Why wait 6 weeks/40 days after baby is born?

There I am, gave birth the day before, took this pic with my camera phone, calm, cool, and collected.  Enjoying my hospital stay cation, watching movies, getting my meals served, while Sam is home with 2 kids.  I am a big advocate of a natural, medication free, vaginal birth, and Thank God was able to have this experience with all three of my children.  All three were completely different in length of labor, intensity and healing.

With my first I did not know anything, why would you know until you have to know, right?  I didn't even know how to open and close a stroller!  I was doing my regular Yoga with my teacher until my ninth month, because I couldn't physically do many of the poses anymore.  That is when I found the most amazing Prenatal Yoga, where I learned a very important fact, which is the...

Tip of the day:  A contraction only lasts a minute, and I figured I can handle anything for one minute.  So important for women to get educated and knowledgeable about every aspect of pregnancy and birth, so they are in control, and make their own decisions.  This applies to everything in life.

I also learned many interesting philosophies about "Yogic Technology."  It is recommended that a woman walks 5 miles a day when she is pregnant.  I agree that walking is the best exercise, especially at the end of the pregnancy, it helps the baby birth.  I figured in ancient times walking is all they did, from the house, to the market, to visit family, to go to work.  To each their own, I always tell mom's that its great to listen to everyone's advice, but always make your own choices and decisions.  Nothing beats mother's intuition, only you know what is right for your baby and your family, believe that, and stand firm!

With my first two children I had the most amazing Doula, and recommend it especially with the first pregnancy.  With my third, because of circumstances beyond my control, I stayed present and did it all on my own.  Yes my husband was with me, and a good friend stayed with the older kids.  But I counted my contractions, knew when it was time to go to the hospital, told the nurse its my third baby, no epidural, contractions are for 2 hours, 5 minutes apart, 30 seconds long.  With my first two, my water broke at home (hospital is 10 minutes away) and I came in at 8 cm, with my third, water intact (I felt more comfortable not waiting for the water to break, since I was on my own with no doula, I wanted to have a stress free ride to the hospital and to fill out papers and go through all the procedures calmly.)  I came to the hospital at 7 cm (you need to be 10 cm to give birth), I was so proud of myself, and am inspired to be a doula :)

So Why wait 6 weeks/40 days after the baby is born?  In some cultures the woman doesnt even leave the house.  There are scientific reasons, such as the body healing, and bonding with the baby.  I found a couple of interesting articles below, just click on the links.

This article had a great paragraph about why women are overweight after children, and it has nothing to do with pregnancy, it is all about their nutrition and unhealthy habits:

"Studies show that up to a quarter of women are still 11 pounds or more over their pre-pregnancy weight for up to one year after birth. A new study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine identified several key lifestyle behaviors that may explain why: TV, junk food and staying too sedentary."

http://health.msn.com/pregnancy/working-out-after-having-a-baby

This article had some amazing cultural insights, which stem from different traditions in Indian, Eastern European, and South American cultures.

http://lipstickandpolitics.com/2011/09/16/the-40-days-postpartum/

With my first I didn't know about the 6 weeks, I went back to the hospital the same week he was born to pick up his birth certificate, and my body was asking me "why are you out?"  I got certified to teach Prenatal Yoga a few weeks before my daughter was born.  There were 40 women, 11 of us were pregnant, I was the most pregnant.  I tried my best to be home as much as possible, it was not easy, both Eli Tzvi and Ziona Sofia were and are very intense individuals, and I needed "me time" often.  Now with Matisyahu, Thank you God, I feel so good being home, but its probably because I can do my work from home, and clients have been coming to me, and he is letting me work, only letting me know when he needs a change, or to eat, or just some love.

Everything in life is a personal choice, and I suggest that women listen to their body.  Try your best to stay home and enjoy your baby, if you have to go out, try not to be away from the baby for too long.  Where exercise is concerned, try your best to take it easy and let the body heal.  Walking is great, but save the power walks until after the 6 weeks.  When you let your body heal, then you will have energy to jump right back in your life.  If you push yourself too hard, too early then a setback could be experienced.  Please listen to your body, but also listen to people that have experience, read articles, listen to your doctor, ultimately do what is best for you and your baby.

Trust in yourself, Learn everything you can, Trust in the universe,

Coach Yulia