Welcome to one of your life’s most magical times, without question. Regardless if you have had a plain sailing pregnancy or perhaps one that was off to a rough start (hello morning sickness!) there is magic happening within the walls of your womb-anhood. Everyone is so quick to tell you how exhausted you are going to be, how difficult your days with a newborn may look BUT I am here to tell you your heart is about to expand and swell beyond any recognisable dimension. You will not only greet a brand new little baby at the end but an entirely new version of yourself—transformed, awakened and with the strength of every birthing woman before you coursing through your veins. These things and so many more (above my word count here) are far more interesting and anticipated don’t you think?!
So what are a few things we can be doing now to excitedly prepare for our baby? With such a strong focus on baby’s birth – and rightly so, it’s an incredibly important time in our lives- as a Midwife and Calmbirth Educator I think we need to be thinking of how to better support a beautiful new and growing family during the time that immediately follows. Directing all of our attention on the birth without considering how to create a peaceful postpartum is like focusing on the wedding but not the marriage. Many other cultures honour and acknowledge the transition from woman to Mother as a sacred Rite of Passage with warm nutritious broths and teas, herbal tonics, bath soaks, massage and removing all household tasks and responsibilities from her so that she can just focus on getting to know her new little love. They appreciate that a new mother who is held in such a way will be far better equipped to hold others. Her mental health, her mood, her confidence will flourish.
How to achieve a positive postpartum experience then?
For more happy insights into pregnancy, birth and beyond please find me on Insta & Facebook @calmbirthgoulburn – I’d absolutely love to hear from you xx