Our generation is in the middle of a grand rethinking about how we birth and how we mother. New Mothers are often pressured to “bounce back” - to prepregnancy body, productivity, and spirits. But when it comes to becoming a mother, there is no back; there is only through.

“Though brief, [the first forty days] is a time of amazing intensity and massive adjustment. Your body transforms - again - and your heart throbs with more feelings than you ever knew possible. Your internal rhythms ping-pong as days and nights merge. Your stamina and serenity get tested like never before. Your connections to the world you knew before loosen, or even come undone, and your sense of who you are begins to change and morph.

In other times, and in other places around the world, a postpartum period of healing and adjustment were expected and allowed. After the rigorous and demanding act of birth, it was considered critically necessary for the whole family - and for society at large - that a woman be given the first forty days to heal and rest. Other people in her community would feed her, nurture her, and take all responsibilities off her plate, so that she could focus on the one thing only: transitioning healthily and happily from expectant woman to mother.” - Heng Ou, the first forty days

As you may have guessed…

As a birth doula, I do not show up to baby showers with the typical gifts one would imagine. I send friends bottles of handmade serums, teas, and perineum soaks because, yes the baby needs some things, but the Mother needs support too. It is truly important in these sensitive times for a woman that she is nourished through food, herbs, support, and understanding. Supporting a woman with nutrient-dense foods and herbs plays an impactful role in her physical and mental recovery helping to instill confidence and calm.

I see these types of gifts as a rebellion to bring back the nurturing and therapeutic nature of the postpartum time amongst a society that is continually asking us to do more.

These gifts are an invitation to slow down and give the full time it takes to feel nourished as a new mother. Many cultures around the globe honor this time understanding that how a woman is replenished during the first six weeks and beyond of her postpartum period, determines her health for decades to come. Whether it is in the Chinese tradition of honoring chi and supporting the cold yin time that comes postpartum, or the Ayurvedic tradition of supporting the cold and wind elements of vata that show up postpartum, there is a thread of understanding that women need warmth and rebuilding of nutrients so they can show up with compassion, care, and mental fortitude for their children, their families, and their lives to come.

Below are the recipes I use to create postpartum packages for my clients. I also make variations for friends. Feel free to try your own, all measurements are approximate and can be changed depending on what the woman is needing more or less of. I encourage you to experiment, gift these to friends (postpartum or not, all are nourishing), and help to recreate the culture of supporting the emerging mothers.

Postpartum Tea

I sourced dried herbs from my local apothecary that carries herbs from local farms. If you have that option, great, if not, Mountain Rose Herbs is a great place to order from online. Feel free to change the amounts to intensify or lessen the attributes desired. All herbs in this recipe are dried, if using fresh herbs you will want to increase the amount.

• 1 Cup Lemon Balm: to calm the mind, balance mood, and ease anxiety and depression

• 1 Cup Red Raspberry Leaf: for uterine toning, easing pain, and to boost milk production

• 2 Cups Nettle: to increase energy, strengthen the adrenals, enrich blood flow, and decrease bleeding

• 1/2 Cup Ginger Root: to boost immunity, support digestion, and aid in anti-inflammatory responses

• 1/4 Cup Dandelion Root: to ease constipation and reduce swelling

• 1/2 Cup Oatstraw: to ease nervous exhaustion, support the adrenals, and include calcium, magnesium, iron, and B vitamins

Makes two large jars full. Keep in a cool, dry place. To drink, add 2 Tablespoons (a tea-ball full) to 8-12oz of water and let steep for 10 minutes. For an overnight steep, put a handful in a jar and add water, place on the counter overnight and in the morning strain out the herbs.

Tea The Simple Way

Don’t have the herbs? Try this simple version!

• 2 parts Nettle

• 1 parts Hibiscus

So if you use 1 cup of Hibiscus, use 2 of Nettle. Use the same steeping directions as above.

Sitz Bath Bundles

Sitz baths are healing soaks for the vaginal opening, perineum, and anal tissues. It is suggested to soak 10-20 minutes per day asap postpartum in 4-5 inches of water. To make this simple and to make cleanup easy, I make these herb bundles in muslin bags.

Mix the herbs below in a large mixing bowl. Divide into tea sized muslin bags and tie shut. For the bath, fill a bathtub with 4-5 inches of warm water, place a bundle in the water (keep it tied) and soak for 10-20 minutes. Each bag can be reused 3 times. If you’ve had an episiotomy, ask your healthcare provider if this can help with healing.

• 1/2 Cup Camomile: for soothing and relaxation

• 1/2 Cup Calendula: for physical healing

• 1/3 Cup Comfrey leaf: for new cell growth and inflammation reduction

• 1/3 Cup Lavender flowers: for calming and antiseptic

• 1/3 Cup Yarrow flowers: for pain and cramping reduction

• 1/3 Cup Shepherd’s purse: for bleeding reduction, a vasoconstrictor

• 1/3 Cup Uva Ursi leaf: anti-inflammatory, astringent

• 1/3 Cup unbleached sea salt or epsom salt: for circulation, inflammation, and pain relief

Makes 6-8 bundles.

Sitz Bath Bundles The Simple Way

Here is a simplified version, using the most easily sourced herbs.

• 1 Cup unbleached sea salt or epsom salt

• 1/3 Cup Calendula

• 1/3 Cup Camomile

• 1/3 Cup Lavender

“With the right postpartum care, a mother can preserve her reproductive health for future children or eventually experience an easy menopause, aging gracefully over the decades to come.” - the first forty days

Other addition ideas:

• Local honey

• Postpartum info and recipe books and books of support and love.

• A tea cup and strainer to go with the tea

• DIY nursing nipple balm, I like the recipe from The Herbal Academy

• My Postpartum meal prep Pinterest board that I have clients link to their meal trains or use to prep food ahead of time.

• A gift of a postpartum doula or a Closing of the Bones ceremony

Thank you for doing your part to support the ones bringing life into this world. You are deeply appreciated.

Click here for more information about my doula support and Closing of the Bones ceremony offering.