Guest guest Posted December 15, 2009 Report Share Posted December 15, 2009 Hi All - I " m reposting this for openers for one of our newest members who has said she is Interested in information on postpartum depression and supplements. It is a big question of course, and I hope you can tell us more such as, a rephrase of your question to share is it yourself or a friend or client, and how long has this been going on? If there is crisis situation, certainly our first recommendation has to be consult with your primary care practitioner about any urgent care needs. In the meantime, there is much posted on the searchable archives and in the group files about the needs of a postpartum mother, which are foundational to understanding correct use and value of any supportive products Ayurveda has to offer, and there is much. And there is a wonderful group of practitioners and mothes who may be available to you here and by phone. When teaching mothers and doula students, I find to simplify first to the following helps: there are three main modalities we work with to prevent problems after childbirth: 1. mothering the mother - rest, education, and just tender loving supportive care 2. dietary - the food piece is a big discussion and our modern cultures, both mainstream and complementary medicine focused actually, tend to be backwards creating many problems. 3. oleation - internal dietary and rectal, and external in form of a specialized Ayurvedic warm oil massage daily for mothers all make the greatest difference usually, for reducing the unusual vata exacerbated conditions all women face after birth to some degree or another. Adding two more modalities are most helpful we find, when the problems have already started to manifest. INstead of energy medicine, we usually find more physically sensed and more grounding modalities usually work best - 4. specialized herbal food supports (the ayurvedic herbals used tend to be more roots, seeds and barks rather than green leafy or flower parts for the deeper needs.) 5. therapeutic uses of organic essential oils from highest quality distillation method really help create and hold the space for doing the rest of the homework above. All these things said, personal support addressing the individual mother's needs is so important to design a program that works best for her using the principles involved in all mothers after birth. Yes, there is a good list of herbals and other supplements which are particularly helpful. If anyone is in Albuquerque this Thursday from 4-6PM I'll be offering a 2 hour class which is part of the Advanced postpartum herbals unit. We will focus on supports for emotions and hormones this Thursday. If anyone would like to come, please call to discuss your readiness for the subject matter, for directions, and to RSVP for the optional potluck afterwards. 505.508.4219. $10 suggested donation. Warm Regards, Ysha > " Postpartum Fathers get Depressed too " Good article, including different effects on the children they found depending upon which parent was depressed. > > Thanks to Pauline Nardella Owner at Birthing Wisdom, for sharing this on linkedin, at the Birthing Community/ Doula's Birth/ PostPartum... discussion board. The effects of postpartum depression in men can be every bit as disruptive as occurs with women. Read more at The New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/08/health/08mind.html > > My response also to the post there: Although it can be very disruptive also on a family for fathers, the impact of ppd/ppmds on a woman are many times more an issue. Ayurvedic understanding shows how the impact of choices in the first 42 days lasts for the next " 42 years " . (add another 10 days or more after C-births, which is over 30% of the population now of birthing mothers!) . > > This is because in the mother-body, all tissues and systems are in transition. The digestive and transformative fires have shut down with birth or surgery, and she has many weeks of " invisible " work beyond what any father has to do. > > It is timelined very much based on the conditions in the layers of transformative enzymes not just food in stomach, and further breakdown into nutritive chyle in the liver that is then circulated for all the tissues. The sequence of digestion from food to subtlest product of digestion is at least 42 days after birth (for the rest of us, that may be as short as 32 with most foods. > > This is about how long it takes for all tissue-enzymes doing their sequential work from plasma, blood, muscle, fat, bone, marrow and nerve, to healthy functioning reproductive tissues rejuvenating properly. Then the subtlest product Ayurveda calls ojas, flows in the body for maximum immune strength, vitality, glow and rejuvenative power. > > Without this kind of understanding, it is natural to talk around in circles in a way that really doesn't make so much difference, my friends. > > So of course, fathers need attention too. About 18 years ago I heard there was research that reported, 40% of divorcing men said the beginning of the breakup of their marriage was the postpartum time. WHat I find they benefit most from is education, insight and knowledge about the nature of the postpartum window, and how to best support the process. It is scary for them not realizing there is a particularly vulnerable time window, which will pass, and the choices in this time can make a big difference on her ability to not only live in good health and ability to mother, but also to partner most naturally and well. We use a 3 page handout just for the fathers which helps a lot, and is included in the training unit called Ayurvedic Foundations of Postpartum Care and Cooking Unit chapter on Keys. > > So yes, there is a specific system I've been blessed to be trained and work in for many years which - well, with my most recent client who was depressed with catastrophic fears for her baby, turned around from the catastrophic thinking in three days care (2 hours daily plus recommended changes in diet, herbals and essential oils) and with 5 days treatment, was progressing very well. She felt grounded, looked great, digesting better, sleeping better, was even loosing some unwanted fat though eating more overall including fats and sweets - a common benefit. I see partners changing their perspective very quickly when they understand a little of this, and are given guidance how to best support this sacred process. > > Warm Regards, > > Ysha Oakes, Diplomate Ayurvedic Health Science > Postpartum AyurDoula 16 years > www.sacredwindow.com > By Ysha Oakes Owner at Sacred Window Ayurveda for Mothers and Children > > You have 14 minutes to make changes | Edit comment | Delete > > 91 followers | See Ysha's activity » > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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