POSTPARTUM GIFT BASKETS

These items give support in various ways for preventing and managing emotional swings, unhappy tummies, and along list of maternal issues. This collection is designed to supply items either not commonly valued at this time for Mama and Baby or which may not be on some mothers' low budget grocery list. Everyone gets a baby layette list, but what about taking care of Mom too? Between the high incidence of birth by surgery, and postpartum "mood disorders", here alone we can see something more is needed for Mother-care.

Have fun gathering and sharing, it is such a joy! Remember to organize your community around a meals support chain also. I've seen fathers in tears over the baskets of food arriving every day, what an amazing surprise to the deep down concerns many fathers feel for their family at this time, as though he had to do it all!

See the AyurDoula's Blog for story about mothers receiving care and gifts. If you are the cook or managing the shopping list for a postpartum mom, See here to make your shopping list more complete. As gift basket suggestions that are basically wrappable or may experience some delay, fresh produce is not included on this list.

WHAT GIFTS ARE MOST HELPFUL FOR MAMA-BABY SPECIAL NEEDS RIGHT AFTER BIRTH?
Designed from the time-tested ancient system of natural medicine called Ayurveda.

Postnatal Gift Basket Ideas
Baskets wisely accompany at least AyurDoula consultation and guidance how to use these supplies, if not at least 3-5 day intensive home care for rapid rejuvenation.

Rejuvenative, digestible foods. In ayurvedic terms, sattva, ojas, and vata reducing are some of the guidelines.

• Clarified Butter (Ghee) - with encouragement to use generously by a large not small volume!
• Light and Toasted sesame oil
• Almonds whole, shelled 1-5 lb
• Cashews, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds (raw), or butters; toasted sesame butter
• Split hulled mung beans (or with green skins if hulled not available)
• Dried Fruits – unsulfured, iron rich (dates, figs, raisins, currants, prunes, apricots, blueberries, cherries)
• Iron rich natural sugars – rapadura, succanat, molasses, Mexican brown, dark Indian jaggary
• Basmati or Jasmine Rice in abundance
• Winter squashes or pumpkin
• Coconut milk (not lowfat) cans
• Unsweetened shredded coconut - pound
• Aloe vera gel (from inner filet, no outer leaf) - for hot climate, not for pregnancy

Culinary spices
These give very valuable support for digestion/lactation/respiration/rejuvenation

• Heads of garlic for special preparation
• Hing (asafoetida) powder, small container
• Saffron (special medicinal properties postpartum)
• Ginger, cumin, cinnamon sticks, cloves, coriander, basil, caraway, Black pepper
  mustard seed and dill

Extras very welcome and supportive

• Split urad lentils or flour, small french lentils, red lentils
• Quick cooking tapioca (plain, not a pudding mix)
• Semolina or chapatti/wheat tortilla flour
• Cream of rice (not brown; home washed/dried and ground, or from supermarket)
• Cream of wheat (not whole wheat or bear mush at this time; coarse semolina or from supermarket)
• Quinoa, amaranth, oatmeal, barley flakes
• Chick pea (besan, garbanzo bean) flour
• Cardamom, nutmeg, vanilla
• Raw honey, agave, light raw sugar
• Apple, apricot, grape, other unsweetened but sweet juices; to serve hot/mulled

Ayurvedic Postpartum herbal support
Please call or email to discuss; there are some western herbalism advices best you may want to enhance and balance.

• ¼-½ cup fennugreek seeds
• ½-1 cup fennel seeds
• 3Tbs Panchaloka or variation herb powder - pippali, pippali mool, black pepper
  (root is ideal), ginger, chitrak. Can use cloves
• 1-2 cups Dashmool (10 roots) powder (Ayurvedic herb blend from Banyan)
• ¼ cup ea Bala, Ashwaganda, Shatavari powders

Treatment and self care supplies

• 1-2 Quarts Organic Sesame Oil (mother/baby massage)
• 1 each, 16 oz 8 oz plastic flip top bottle (for massage oils)
• 1-2 hot water bottles or 1 and a Fomentek
  Fomentek large hot water bottles (amazing baby can lay on for , mother's back tx) $25 incl sh/handling save $4 from Joanne poole (see under Care, find a Doula) or go to www.fomentek.com where you will also see the small size, 2/box option. These are equivalent size and easier store/clean/use than the usual type hot water bottle. Experience one of the big ones on a massage table or under back in bed, and it becomes a must have, they are wonderful!
• Organic only please essential oils of lavender, vetiver, fennel, geranium, chamomile and a couple of special emotional blends (contact us for more info with your phone number or call (505) 259-1801).

I WANT TO UNDERSTAND THIS KIND OF WORK MORE

When a mother experiences how good she feels with the right supports, she changes her priorities around foods, budget, and self care. Because feeling good obviously makes her more easily a more effective mother.

Blessings - Ysha