postpartum care rituals
I’m delighted you’re here and to share with you my newest and dearest offering:
SABIAS RAÍCES. LUZ DE LUNA ~ these Spanish words translate as wise roots and moonlight to English. They came to me during my early postpartum weeks and they truly communicate what this project is about: To support mothers in crossing the threshold into motherhood through connection to their intuition, ancestors, and the earth. Mothers: this space is for YOU to honor, celebrate, nurture, and embody your potential as a creator!
To all the mothers in my lineage: Gracias por guiarme en este camino y por compartirme tu sabiduría. This project was born because of you!
Sabias Raíces. Luz de Luna combines practices and techniques I have studied over the years in my journey as a yoga-movement educator, avid practitioner and student of Ayurveda, garden teacher, facilitator of embodied learning, and through (re)connecting with my ancestral wisdom. More recently, in my role as a mother, I embarked on a whole new journey of self-discovery and healing that led me to reimagine motherhood and mindfully design a wholesome set of offerings to accompany mothers during the postpartum period–and hopefully beyond that!
Sacred cuarentena/40 days: design a deeply nourishing postpartum care plan
Dear Mothers: After delivery, YOU DESERVE to rest, recuperate, and restore your energies! And there is no better way to do that than cultivating the space for it. The ritual and practice of nesting at home for 40days–or cuarentena as it’s known in my home country of Mexico and other Latin American countries–after giving birth it’s said to be a sacred space for mothers to heal, slow down, and bond with their baby/ies. Speaking from my personal lived experiences, my postpartum recovery wouldn’t have been the same if it wasn’t for the daily acts of care I received from my support systems. Additionally, I *intentionally* made time and space to prepare for that. Here’s my story: Almost two weeks before I gave birth to my son, Carlos, my mom came to stay with us and the two of us put into action the vision I had for my cuarentena–to be a restorative and nurturing time for me and my family. Of course, this required that we did some FUN and FLEXIBLE planning together, like going grocery shopping, designing a culturally-appropriate postpartum food menu, and having kitchen parties at home where she and I engaged in rituals of making ghee, herbal teas, broths, and traditional Mexican soups, aguas frescas, and salsas. Above all, the connection between us and my ability to listen to my intuition strengthened. That is why I’m SO inspired to share practical ways to design and sustain a cuarentena or 40 days with other expectant mothers.
By bringing elements of the *ecological design process such as intention-setting, slowing down, intuitive listening, creativity, observation, and connection with self and earth, I will invite you to attune mind, body, and heart to your cuarentena period. When stepping into this work, you will create a cuarentena that follows your heart’s desires and meets your unique needs. You will also dive deeper into your identities as a creator, nurturer, connector, and mother-to-be. This is important work. This work helps mothers to create holistic and radical maternity care systems that are designed by them and for them. I believe all mothers should be cared for by their communities during the postpartum period as it is such a tender and transformational time and we need our people to be there for us. Together, let’s return to the ancestral and wise traditions of mothering the new mother, for they are the creators of life and deserve to be held in deep reverence and loving care.
Caring for the new mother: rest, replenish, and restore your vitality.
*Ecological design is a sustainability education tool l learned about in graduate school, and ever since then, I’ve been leaning into its teachings to design holistic learning experiences. Ecological design draws on the premise that we all are designers and interconnected beings. Designing–whether that be a personal or professional project–has never felt so inspiring!
“Ecological design is part of a shift to a holistic eco-spiritual paradigm in which, as human designers, we acknowledge that we are not separate from the living earth and are deeply interconnected with other beings. Ecological design is, therefore, a holistic and interconnected approach to design, for those who wish to create systems of care, wholeness, and healing, however small” – Heather Burns.
Ready to get creative and design an intentional cuarentena? Please review the information below and contact me to schedule a free 30min phone call in which we can go over details and questions you may have.
Making Connections: Ayurveda and Postpartum Care
According to Ayurveda, birth is an initiation for the birthing person; therefore, preparing for birth and what comes after birth is essential to the birthing person’s health. Those first 42 days after giving birth are known in Ayurveda as “the sacred window”, which is the time the birthing person needs to receive deep care, nourishing foods, be with their baby/ies, and rest so that the process of integration and healing can take place. This, too, is what we cover in the process of crafting your cuarentena. During the sacred window, the energies of Vata dosha (the dosha that governs movement and impulses in our body) need to be nurtured and observed with compassion and great patience. Since these energies (plus the changes that come with new parenthood) can be and feel very overwhelming to the birthing person, it’s important to establish a holistic system of care that procures the well-being of the birthing person and their family. There’s a saying in Ayurveda: “42 days for 42 years”, which speaks to the importance of creating a restorative cocoon for the birthing person in the first 42 days after delivery since this will lay a strong foundation of health, vitality, and sense of self for their next 42 years.
Curious about Ayurveda? Read what I wrote about Ayurvedic wisdom here. Also, check out this article on nurturing the new mother through Ayurveda practices
If what I have shared here about preparing for the postpartum time resonates with you, then I hope the set of offerings added below invites you or someone you know to enter the four-trimester feeling supported, nourished, and resourced. As always, reach out if you have questions.
CARING FOR THE NEW MOTHER BUNDLE:
~This is a personalized postpartum care package for new mothers and includes:
–three one-on-one, 90-minute-long meetings where I’ll guide you through the whole process of designing your cuarentena. The first meeting will ideally take place at week 32 of your pregnancy, the second at week 36, and the last at week 38. Please note that meetings can be adjusted as we see needed.
–bi-weekly journal prompts, starting on the initial in-person or online meeting.
-a trip to your favorite local farmers’ market and/or grocery store to help you gather the supplies you’ll need for your cuarentena.
–a ritual to wrap up your experience and witness your emergence from the restorative cocoon you cultivated during your cuarentena.
-three in-person 60min-long postpartum visits. During these visits, I’ll hold space for conversations, be your sympathetic ear, address any questions you may have about newborn care, help with house chores (if you want to), and offer childcare so you can have some ‘me’ time. On the first visit (hopefully, this can take place right after delivery), I’ll welcome you into your space with a delicious champurrado (a traditional Mexican warm beverage) and prepare you a therapeutic herbal foot bath. On the second one, let’s enjoy a cup of tea and yummy snacks and debrief and integrate your birth story. On the third visit, I will continue to do our regular check-ins and come prepared with any resources you might need for the coming weeks of your postpartum journey. Note: If you want to book extra hours, each extra hour is $24-32.
other sacred postpartum services to consider:
PLACENTA BURIAL RITUAL
A ritual celebrated in my family, Indigenous Communities in Mexico and other cultures. The wisdom around this ritual is that the placenta–the organ that provided nutrients to the baby and connected mom and baby during pregnancy–can be offered back to the womb of Mother Earth where she can now serve as a protector of mama and baby. If this ritual calls you, send me an email so I can share specific details on how I facilitate this sacred ritual.
FAQ ~
How long is the ritual? 45min – 1 hr
ABHYANGA / BODY OIL
In Ayurveda, abhyanga is the practice of enveloping the body with warm oil as a way to offer loving care to our body. Traditionally, abhyanga oils are made with sesame and/or coconut oil and contain herbs and spices like cardamom, bay leaf, cinnamon, rose, and rosemary, among others. Gifting this oil to the new mother would be such a treat for their skin and nervous system. And remember: as new mothers tend to their baby’s needs, they need their people to help them refill their cup. Perhaps you offer to do the abhyanga massage for them? Find price details below.
HERBAL TEAS AND BATHS
From lactation, nourishing, and whole-body balancing teas, to customized postpartum herbal baths, I’m available to work with you and the healing properties of plants in supporting your overall well-being while you focus on resting and baby.
A special note about the herbal medicine I make: They are made from my heart to yours; they honor Ayurveda medicine-making principles and the herbal folk tradition and come in small batches. I try to source herbs from local farmers and will soon try to grow my own herbs at a community garden. Disclaimer: I don’t prescribe, suggest, cure, or treat any clinical illness. Always consult your medical provider before utilizing herbal medicines, especially when pregnant and after delivery.
*feel free to add any of these services to the caring for the new mother bundle or simply purchase them separately. Oh, and if you’re interested in gifting any of these services to a loved one, just head to the contact form and inquire about a gift card 🙂
SABIAS RAICES. LUZ DE LUNA SLIDING SCALE PRICES
~ I invite you to self-assess where you fall on the sliding scale and book services by keeping in mind values of truthfulness, accountability, and respect for complexity. I do not ask for income verification. I trust my clients to be honest. If you’re able to pay the highest amount, your contribution helps to spread this work and increase access for folks experiencing financial hardship. Some of the language I used to write this was directly from Alexis Cunningham’s article here: http://www.wortsandcunning.com/blog/sliding-scale
caring for the new mother bundle: $1799 – $2399
placenta ritual: $99 – $199
abhyanga oil: $29 – $49
herbal teas and baths: $29 – $59
When you’re ready to book any of these services, please fill out the contact form below. I’ll contact you and help you complete the booking process once I have received your form. I am currently accepting Venmo, checks, or PayPal. Please note: groceries, herbs, and any other supplies you wish to have as part of your cuarentena care plan are not included in the caring for the new mother bundle so you’ll need to cover their cost. Not based in Portland, OR? No worries! The beauty of this work is that it’s adaptable and meets you where you are at. Inquire at hello@ceci-orozco.com
Contact Form
**ALL SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE FOR BOOKING IN SPANISH // TODOS LOS SERVICIOS ESTÁN DISPONIBLES EN ESPAÑOL **
Si te interesa reservar una sesión conmigo o deseas colaborar en talleres, presentaciones y clases públicas, escríbeme a mi correo hello@ceci-orozco.com.