In my previous post, I explored how depletion can sometimes masquerade as intuition. How a nutritionally under-resourced nervous system may become hyper-attuned, hyper-meaningful, and prone to magical thinking. At least, it did for me.
As I prepare to welcome our third baby earthside I know, there is a life stage where this dynamic becomes especially important to understand:
Pregnancy and postpartum.
These are not only emotional transitions. They are profound physiological events marked by metabolic demand, fluid shifts, hormonal volatility, and nutritional depletion.
From an Ayurvedic perspective, they are intensely Vata periods.
From a physiological perspective, they are periods of heightened nervous system vulnerability.
Both frameworks point to the same core principle:
When the body does not feel resourced, the mind becomes vigilant.
In Ayurveda, Vata is composed of air and ether. It governs movement, change, the nervous system, and thought.
Pregnancy expands the tissues and stretches structural integrity.
Birth involves blood loss, fluid loss, and enormous energetic output.
Postpartum often includes sleep disruption, irregular meals, and recovery from physical trauma.
All of these increase qualities of Vata:
Dryness
Lightness
Mobility
Instability
Without deliberate grounding and nourishment, the mind will reflect this instability.
During my first pregnancy and postpartum, I was vegetarian. I believed I was eating well; whole foods, organic, plenty of plants, what I understood at the time to be “healthy.” But in reality, I was profoundly undernourished.
I entered pregnancy without deep reserves and moved through postpartum depleted. The result was not just physical symptoms, but significant anxiety, catastrophic thinking, and a nervous system that felt constantly on edge.
The second time was entirely different.
I spent over six months preparing my body with intentional, nutrient-dense, ancestral-style nourishment. I ate generously through pregnancy. I prioritised protein, iron, fats, minerals, warmth.
And my experience of pregnancy, the birth, and postpartum shifted dramatically. I was able to relax. I enjoyed the process. The intrusive fear that marked my first experience was largely absent.
The difference was not mindset. It was metabolic.
Modern physiology supports this view.
Pregnancy and lactation require:
Increased protein intake
Increased iron
Adequate cholesterol (for hormone production)
Stable blood sugar
Sufficient calories
Replenishment of minerals such as magnesium and sodium
Sleep fragmentation alone increases cortisol and sympathetic nervous system activation.
Add under-eating, dieting, or restrictive “clean eating” to this equation, and the nervous system may remain in a prolonged state of panic.
An alert nervous system scans.
In pregnancy and postpartum, depletion does not always look like obvious malnutrition. It can present psychologically as:
Catastrophic thinking (“A car is going to run into our house”)
Persistent worry about the baby’s safety
Intrusive or distressing thoughts
Hyper-vigilance around symptoms
Difficulty relaxing even when the baby sleeps
Obsessive mental rehearsal of worst-case scenarios
These experiences are common for mothers, and it doesn’t have to be this way. This is not the design.
But from a nervous system lens, they are adaptive attempts to create safety.
If the body does not feel secure, the mind compensates.
Before assuming pathology, it is essential to assess resourcing.
Are you…
Eating enough calories daily?
Consuming adequate protein?
Replenishing iron and resting after birth?
Eating warm, mineral-rich foods?
Able to sleep in consolidated blocks when possible?
Supported physically and emotionally?
The parasympathetic nervous system (rest, digest, repair) requires fuel.
Without sufficient nourishment, regulation tools alone will be ineffective.
Pranayama cannot (and isn’t supposed to) override undernourishment.
Mindset work cannot replace depleted resources.
Metabolic safety precedes psychological safety.
Traditional postpartum care across cultures shares common themes:
Warm, slow-cooked foods
Broths and stews
High-fat, high-protein meals
Confinement and rest
Physical warmth
Reduced stimulation
These principles are not indulgent rituals.
They are neurobiological stabilisers.
They reduce Vata.
They support blood rebuilding.
They steady blood sugar.
They calm the nervous system.
When the body feels held, the mind softens.
Postpartum anxiety and depression are real and sometimes require intervention. Nutritional support is not a replacement for therapy or treatment when needed.
But nourishment is foundational and often overlooked.
And without it, other interventions may struggle to take root.
If you are pregnant or postpartum and experiencing anxiety, catastrophic thinking, or intrusive thoughts, a gentle starting question is:
Is my body resourced?
Am I warm?
Am I fed?
Am I mineralised?
Am I supported?
The nervous system will only settle when it perceives safety And safety, at its most fundamental level, is physiological.
Before we pathologise the mind, we must feed the body.
Below is a Vata balancing yoga practice, it’s grounding, rhythmic & suitable for all.
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