Hello! Welcome to my seventh attempt at the April AtoZ blogging challenge. My theme this year is Experiences of a first time grandmother! Some sweet, salty moments and learnings! My posts are totally based on what I felt (may even border on rants) and are not meant to be a guide.
Obsolete.
May be this is a strong word .. not in vogue would be more suitable.
As I mentioned before, Pregnancy care and care of newborns has changed a lot since when I had a child. So I thought this post would be easy to write.
Yet as I started to actually note what has become obsolete the list was not as long as I had envisaged. In many instances, the method had changed but the basic aim remained the same. Let the Mom get proper rest to allow her body recover from the delivery and pregnancy.
Let the baby adjust to this World and grow healthily.
So getting back to the things that are not in vogue any more.
There is a process called ‘धुरी देणे ‘ dhuri dene – wherein, post bath, the baby is held over fumes of some medicinal herbs. It is supposed to prevent colds and so on. Here is an image of it which is from the Health Supplement of Sakal dated 13 Dec 2019.
Neonatologists strongly discourage Dhuri.
Ditto for Bal Gooti (it is an Ayurvedic combination of medicinal herbs to prevent and treat common baby complaints) and Gripe Water.
There has been a practise of the new Mom’s having to stay in dark, poorly ventilated rooms. Going out of the house is hugely discouraged till 40 days after the baby is born. I am not challenging this practise but a gloomy room and relative isolation can cause any one to be depressed let alone a lady who has just been through 9 months of pregnancy and a demanding labour.
Many Obstreticians now advise the new Mom to go out a little, exercise, eat a reasonable balanced diet (no need for ghee rich food at every meal) among other things.
My list could be longer, but I know you have to visit other blogs as well!! So we shall tackle this topic another time after the AtoZ!!
What has been your experience? I am sure my thoughts may cause a deja vu to some of you especially someone who has hosted a new born. I would love to hear from you!
See you tomorrow folks!
Here are links to my previous AtoZ attempts.
2013 Mixed Bag
2014 Exercising For Fitness
2015 Gardens of Pune
2016 Herbs
2018 Contemporary A to Z
2019 Caring for the Caregiver
Disclaimer: My posts do mention some products or service providers but these are not sponsored and not meant to be an advertisement. All posts are from a maternal grandmother’s point of view!
I am a strong advocate of the "Dhuri dene" especially for the children who are born in winter months or in the rainy season. Adding some additives like carrom seeds, frankincense, "balant shopa" does have its benefits as advocated by Ayurveda.
I used to love the smell of both my babies after "dhuri"!
-Its O for Once Again at canvaswithrainbow.com/once-again/
Fashions (way to think) change, and what was good at one time is no longer good a few years later!
O is for Oya
@Anagha – A friend is a big fan of the 'Dhuri', in fact, I remember having given it to my daughter as well.. but we did not do so for our Grandbaba! Yes, the additives do give off a wonderful smell. Thanks for sharing your thoughts 🙂
@Frederique Hmmm.. possibly yes, but many a times, the old fashions make a come back too.. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!!
Some things of the past are best left in the past indeed.
@Shweta Indeed yes.. they were right and suitable for the conditions prevalent then.. THank you for sharing your thoughts!
Thank you for all these interesting rituals to welcome a new baby into this world, things we should all do in every country.
Thanks for stopping by and your comments Susan! 🙂