Wouldn’t it be great, if our postpartum care was as wonderful as prenatal care?
Think about it.
You get a bajillion prenatal appointments and ONE postnatal.
I’m on a mission to help moms recover from pregnancy faster.
Here is how you can heal quicker.
Postpartum Recovery
#1 Ask for Help
The transition into motherhood is not easy. Ask for help.
#2 Take supplements
Your body just went through the most miraculous event in your life.
You need to nourish your body.
Postpartum women need iron, vitamins, digestive enzymes, EFA’s, and probiotics to restore their gastrointestinal flora.
Watch this video to see the must-have supplements after birth.
Essential fatty acid supplementation (1-3 g/day combined EPA and DHA) and adequate cold water fish consumption during pregnancy and during the postpartum period may prevent or alleviate postpartum depression. ¹
#3 Improve your diet
Coffee in the morning and lunch and wine to wind down later {after breastfeeding of course!}. Your body is on a sugar roller coaster ride. I know this because this was me!
Try eating a little fat and protein at each meal and increasing your fruits and vegetables as much as you can to flush out the toxins.
#4 Skip the wine & beer
- Do you believe beer is going to help you increase your milk supply?
- Or.. that wine will help you relax?
- It may be true, but the side effects are many. Including, a disrupted sleep six hours after your glass of wine. And, anxiety!!
- Skip the alcohol and drink herbal teas of chamomile, lavender, and stinging nettles to soothe your stress and recover faster.
#5 Take Adaptogens
- Adaptogens are a category of herbs that help you adapt to stress.
- These herbs help the body modulate stress, reduce anxiety, and ease insomnia.
#6 Meet with a pelvic floor physical therapist
- Have you been checked for diastasis recti?
- Is your pelvic floor functioning correctly?
- Unfortunately, most doctors don’t know how to check for this.
Watch this video to see if you have diastasis recti
#7 Have your thyroid checked
- Your thyroid can become hyperthyroid two to four months after birth and then hypothyroid for two to eight weeks.
- Isn’t that crazy?
- I treated my self for hyperthyroid with botanicals, but I would have loved to have a proper diagnosis. Dr. Aviva Romm discusses your postpartum thyroid here.
#8 Wait to go back to work
- If you can!
- In most cultures, the new mom is encouraged to rest for forty days. The family helps with food and caring for the newborn. The mom is invited to sleep and relax.
- Again, this was not my experience.
- The worries of the new business, the stress of not sleeping, and the never-ending crying of babies were exhausting.
- If I were to do it again, I would have planned better to be able to step away from my business and ask for help.
#9 Hire a postpartum doula
- Postpartum doulas are known as the “must-have” accessory for new moms.
- They help new moms with the caring of the child so that would we can trust our inner momma instincts.
- They also may help with light housekeeping and meal preparation.
I breastfed both of my kids for three weeks, and then I looked in the mirror and thought, I am never going to get out of the house if this doesn’t change.
That night at 3:00 am I ordered formula and The Baby Whisperer on my phone. The next day Mario ate 5oz. of formula and slept seven hours! I would have loved for someone to tell me it’s ok to give your kids formula!
- Katherine Whiteside runs a free infant support group at the local libraries, in Garrison, NY area.
- Sign up for Linda’s Ladies breastfeeding support group for postpartum questions and support.
Conclusion
If you’re still struggling after birth, know that you are not alone. It can take years for your body to recover. The fastest way to recover would be to address your health now.
Can you change your diet? Add in supplements? Ask for help? When you feel good, your whole family will feel the difference.
I hope some of these tips help you survive the chaos of raising little ones.
Warmly~
Tara
References:
- ¹Romm, Aiva; Botanical Medicine for Women’s Health
- ²Hale, Thomas; Medications and mothers milk 2017
