Agni and Postpartum recovery

Agni and postpartum recovery

A mother’s overall health during Postpartum may all come down to one factor. Her digestive health, and according to Ayurveda Agni which means “fire” in Sanskrit is the digestive and transformational fire within the body. In our general it is a key factor in overall health. From our longevity, maintaining tissues and the maintenance of the auto-immune function of the body.

When Agni becomes out of balance our metabolism is affected, the immune system weakens and food cannot be broken down and remains undigested, unabsorbed and accumulates in the large intestine.

For a woman who has just delivered a baby, her digestive fire is diminished due to the expenditure of labor and birth. Her digestion is weak and cannot function at a normal state.

How can you rebuild digestive fire?

During the first forty two days of postpartum, taking a mindful approach to the quality of our food, the type of food and food combining is key to rebuilding Agni. What a mother chooses to eat and how well she digests her food has an impact on the quality of her breastmilk, rejuvenation and bringing balance back into the body.

Ultimately, eating the right foods, avoiding foods that cause the digestion to slow down can prevent a mother from experiencing anxiety, depletion, postpartum depression and any imbalances in the baby. Rebuilding a mother’s digestive fire begins with a gentle approach to easing back into everyday foods.

Where to start?

In the first week of postpartum, digestion is the most compromised. When introducing foods back into the body.

Foods to favor + tips to keep in mind:

-Eat warm, Oily (not greasy) lubricating foods

-Eat small amounts of food within two hours time

-Hydrate the body with teas, milk tonics, Abyangha massage

-Chew digestive herbs

-Eat high quality fats

-Use spices that support digestion: ginger, black pepper, fenugreek, cumin, saffron cardamom, well cooked garlic

Foods to avoid+tips to keep in mind

-Avoid food that has dry, cold qualities: Raw foods, salads, crackers, toast, ice cream

-Avoid meats in the first few weeks to first month

-Avoid processed foods

-Avoid cold food and drinks

-Eat fruit separate and thirty minutes apart from other food

A great way to know if you are digestive fire is starting to work at proper levels is to keep a journal. Take note of any disturbances throughout the day and the foods you have been eating.