Postpartum Care Isn’t a Luxury, It’s a Necessity.
Postpartum care has quietly been labeled as optional in modern culture.
A nice add-on.
A bonus.
A “treat yourself” moment — if you have time.
But in this episode, Dr. Emily Spaeth sits down with Ayurvedic practitioner Danielle Hanna to reframe that narrative entirely.
Postpartum care is not a luxury.
It’s foundational.
Danielle, founder of Living Arts Ayurveda, has supported families through major life transitions for over a decade. Together, we explore how ancient Ayurvedic wisdom offers simple, practical tools for healing after birth — and why showing up to community (even in mismatched socks) might be one of the most powerful medicines of all.
Why Postpartum Care Is Foundational — Not Optional
In many traditional cultures, postpartum is treated as a sacred window. A time when the body is vulnerable, open, and deeply in need of nourishment and warmth.
In modern Western culture?
We’re often told to “bounce back.”
Danielle reminds us that postpartum recovery is about long-term health. You’re not just trying to survive the next six weeks — you’re healing your body for the next several decades.
When postpartum depletion is ignored, it can echo later in life. Interestingly, many early perimenopausal symptoms mirror unresolved postpartum symptoms:
Fatigue
Brain fog
Digestive issues
Hormonal shifts
Nervous system dysregulation
Caring for yourself now isn’t indulgent. It’s preventative medicine.
Ayurveda Basics: The Science of Life
Ayurveda translates to “the science of life.” It’s an ancient system rooted in understanding the body through the five elements and the three doshas (mind-body constitutions).
While we don’t go deep into constitutional theory in this episode, Danielle shares a helpful postpartum lens:
Birth is a massive energetic event.
It increases movement, air, and space in the body.
Postpartum, the system benefits from the opposite:
Warmth.
Grounding.
Oiliness.
Stability.
Which brings us to one of the most practical tools discussed…
Abhyanga: Warm Oil as Medicine
Abhyanga — self-oil massage — is one of Ayurveda’s most accessible postpartum practices.
The concept is beautifully simple:
Warm oil + gentle massage = nourishment for the nervous system.
Benefits may include:
Supporting circulation
Lubricating tissues
Calming anxiety
Improving sleep
Supporting digestion
Danielle explains that sesame oil is warming (great for colder seasons or more depleted states), while coconut oil is cooling (helpful in hotter climates or inflammatory states).
This doesn’t have to be elaborate. Even a few minutes before a shower can shift your nervous system toward repair.
It’s not about perfection. It’s about rhythm.
Warm, Soupy Foods Are Your Friend
After birth, digestion is often impaired. The body has undergone enormous physical stress, blood loss, hormonal shifts, and sleep disruption.
Ayurveda encourages:
Warm foods
Soups and stews
Easily digestible meals
Avoiding cold, raw foods early postpartum
Warmth equals support.
This aligns beautifully with modern understandings of nervous system healing. The postpartum body thrives when it feels safe — and warmth communicates safety.
It’s the Little Daily Things
One of the most grounding parts of this conversation is Danielle’s reminder that prevention is built on daily rituals.
Small practices that compound over time:
Tongue scraping
Oil pulling
Drinking warm water
Pausing before meals
Self-oiling
Choosing warming foods
It’s not about overhauling your life.
It’s about tending to yourself consistently.
The little things compose who we become.
The Overlap Between Postpartum and Perimenopause
This part of the conversation is particularly powerful.
Danielle notes how often she sees similar patterns in postpartum clients and those entering early perimenopause. Both are major hormonal transitions. Both can expose areas of depletion.
If postpartum healing is rushed or unsupported, it can show up again later.
Investing in recovery now isn’t just about feeling better this month. It’s about long-term resilience.
Community Is Medicine
Toward the end of the episode, we talk about something that isn’t herbal or nutritional at all.
Community.
Danielle shares about the transformative power of showing up — even if your socks don’t match. Even if your baby cries. Even if you feel awkward.
Postpartum isolation is common. But connection regulates the nervous system. Seeing others in the same life stage normalizes the messy middle.
If you’re local to Portland, the Be Well Baby Support Group meets Fridays at 10am. It’s not about having it together. It’s about being together.
You can also find local resources on the Be Well Baby website’s resource page.
About Danielle Hanna
Danielle Hanna is an Ayurvedic practitioner supporting people through life’s transformative stages — from daily wellness to postpartum to perimenopause.
Through Living Arts Ayurveda in Portland, she offers “Rituals of Care” packages specifically designed for postpartum families.
Her approach blends ancient wisdom with real-life practicality — meeting families exactly where they are.
Learn more at Living Arts Ayurveda.
Mentioned in This Episode
Living Arts Ayurveda – Danielle Hanna
Oura Ring (10% off sleep and recovery tracking)
Ninni Co. Pacifier (code: BEWELLBABY for 10% off)
Be Well Baby Resources Page – Local Portland postpartum resources
Be Well Baby Support Group (Fridays at 10am)
More About Dr. Emily
Dr. Emily Spaeth is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant specializing in pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and babies. She is the founder of Be Well Baby, a home-visit practice in Portland, Oregon, and the creator of the Beyond Birth Blueprint — an online membership supporting parents through birth, recovery, babies, relationships, and nervous system health.
She’s also mom to three very loved children — and continually learning what it means to care for herself while caring for everyone else.
Everything discussed in this episode is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for care from your own healthcare team.
If postpartum has felt rushed, lonely, or under-supported, this conversation is an invitation:
Slow down.
Warm up.
Oil your skin.
Eat the soup.
Show up to community.
Your long-term health is built here.
