Hadheejah Birthkeeper’s mission is to preserve and share the ancient Maldivian postpartum practices, blending culture with care.
In a quiet corner of the world, on the idyllic islands of the Maldives, one woman is dedicated to preserving a nearly lost tradition. Hadheejah Gasim, known as Hadhee Jah, stands as the last practicing doula in the Maldives—a country where birth has become largely medicalized, and the indigenous midwifery practices of her people are fading. Through her work and her memoir, Postpartum Is Forever: A Memoir in Recipes and Rituals, she seeks to restore these ancient traditions and share them with the world.
Hadhee Jah’s role goes far beyond providing birth services; she is the living connection between the past and the present. As the last birthkeeper in her lineage, she carries the sacred responsibility of reviving the rituals that once guided her ancestors. Her story and work demonstrate how a return to ancestral wisdom can support not only mothers but entire communities in the healing process.
The Mission: Preserving and Reclaiming Maldivian Birth Practices
For Hadhee Jah, the mission is clear: preserve the indigenous postpartum practices of her people and share them before they disappear forever. In the Maldives, the rise of medicalized birth has overshadowed traditional practices, and the sacred rituals that once nurtured mothers in their recovery are at risk of being forgotten. Hadhee Jah is determined to bring these traditions back to life, blending them with modern practices to offer holistic, meaningful care.
Growing up on the islands, Hadhee Jah was captivated by the stories of her ancestors—birthkeepers who used food, rituals, and touch to heal mothers and guide families through the birthing process. But as medical practices began to dominate, these traditions became increasingly rare. Hadhee Jah recognized that the very practices that once nourished women during postpartum were vanishing, and she made it her life’s work to restore them.
Her journey began with a personal realization that the postpartum period, often dismissed in mainstream culture as simply a phase that ends after six weeks, holds deep emotional, physical, and spiritual significance. This awakening sparked a passion to become a doula—a passion not only for helping mothers in the present but for preserving a cultural inheritance that has lasted for generations.
The Turning Point: From Personal Healing to Public Mission
Hadhee Jah’s personal experiences with motherhood gave her a new perspective on postpartum care. The journey through childbirth and the subsequent recovery period made her realize how essential it is for mothers to be supported, not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually, during this time. It was during her own postpartum experience that she began to see the gap in care—how mothers, especially in her country, were expected to return to their routines quickly without the support and rituals they so deeply needed.
Her memoir, Postpartum Is Forever: A Memoir in Recipes and Rituals, serves as a blend of personal reflection and a cultural history of Maldivian birth practices. The book highlights that postpartum care is not a six-week phenomenon but rather a lifelong journey of healing, emotional recovery, and self-discovery. In the book, Hadhee Jah shares stories of her own healing process as a mother, combined woven with ancestral rituals, recipes, and remedies once passed down from her grandmothers. Each chapter serves as a call to action—an invitation to women everywhere to reclaim these ancient healing practices and use them as tools for their own well-being.
Hadhee Jah’s work as a doula is not only about helping women during their recovery but about showing them that postpartum care extends far beyond the hospital discharge. Her teachings emphasize the importance of rest, nourishment, and ritual during this sacred time, encouraging mothers to slow down and reconnect with themselves.
The Unique Legacy: A Bridge Between Cultures
What sets Hadhee Jah apart in her work as a postpartum doula is her seamless integration of ancestral practices with modern care. She is not merely a practitioner of birth and postpartum rituals—she is a cultural ambassador, reviving practices that are becoming increasingly rare.
In a country where birth has become heavily medicalized, Hadhee Jah stands as a reminder that ancient wisdom still has a place in today’s world. Her holistic approach—blending nutrition, emotional care, and ritual with contemporary birth practices—offers a profound alternative to the standard, impersonal approach to postpartum recovery that dominates much of the world today.
Her memoir, Postpartum Is Forever, is more than a story of birth and healing. It is a reclamation of culture, a plea to restore a sacred knowledge that nurtures not only the body but the spirit. Hadhee Jah’s work emphasizes that postpartum care is not just for mothers; it is for families and communities. The rituals and remedies she shares bring the family unit closer together, teaching not just mothers but entire communities how to care for one another during a pivotal time.
Hadhee Jah’s role as the last birthkeeper of her lineage is a unique one. She is a guardian of cultural heritage, a doula, and a storyteller. Her work keeps the traditions alive, while also creating a new path forward—one where modern mothers can experience the healing power of ancient practices in a contemporary context.
The Emotional Power of Postpartum Care
Postpartum care, as Hadhee Jah teaches, is not just about physical recovery; it is a time of deep emotional and spiritual renewal. In modern societies, mothers are often expected to return to their normal routines almost immediately after birth. This societal pressure overlooks the emotional, mental, and physical toll that childbirth can take. In contrast, Hadhee Jah’s approach calls for a gentle and nurturing return to self.
Her work highlights the importance of rest and emotional healing, both of which are often overlooked. In her memoir, she writes about the rituals and remedies her ancestors practiced to help mothers during the postpartum period. These customs, which include preparing nourishing meals, engaging in healing touch, and participating in sacred rituals, offer more than just physical recovery—they offer a means of reconnecting with oneself and the broader community.
Through her storytelling and personal experience, Hadhee Jah invites her readers and clients to consider the postpartum period as one of deep personal transformation. It is not just about healing the body but about healing the soul, reestablishing a sense of identity, and connecting with ancestral wisdom.
The Call to Action: Reclaiming the Ancient Ways of Postpartum Healing
Hadhee Jah’s mission is clear: to restore the sacred rituals and traditions of postpartum care, so that mothers everywhere can experience healing that nourishes not only the body but the spirit. Her work serves as both a call to reclaim lost practices and a reminder of the power of cultural heritage.
To experience the wisdom of Hadhee Jah and learn more about the rituals and practices she offers, consider exploring her memoir, Postpartum Is Forever. This book provides valuable insights into how women can restore balance and wellness during their postpartum journey through ancient healing practices. For more information on her services and to connect with Hadhee Jah, visit her website here.
Connect with Hadheejah Birthkeeper:
Instagram: @hadheejahbirthkeeper
Book Page: https://www.books.by/postpartumisforever
