5 perspectives on what mothers really need after birth
What do newborn mothers really need after giving birth? We’ve been browsing the websites of our graduates and came across some wonderful pieces that explore this question, too good not to share.
These articles by five postpartum doulas are thought-provoking and full of empathy, and each one brings a distinctive flavour to postpartum care. They highlight a few things that help make the early weeks more positive, from realistic expectations and rest to building a village of support.
We hope you enjoy reading them as much as we did!
Realistic expectations
You don’t know what you don’t know, and that goes for newborn mothers too. Both of the following articles would be useful to share with a first-time mum-to-be (or someone who wants to have a better experience the second time around).
What to realistically expect in the first weeks postpartum by Katerina
Katerina’s article manages to be funny and heartbreaking at the same time.
“And I’m wondering: in a society where we are totally disconnected from motherhood until we become mothers ourselves, how can we make future moms understand, prepare for what is to come?”
Thriving in the postpartum period by Simone
Simone gives a detailed overview of key things to consider during the postpartum phase; this could be a good discussion piece for a mother’s circle or pre-natal group.
“Early motherhood, especially first time around, can feel like a bit of a rollercoaster. There will be moments you are on top of the world, you feel like you’re nailing this new phase of your life, and you’re completely besotted with your baby. There will also be moments where you feel like a failure; that you’ve been blind sighted by the reality of caring for a newborn; and that you want to hide. This could just be in one morning…”
Deep rest
Why rest is important during postpartum by Sophie
Sophie explores why rest is so important for physical healing and emotional wellbeing. This is another good one to bookmark and share with new mums.
“By giving yourself permission to rest, you are setting yourself up for a healthier and more enjoyable transition into motherhood. ”
Building the village
How to support your pregnant friend or relative by Shaadeh
The intended audience for Shaadeh’s article is friends and family rather than new parents themselves, which is a fresh angle and one that’s really important. If you’re a postpartum doula, you might like to print out the article and leave it lying around your client’s house for her relatives to stumble across!
“Reassure her you can make your own cup of tea and can do jobs while you listen to her about her birth story, or how her day and night was.”
Make mum friends for your best postpartum by Morgan
And last but not least, Morgan has created an extremely comprehensive list of groups and activities to help mums find their people. It’s local to the area she serves so won’t be relevant to everyone, but we were keen to include it as a fantastic example of how to put together a genuinely valuable resource on your doula website.
“Going out with bub does get easier and your confidence will grow with time and practise.”
We hope you enjoyed these five articles by postpartum doulas. We are so proud of the work our graduates are doing to make the world a kinder place for newborn mothers.
What else do you think mums really need after birth?
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