The first 40-days are an important time in the life of a new Indian mother. Traditionally, this period is meant to give her the privilege and support to slowly and respectfully recover from birthing, and enjoy a cozy time building a loving relationship with her newborn. In today's fast-paced urban lifestyles and nuclear families, some new mothers are missing out on this important recovery period.

Our female body is amazing. It grows a whole new human being from scratch, pushes it out into the world, and then spends months nourishing the baby with milk. This takes a huge toll on a woman's physical and emotional resources. The ancient practice of giving new mothers 40 days of rest and support after childbirth gives the body the time it needs to recover properly and to establish a healthy milk supply.

Without adequate support, new mothers can suffer from extreme fatigue, mastitis (breast infections), postpartum depression, back problems, and other health issues. This then negatively impacts both the baby's development and the whole family's wellbeing.

Tips to support a new mother during the first 40 days:

• Accept all offers of help
• Let others cook, clean, and take care of the home
• Focus on resting and feeding the baby
• Limit visitors in the first 2 weeks
• Eat warm, nourishing foods
• Sleep when the baby sleeps