POSTPARTUM HEALING: THE NEW MOTHER

I gave birth to my precious daughter at the start of this year and I have taken my postpartum healing quite seriously. After reading lots about the importance of the 4th trimester during my pregnancy, it became clear to me how detached we have become from this knowledge as a society. It is more usual to see women out and about back to normal life just days after giving birth, than it is to see women taking time out in her nest to recover. There tends to be more focus on the baby post birth than there is on the needs of the new mother, which can often be as much down to her than anyone else. However, if we consider the monumental journey baby and mother have to go through in pregnancy and birth, and the intensity of the entire process physically and emotionally, it is surprising why we don’t channel more focus on supporting the mother in the first few weeks postpartum.

We need to begin normalising this in our society because not taking necessary rest postpartum is known to have an impact on the mother at a later date, whether it manifests as an emotional breakdown or physically in her health/body. Many cultures and traditions honour this precious time and understand the importance of the mothers needs. I understand it is not always possible but when it is then the new mother should be nourished with wholesome and warming foods, and given all the support she needs so that she can be fully present for her baby - remembering that in many ways she is just as vulnerable as her baby in this time.

I had days in those first few weeks after birth where I felt full of energy and like I could go and do stuff in the house, however, I knew better than that. I knew even if I felt better externally, there is still so much going on internally as my system and body continues to heal after 9 months creating new life and then birthing a baby. I’m not just talking about the tear in my yoni that needed to heal - it is the multitude of what my precious womb had been through too. It’s advised to stay horizontal in bed for at least 1-2 weeks post birth to allow the womb time to contract back. It’s also important to remember after the placenta is birthed it leaves a massive wound inside your womb which needs time and rest to properly heal. 

So for any expectant mothers who may be reading this - when planning for your pregnancy and birth, don’t forget to plan for postpartum. It is often overlooked but it is an essential part as it can truly help you and baby transition and heal more easily, and in ways that will bring long lasting benefits to you both. 

I chose to be fully patient with the postpartum process because I wanted to give my body and my baby all the time they needed to transition and heal. I am in awe of what I went through to get her here and of what every single women goes through. It is about time we start to bring this important time of recovery into our awareness more so that it is accepted and celebrated in our society. No new mother should ever feel like she is not doing enough - she should feel safe to be held or to hold herself for as much time as she needs to fully land back into her body. 

I have listed some of the key things I done to make the most of the precious postpartum time. I am no expert but I am a first time mum myself. Personally, I hardly left my bedroom for the first 6 weeks and I spent most of my days staring at Violet in awe and breastfeeding. I done a lot of research and planning for this time as I wanted to do the best I could for me and my baby. I remember reading that many ancient traditions honour 40 days complete rest after birth and in doing so it is said to set the tone for the emotional, mental, physical and spiritual states of the mother for the next 40 years. It is a big deal, but this knowledge has become lost in our society, meaning mamas often feel the pull or pressure to go back to normal life right away.

I share the below suggestions that have helped me purely in the hope it may help other mamas along the way. Remember we are all unique so tune in and take whatever resonates but ultimately know that this time is a sacred space for you and your baby to bond and to heal after spending the last 10 months growing her/him in your womb, and going through the monumental rite of passage that is birth…

REST - The vital part. Firstly consider how much rest you have in the final weeks of your pregnancy as this has an impact as it can make the transition smoother. I finished work 5 weeks prior to my “due date” so that I could switch off and prepare myself in mind, body and spirit as much as possible for birth and the next phase. After birth don’t move out of bed for at least the first 2 weeks except when you really need to for toilet etc. This is integral because lying down gives your womb and other organs time to heal and contract back. Women can bleed for up to 6 weeks post birth so our bodies are even telling us the amount of time needed to rest. Mine stopped at 3 weeks but your bleed will become heavier the more you move about. From the 3rd week onwards you may feel called to slowly make your way around the house but be gentle and listen to your body. It is best to spend as much time as possible in deep rest. Remember if you are breastfeeding it can impact your milk supply if you do not relax enough in this time. If you notice a resistance to resting, consider where that is coming from? Do you feel pressure to “bounce back” from society or others? Do you struggle to be in stillness? You may need to move through that resistance if it arises as you will not get this opportunity again. Obviously it is healthy to go outside for fresh air and do gentle movement around the house to keep active but gradually build it up over the final few weeks⁣

WHOLESOME DIET - Eating whole foods is integral to nourish your body and energy because you need to consume life force and high vibration after what you have been through growing and birthing your baby. Think organic veggies and fruits. Eat warming foods such as soups, broths, stews as it is easier to digest. There is so much wisdom out there for postpartum diet so do your research and find your own way. I love the book ‘The First Forty Days’ so I recommend reading it but it is quite meat heavy which didn’t align with my plant based diet so I just took what I wanted from it - which is the best way anyway. This is a time for listening to your own body and needs. Healthy diet is key so make sure this is a main focus. Spend time in the 3rd trimester batch cooking and freezing meals in preparation for postpartum. Whenever you make dinner make extra and freeze it. The meals will soon build up in your freezer and it will be so helpful to ease the cooking load from your partner/your support team after birth. Remember hydration is also key. Invest in a good quality water filter if you can (Berkey Filter) and make sure you have a constant supply of water to drink. It’s so important anyway as it will help your body regenerate quicker but especially when breastfeeding.

RECEIVE - Women generally struggle to receive. It has been a deep journey for me but becoming a mother has helped me so much. The first weeks post birth are all about you receiving so that you can fully hold space for your baby. You will be in devotion to your baby so you must learn how to let others serve you. It will mean reaching out and asking for help when you need it. Witness the guilt if it arises and choose to release it in the knowing that you are going through a monumental transition. Remember, any help you receive flows into your precious baby. This is a time for you to be deeply in your feminine as you mother your baby so allow yourself to open up and receive the love and support that surrounds you. Ask for it if you need it as people often have their own stuff going on and may not be aware. If you are a single mother or you already have children and you struggle to see how you can take time out postpartum - you can still put a plan in place. This is not a luxury, it is a necessity. Consider creating a diary with family and friends to come and help with bringing meals and cleaning or you could even hire a doula for extra postpartum support. Even if you can prepare to have the first 3 weeks resting in bed that would be incredible. You will probably find that everyone is more than happy to help and was waiting for you to ask :) You could create a schedule with those who can help you to ensure you have all the support you need with food/cleaning/child care etc. This can be amazing to help your partner too if they have taken on primary support role so that they have a break to be with you and baby. Adapt to your own individual needs to make it work for you/your family but just know how worthy you are of this time and rest. Remember it is just one moment in your life which will have such a huge impact on the rest of your life going forward, so it is a time to invest into for you and your baby⁣

BOUNDARIES - Often as soon as you have a baby you will likely have a queue of people wanting to come and see you. Even though this is touching, most people will naturally want to come to meet baby for cuddles. This is all we have known in our society as the norm and until I became a new mum it is all I had in my awareness too. I will never forget reading during pregnancy about how new mums do not want lots of people to come and hold the baby at first - instead they need support so that they can hold baby themselves. In many cultures it is known that mama rests for 40 days and has no visitors aside from her support team bringing her meals and helping. Do not be afraid to set boundaries if people want to visit and you are simply not feeling ready yet. You have been reborn with your baby and need time to fully transition into your new life and sleep routine. Obviously due to the current situation with lockdown it has naturally given space for mamas - which could be positive for some people and negative for others depending on the circumstances⁣

SUPPLEMENTS - I took lots of incredible whole food supplements during my pregnancy and I have not stopped when baby came - if anything I take more now because my body is recovering and needs replenishment not only after birth but after growing another human for 10 months. Do your research and find what is right for you with the help of a trusted health practitioner. Personally I take iron, vitamin D, vitamin C, probiotics, chlorella vulgaris, trace minerals, placental pills and Doterra LLV supplements which are packed full of nutrients. Always opt for whole food supplements as your body can process better. HOMEOPATHY - I love homeopathy. It has supported me so deeply during the last 6 years of my life and created profound shifts physically and emotionally. I’m lucky to work closely with a wise woman/homeopath/healer who has changed my life over the last 2 years and fully supported me during pregnancy and birth. It is wonderful for postpartum because depending on what kind of birth you had there are specific remedies to help you integrate. For example, remedies to help tissues and organs heal or remedies to help process any emotional trauma⁣

HEALING - If you know any local healers who do hone visits or online practitioners then I suggest booking to receive some sessions. Receiving healing can help your bodies natural healing process take place within meaning it can speed up and support your process. It is also amazing to help shift emotions and ignite life force energy. Consider anything natural which is gentle yet powerful such as energy healing, breathwork, womb healing, reflexology, acupuncture, specific postpartum massage/body work. Even booking in a couple of sessions to help you ground back and receive nurturing touch will make a huge difference after going through such an intense journey - you will not regret it.

HERBS - Plants are super power healers. Aside from essential oils I have used herbal tea throughout my pregnancy journey and do not stop now. Purchase a proper tea pot with a strainer so you can make your own. Some potent postpartum herbs to brew are - Red Raspberry Leaf (helps with womb healing and boosts milk supply) - Nettle (boosts milk supply and full of iron) - Dandelion (detoxes liver, high in vitamin C to help body/skin repair).

PLACENTA ENCAPSULATION - Do your own research to decide as there will always be conflicting information, but getting your placenta encapsulated is known as a wonderful thing to do to help you heal postpartum. Some people choose to freeze it raw and add to smoothies but I chose to get mine made into pills. My independent midwife has a trusted friend/midwife who does this locally. The key is to find someone trusted and local to you because your placenta can only be chilled for a maximum of 4 hours post birth before being treated and made into capsules. Women report many benefits including increased milk supply, more energy and better moods⁣.

There is much more that I could list but the above points feel most key! I hope it helps you to put the right support system in place because new mothers should be nourished and held so deeply in this precious time! I have felt so lucky to have the support from my incredible partner Chris and I witness how the support to rest and be nourished with wholesome foods has been deeply transformative in this time and allowed me to heal quickly. I care so much about this that I have been called to create some special offerings to support new mothers healing in the womb, body and energy. I am excited to share more later this year once I feel ready to come out of my mama cave.

Remember that you will be healing way beyond the first 6 weeks so even when you come out of your deep resting period so make sure you continue to nourish your beautiful body and energy, so that you can be there fully for your precious baby.

Sending so much love to all and blessings for your journey⁣

Josie X