often low-key depression goes on for years, reducing the well-being and happiness of the family.
Not only can depression be resolved but given particular care during the critical 6-week post-partum period, mothers can actually totally rejuvenate and set their optimum health for the next 40 years.
Post-partum mothers need 4 key ingredients for this 42- day period:
- Complete rest
- Daily warm oil massage
- A special (delicious!) diet to rebalance the hormonal system, rebuild the body tissues and generally rebalance the mother’s whole system
- A strong daily routine to reduce the sense of being overwhelmed.
And of course, 5th, receiving lots of love and support!
In addition, newborns benefit from having a daily warm oil massage; it is now well documented that babies and children who receive regular warm oil massage have strong digestive and immune systems, sleep better, and that a healthy bond naturally develops between the parents or caregivers and the child – a win-win for all!
Challenge
Today’s world with its fast pace and built-in stresses does not encourage parents to plan for the need of a mother to rest and rejuvenate fully from the birthing process. Post-partum is known in medical circles as the ‘black hole of health care’.
- 95% of new Canadian mothers feel “Baby Blues” [Today’s Parent, 2019 March]
- 80% of women in the UK and the USA have experienced Post Partum Depression according to the NHS (National Health System of UK) in 2019, and the Mental Health America organisation in 2019.
Many women have shared with us that they recognise that the breakdown of their marriage began after the birth of a child, often when their energy never fully returned. Mothers say they noticed a dramatic acceleration of their aging process after giving birth. This problem is not restricted to any one strata or ethnicity within society. Many women feel stranded without the support of family members around them; also many are abandoned, rearing their offspring without a partner.
Another neglected group is women who miscarry or give birth to a stillborn child – they, too, need care and attention to come back into balance.
Our Goals
- To ensure that this much-needed pre & post pregnancy knowledge of Ayurveda is spread throughout communities.
- Practically, this means the formation and training of teams in towns and cities.
Training is at two levels:
- Volunteers helping in communities:
This level is for those who wish to donate their time supporting post-partum mothers. This role includes being there to lend a helping hand with daily tasks, helping with other children in the family, being a mother to the mother – encouraging her along the road of motherhood. We know there are many of you who have a wealth of knowledge from rearing your own family, who would love to support new mothers!
Donations are needed to support a volunteer group with preferably a paid fulltime team leader.
- Paid Practitioners:
This level is for those who wish to train in the whole program or maybe specialise in a modality of the program. For example: specialising in parental pre-pregnancy cleansing support, teaching baby massage to expectant & new parents and caregivers, giving a specialised post-natal massage to mothers, looking after post-partum mothers through the preparation of special foods for this period, supporting breastfeeding and weaning from an Ayurvedic approach.
AMI offers a certification program for Ayurvedic post-natal care covering all aspects of the knowledge and the practical training needed to support women. Theoretical training will be soon on-line. This is completed by in-house hands-on practical training in baby and mother massage and cookery skills.
“The 100-hour postpartum program includes education in Ayurveda and what it means, in practical terms for families – for their food needs, especially for the post-partum mother; for massage for mums and their infants (either teaching self-care of giving the service); for breastfeeding support; or just being there to lend a hand or an ear when the going is tough.”
This side of the program for AMI trainers will be funded for a maximum of 2 years from donations, after which it will be self-sufficient from monies earned through the training program.
Graduates of the program are entitled to work and earn a living independently but remain affiliated with AMI and its principles.
AMI’s future – Potential Long Term Impact
We have a big vision to see Ayurveda Mother and Infant knowledge, and the care it offers, become a household name! We want to see a paradigm shift in post-partum care around the world. We are working together with other organisations and individuals to send a wave of much-needed relief and support in this important arena of parenthood, especially postnatal care.
We wish to alert governments and the medical profession to the power of Ayurveda to support health at the grassroots of a community, basically including this effective yet economical care of the newborn and mother. With consistent promotion and unbiased scientific evaluation of this profound knowledge, we wish to see these programmes incorporated into mainstream health care systems over time.
It is actually ancient wisdom found in every culture, nothing new. But it has been forgotten, ignored and misunderstood. It is time to revive it in the light of today. Each and every one of us who cares for a society based on wellbeing and happiness can help to ignite this programme.
AMI offers a certification program for Ayurvedic post-natal care covering all aspects of the knowledge and what it means, in practical terms for families.
The postpartum program includes education in Ayurveda and what it means, in practical terms for families – for their food needs, especially for the post-partum mother; for massage for mums and their infants (either teaching self-care of giving the service); for breastfeeding support; or just being there to lend a hand or an ear when the going is tough.”
- We offer online training sessions & ongoing support.
- We deliver 10-day PRACTICAL HANDS-ON TRAINING at specific times in the year.
- We teach Ayurvedic baby massage to people to coach Mums, Dads, grandmothers and anyone caring for babies and children in the art of bay massage. An easy to learn 14-hour training. A minimum group of 6 students is required for the course.
Contact us on ami@iahv.org.uk if you would like more information about the program