Ramadhan and Post Partum Mommy

Ramadhan! A month of ibadah [worship]. A month to refrain from sins and adopt good habits. A month to achieve innumerable rewards. A month which multiplies all good deeds. Who would want to miss it?

While some are racing to achieve rewards, some of us mamas know that we won’t be able to do much really because of various reasons. Period, weaning your newborn, taking care of family… these are just the basics. Some mamas get very upset when they know that their delivery would be done during Ramadhan. Which means not only can they not fast, they know they may be so caught up with the new baby and the first experiences, that they may not be able to make the most of Ramadhan.

                          

I had my baby few days before Ramadhan, which basically meant I was missing out on Salah and keeping the fast. As sad as I was, I found some ways which really helped me to feel motivated with my Ramadan goals and didn't effect my health or didn't make me feel I was left out in any way. So here are some points that I would like to share with mamas facing the same dilemma I had faced on how to achieve the most of Ramadhan during pregnancy and right after child birth:

1) If you’re unable to pray for any reason, don’t be disheartened. Refresh your memory by revising old surahs and duas or memorize new ones. This may help you to teach your little one as they grow up. 

2) While you’re nursing or doing household chores, make lots of Dhikr and praise the Creator, subhanawata 'ala. Easiest way to gain rewards and no wudu required! 

3) Your body is an Amanah: Take care of your body. Don’t over do anything and make you too tired. Don't stress your body. After all you have to help yourself get back to shape (by which I mean get healthy not skinny) and at the same time nurse your newborn. If you don’t get enough food for yourself, you won’t be able to lactate. Some doctors also say that stress might decrease the flow of milk.

4) Which brings us to point four, taking care of your family will be considered an act of ibadah if you intend to do so.  

Ibn Ul-Qayyim (rahimahullah) "A woman is half of

the Ummah and she gives birth for the other

half. So, she's the whole Ummah"

~ Ibn un Qayyim (rahimullah)

5) Learn the story of the Prophets. This is what I did while feeding my child. It used to get very frustrating waking up time to time to feed my new born when I was very sleepy. While feeding him I literally had nothing to do. Hence I decided to read the stories of the Prophet to learn the stories so that later I could teach him the stories.

6) Read Islamic books: like for example the Seerah of the Prophet or the life of the women around the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam.

7) Listen to online lectures.

8) Just because you can't pray doesn't mean that you can't make dua! Hence make loads of dua for your child and yourself... and anything good that comes to your mind really!

9) Learn the 99 names of Allah.

10) Do something good for your friends and family. Like for example, if your body allows you, make some food for them. Or give them gifts maybe? 

11) Have interactive sessions with other children. 

If you have young children in your neighbourhood or in your family, like your nephew and niece or cousin or anyone, invite them over. You could show them beneficial videos like Zaky and friends or Productive Muslim Videos. 

This would help you in two ways:

   

        a) Help you to learn about child psychology. Since you have a child of your own, mingling with other kids would help you learn about the different traits of different children which may help you later to handle your baby since you will be learning from experience.

    

        b) Since you will be helping other parents, it might be counted as a reward as the parents might be getting some spare time to do ibadah or do other household chores. Who knows, you might be in their duas for Tahajjud prayer ;)

     

         c) As long as the children imply the things you have taught them, you will be getting reward for it. Your teachings would be like sadaqah jariyah. :) How cool is that?

These are some of the advices I can give to my fellow mamas. Hope these help you to make this Ramadhan fruitful..