The ‘Japa’ Period – 40 Days of Your Postnatal Period

By Ruchika - Updated: January 13, 2021

The 40 days post-delivery as we call it the Japa period is an extremely crucial period for a woman. The body has lesser immunity and strength and takes almost six weeks to recover post giving birth. As a result, it is advised to stay inside during this period to protect yourself from infections outside.

Below are a few things that a new mother should do in this period-

Take a lot of rest: This can be quite a task with a newborn and especially for first-time mothers. The best solution is to sleep when your baby sleeps.
Drink lots of water: If you are a breastfeeding mom, a large part of the water content of your body gets drained out in the lactation process. Taking an adequate amount of water ensures you don’t get dehydrated and constipated.
Eat nutritious foods: The age-old tradition of giving Panjeeri to new moms is really amazing. Panjeeri gives you a lot of strength and takes away weakness really soon. Have lots of fruits and milk as well.
Avoid spicy food: You should avoid eating oils and masalas in the first few weeks as it will not only harm your body but the baby too. Have green vegetables like spinach, fenugreek if it’s winter season or bottle gourd, ridge gourd if it is summer season.
Massage: This again is an age-old tradition but a very beneficial one. Getting a body massage done every day helps strengthen your body. Use an appropriate massage oil as per the season again. You could use almond or olive oil in winters and ghee or coconut oil in summers.
Take multivitamins regularly: Your body needs calcium and iron for at least 3 months post-delivery. Make sure to take your iron and calcium supplements regularly.
Keep your hair oiled: Once the baby turns 3-4 months old you will experience a sudden hair fall. It could be pretty extreme in some cases. Keeping your hair well oiled during the Japa period would help reduce the hair fall at a later stage. Keeping your head covered is beneficial too.
Reduce screen time: Avoid using cell phones or watching lots of TV. Your eyes are weak post giving birth and too much screen time can cause more harm to them.
Use a Maternity Belt: This is extremely important especially if you have had a c-section. This will help provide support to your stitches and tighten up your loose belly.

And above all, cherish this period with your newborn. It’s the most magical phase of your life. Good luck and happy motherhood!

Some points to note:

Always consult your doctor before you decide to go in for a massage.
Panjeeri might not be advisable for a few people especially if you have had GDM during pregnancy.
Sometimes the doctor might not recommend having a massage done or consuming Panjeeri till your stitches get dissolved (if you have had a c-section)
For an oil to be used for body or head massage, figure out what works best for you or what you have always used.

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