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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Op, I am sure many other alternative medical traditions believe the same. Warmth is important in the healing process of both mom and baby.   My infant and child rearing habits were very much informed by the practises of my own North Indian culture + reinforced by my pediatricians here, who are Europeans  When I had my first child, my mother and sister came from India to take care of me.  Mom is very knowledgeable about ayurvedic practices and was very upset that I was given ice-chips to suck on during delivery and kept in a cold room at the hospital.  She was horrified by this and said that it is very bad for both the mom and the child to be exposed to cold because the body has undergone major trauma and heat will help preserve energy as well as heal.  Also, the child was in a very warm environment in the womb and it takes a long time before they have the capability to warm themselves.   She brought special home cooked meals (especially for new moms) at the hospital and after less than 24 hours, DH and my mom whisked me and DC, home.

At home, DC and I stayed in a room that was kept warmer than normal. Both of us, DC and I, were massaged with warm medicated oil several times a day (yes - 4-5 times) and kept very warm.  Our heads and feet were also kept covered at all times.  We were given a warm medicated bath the first day home and after that for several days we were given sponge bathes only. Later, we moved back to a daily warm bath for DC and warm shower for me.  All the vents were closed to prevent cold air seeping in our room. All the food and drink for me was made specifically to heal me, and to produce milk, and to prevent colic in the baby who was EBF.  DC and I were in seclusion for 40-50 days, and we were seeing only my mom, sister and DH. My mom and sister were also in seclusion along with me, though my DH went to work and was doing all the groceries and stuff. I think this reduced the chances of me and the baby catching an infection.  My only job was to nurse the baby on demand, massage her, give her a bath, get massaged several times by either my mom or my sister, take a warm shower, watch TV, read books, and sleep all the time. I was not even allowed to go on the treadmill because my mom said that my joints were weak after birth and will need to become stronger through nutrition before I could start exercising in earnest.  
 
For 50 days, I did not lift my fingers and only after my bleeding had stopped completely was I allowed to start doing light chores in the house.  After 6 weeks, we had a ceremony (lunch and prayers at home), in which the baby was introduced to limited number of  relatives and friends, and my seclusion was lifted.  Infant massage, mom massage, layered clothing, keeping head and feet covered,  special food/drink for mom,  prevention from exposure, lots of rest - these practises were inbuilt in mom and baby care in my culture among all classes of people. I did daily infant and child massages for both of my kids for many years after that. It was a relaxing and very enjoyable experience for everyone.  Even now, every once in a while my grown daughter who is now college will come home for several days and along with her favorite foods she wants a daily hot oil massage based on her constitutional type.

My mom blames the lack of proper care of mom and infant for a host of problems - PPD, colic, autism, dullness of intellect, stomach/GI problems, food allergies, thyroid issues, reproductive problems, joint pains, migraines, osteoporosis, diabetes, premature aging,  vision problem,  heart problems.   I don't know how medically true all of this is but till date I have not found any downside to her help and care of me. [/quote]

This is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing this.
When it comes to birthing babies and caring for new mothers, the United States is woefully behind. Too many technological interventions and not enough "old world" common sense wisdom. [/quote]

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