Traditional postpartum care revolves around nurturing both the mother and the baby, recognizing that the mother’s well-being is essential for her to care for her child effectively. This care is rooted in principles such as warmth, rest, retreat, and nourishment with easily digestible, warm foods and body work.

One of the core benefits of traditional postpartum care is its ability to gently guide the body back into alignment after the transformative experience of pregnancy and childbirth. This healing process is crucial for restoring the mother’s strength and vitality, ensuring she enters motherhood not depleted, but restored and energized.

By reintroducing these rituals into communities, we honor the resilience of mothers who have undergone the challenging journey of childbirth. It’s a sacred acknowledgment of their strength and a way to ensure they transition into motherhood from a place of restoration rather than depletion.

In addition to warmth, rest, and retreat, traditional postpartum care often includes body work and the closing of the bones ceremony. This practice symbolizes the completion of the 40-day quarantine period, offering further support for the mother’s physical and emotional realignment.

It’s essential to recognize that traditional postpartum care isn’t solely the responsibility of doulas or birth workers—it’s a communal effort, a shared responsibility within the community. As a doula, my aim is to collaborate with communities to establish resources and support systems that ensure every woman, regardless of her financial means, has access to this vital care.

My vision extends beyond individual services; it’s about fostering an educational framework for mothers, families, and the broader village. By empowering mothers to become educators within their own communities, we create a ripple effect of change and transformation. This grassroots approach not only strengthens individual families but contributes to the overall well-being of society.

By breaking down financial barriers and building bridges within communities, we pave the way for a more inclusive and supportive postpartum experience for all women. Together, we can transform the narrative surrounding postpartum care and ensure that every mother receives the care and support she deserves.