Motherhood is one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences. Yet, people don’t really talk about how the postpartum transition really is for women. After holding your baby for nine months, the journey takes a toll on both your physical and mental health. We spoke with Ashley’s doula, Lori Bregman, on how to prepare for the life-changing transition.
Healing Pads + Essentials
For the first 24 hours after birth frozen healing pads are best! Here is an easy recipe you can make and bring with you to your birth in a cooler with ice:
1 box of overnight pads
Tinfoil or Saran Wrap
Aloe gel
Witch hazel
Liquid vitamin E oil
Bio-active silver
In a large bowl add 2 cups of warm water, 2 cups of aloe gel, 1 cup of witch hazel, 1/4 bottle of liquid vitamin E oil, and 1-2 droppers full of silver. Mix and dip pads in and wrap in tin foil or Saran Wrap place in freezer until needed. Make sure to change the pads every few hours. “I also suggest bringing a heating pad and placing it on your uterus post-birth to help heal,” she said.
After 24 hours switch to heat by doing Sitz baths 2 times a day for the week or more following birth.
If you have a C-Section or a deep tear, apply some Repair Gold.
Arnica 30c helps with muscle soreness and bruising. Take 5 pellets every 5 hours.
Bind your belly with a Belly Bandit.
Warm Foods
“For foods after birth, I always say a uterus heals better in a warmer environment,” she explained. “Warm foods such as Bone broths, soups and stews, cooked veggies, grains and proteins, and good healthy fats all help with healing. I am also a huge fan of collagen powder to help with healing.” Red raspberry leaf tea helps strengthen and tone up the uterus it also helps with after pains. My Seedlyfe postnatal smoothie blend is packed with tons of superfoods that help heal and nourish the body post-birth as we’ll increase and enrich your breastmilk. “I suggest having your smoothie at room temperature instead of ice-cold. Also, meal prep and freeze some foods I love the first forty-day cookbook because it’s full of meals that help heal post-birth.”
Journaling & Community
Journal about your birth and talk it over and process it with your partner, care provider, and doula.
Be mindful of who you allow in your space. People who come to visit should come to help you not expect anything from you.
Put together your village. For some, this might be parents, sisters, friends, post Partum doulas, or baby-nurses. Everyone could use some support this is not a time to plow through on your own. Ask for help and learn to receive even if it’s hard for you to do so.
“Speaking of help if you are planning on breastfeeding sometimes it can be challenging I always suggest meeting with a lactation specialist,” she explained.
Be mindful of comparing your journey to someone else’s especially what you might see on social media. Remember we all put our best selves out there. There are things happening behind closed doors that many don’t show.
Make sure you get fresh air and sunshine, open blinds and windows, if you feel isolated call one of your feel-good friends to come over or connect via facetime. Go for gentle walks if your care provider approves, take naps when you can. Most importantly allow some time and space to allow yourself to heal from all the work your body has done. Enjoy the sweet and tender moments with your baby by doing lots of skin-to-skin and eye gazing. They are so pure when they are new you can see the depths of their soul when looking into their eyes! It’s pure magic and not to be missed. “Soon this precious time will be a distant memory, so soak it all up as soon you will be that new butterfly flying around your new land in a whole new way,” she said.
How was your postpartum transition? Let us know on Instagram!