Pragya Bhatt | yogawithpragya

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Postpartum

Pregnancy/Parenting Notes Postpartum

10 Overlooked Postpartum Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore

March 17, 2025

The three of us at Kalindi’s cousin Kai’s first birthday party. Attending this was poignant, as we were also about to reach this milestone.

When I had my daughter, I expected the usual postpartum struggles—sleepless nights, sore muscles, and a rollercoaster of emotions.  As a new mum, the tendency is to focus on the baby’s well-being more than your own, so you largely write these off as “normal”.  However, when my metatarsals began to ache, I was caught off-guard and promptly scheduled an appointment with my doctor.

Although it was nothing to worry about (she prescribed a calcium supplement), I realised that there are many symptoms that are typically ignored, and deserve more attention.

Here are ten commonly overlooked postpartum symptoms that you should discuss with your healthcare provider.

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Wellness Postpartum

My Journey to Aging Gracefully

March 8, 2025

I turned 43 this year.  43 looks different today than it did, say 10 years ago.  At 43 women are now starting families, changing career paths, finding love….question and challenging their world views.  I certainly found myself re-evaluating long held beliefs, thought and behavioral patterns.  Including my approach to my yoga practice.

I’ve written extensively about my conception and pregnancy journey and the role yoga played in it.  In retrospect I feel it’s important to point out that it was only the allopathic medical fraternity (“Western medicine” as many would say) that used the words “geriatric” or “old”.  Alternative health practitioners, including my yoga teachers, never once saw the idea that I was too old to become pregnant as credible. To them, my body’s potential mattered more than my age.  The irony is that many people think that this means according to yoga age doesn’t matter – but it’s quite the opposite.

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Postpartum Pregnancy/Parenting Notes

My First Birthday As a New Mom

February 19, 2025

…was my 43rd.

Many Iyengar practitioners take what I call the Light on Yoga birthday challenge every year – they practice the number of asanas from the book corresponding to their age. I’ve just recently started to feel my old flexibility coming back, after a deep tissue massage last month. But things had been so busy that I remembered this challenge only on Feb 1st. With everything else going on (read ramping up classes, taking care of a wriggly 11 month old, trying to get the nanny situation under control), I couldn’t really prepare for the challenge as I used to in previous years. In the end I just did my best and accepted whatever came my way. So my first birthday as a new mom was about acceptance.

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Postpartum Pregnancy/Parenting Notes

Exercising After a Cesarean Delivery – 4 Things to Remember

August 4, 2024
new haircut

I’m five months postpartum and this past week I fit into my old low-waisted skinny jeans.  I’ve written about honouring the first forty days and the importance of postpartum repletion.  I believe that’s something every woman who has given birth should do, regardless of c-sec or normal delivery.

After those forty days I was eager to quickly get back into my ‘usual’ routine.  I was being inundated with old wives’ tales about exercising after a cesarean  – such as not walking too fast or bending forward for an entire year, and even the myth about the chronic pain after an epidural.  So, as usual, I did some research.

I believe the following four guidelines optimised my recovery.

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Pregnancy/Parenting Notes Postpartum

9 Things New Moms Should Stop Feeling Guilty About

June 28, 2024
Luxuriating in the water while my baby sleeps.

Pregnancy is often projected as a glow-y, rosy time.  Very little is written about postpartum.  Pregnancy is a time when everyone is extra careful and kind to the expectant mother.  This often changes very quickly post delivery.  For me it was as though within only a couple of hours reality changed beyond recognition.  Sudden it’s all about the baby, and as the mother you’re at the receiving end of unsolicited advice and stifling opinions.  With the fireworks of hormones that’s going on in your system, most women I know (including me), have found this time stressful and difficult, compounded by feelings of mom guilt.

The best advice I received when I was pregnant was to maintain balance.  To not let the baby consume everything, including me.

But new mom-guilt is real, and not something we can wish away easily.  But, there are certain things I feel we should stop feeling guilty about.

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