Over the past few months, we have embarked on a fascinating journey, delving into the postpartum practices of diverse cultures, ranging from India, to Ethiopia, to Japan!
Now, let's retrace our steps and delve deeper into the remarkable commonalities that have emerged, binding these cultures together in their approaches to the postpartum period.
These commonalities cross culturally have formed the pillars on which Elan House of Wellness has been built on.
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CONFINEMENT & REST
NOURISHMENT & HERBAL REMEDIES
RITUALS & CEREMONIES
Many cultures have specific rituals and ceremonies to mark the transition into motherhood. These can range from religious or spiritual ceremonies to symbolic gestures celebrating the birth and the new chapter in the mother's life.
SUPPORT FROM TRIBE OR COMMUNITY
Furthermore, the presence of strong social support networks is a common theme across cultures. Extended family members, friends, or community members often come together to assist the new mother with household chores, childcare, and emotional support during the postpartum period.
EMPOWER AND ENLIGHTEN
Empowering new mothers is observed across cultures, where the mother is supported in her recovery, encouraged to rest and heal, and provided with resources and knowledge to confidently navigate motherhood.
To enlighten the mother is another form of Postpartum pillar found in various cultures, where experienced women in the community share wisdom, advice, and teachings with new mothers, helping them gain insight and understanding about their new role and the challenges they may face.
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"Postpartum traditions throughout the world share deep commonalities. These commonalities are not a coincidence—they come from postpartum women’s physiologic design.
Differences that exist in postpartum traditions - are relative to our land-based environments."
Rachelle Garcia Seliga
Director of Innate Postpartum Care
As an Innate Traditions Practitioner, I cannot recommend Rachelle's courses enough and if you are interested in this space as a practitioner or as a mother, she is teaching a FREE class around
Physiologic Postpartum Care:
Re-Membering Our Global Postpartum Tradition
on May 31 at 12noon PST / 3pm EST
Note that this is different to Australian Standard Time
Check out her profile for more details.
"Physiologic Postpartum Care is the RE-MEMBERING, the “putting back together” of our global postpartum tradition; the unifying tradition that is etched into our blood and bones."
Rachelle Garcia Seliga
Director of Innate Postpartum Care
See our Instagram post here.