I love sharing the beautiful Indian cultural practice of postpartum "confinement" in which new moms and their babies stay home for 40 days after birth. I learned about this tradition because i was raised in a Sikh community and lived in India for 12 years. As a mother and a midwife who practiced in New Zealand for eight years, I am delighted about the resurgence of this p … [Read more...] about Ayurvedic Postpartum and the First 40 Days
Postpartum
Postpartum W.E.L.L.N.E.S.S.
One way of simplifying your life during the postpartum period is by creating a Postpartum Wellness Plan as a means of navigating the normal challenges that are a natural feature of those early days and weeks after birth. A postpartum plan is just as important as a birth plan: after all, it lasts a lot longer than the baby’s birth! The acronym that I created around Wellness c … [Read more...] about Postpartum W.E.L.L.N.E.S.S.
Protecting the 4th Trimester
Around the world, the postpartum period is considered a special time—a time in which a mother is born, as well as a baby. Many cultures have special practices and customs that serve to recognize this very special time in the life of a woman: the postpartum period. In many cultures, women are not expected to carry on their usual lives, but are revered and recognized for the n … [Read more...] about Protecting the 4th Trimester
Doulas Improves Birth Outcomes
The word doula is derived from ancient Greece, and it means “woman caregiver of another woman.” In modern times, Dana Raphael first used the term in her book The Tender Gift to mean someone who supports a breastfeeding mother. Today, the word doula signifies a woman, hired by the expectant mother and her partner, to “mother the mother.” Specifically, a doula is a trained prof … [Read more...] about Doulas Improves Birth Outcomes
Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts
Here is something we haven't seen before. It's a comic-filled book about new parenting by Karen Kleiman and is based on her viral #spreakthesecret social media campaign. In these comics, parents let us in on their inner postpartum thoughts and it's all very familiar, endearing, and illuminating. Karen Kleiman's upcoming book, Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts: A Healing Guide to … [Read more...] about Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts
Postpartum Guide For Fathers
"This post originally appeared on Parenting Pod" Did you know, if your partner is depressed after the birth of your baby, then there’s a 50% chance you will be too? [4] When you become a dad, you undergo an incredible amount of change. There’s a shift in your intimate relationship and your personal identity and you experience new emotions. It can be demanding and over … [Read more...] about Postpartum Guide For Fathers
Science of Babywearing
Humans have been carrying their babies for as long as they’ve been giving birth to them. So that’s forever, then! This ancient parenting practice is as natural as breastfeeding and modern science is now backing it up. First, it should come as no surprise that, like our ape cousins, we give birth to infants that are designed to “cling” to our bodies. Okay, so we aren’t hairy a … [Read more...] about Science of Babywearing
Benefits of Babywearing
Babywearing is a necessity for women all over the world who carry their babies while they work and do domestic tasks. This practice has been around for centuries, but has seen a dramatic resurgence in popularity in recent years. Why? Touch is good for us. THE BENEFITS OF TOUCH According to a study in Pediatrics, babies who are carried cry less. Babywearing for three hours … [Read more...] about Benefits of Babywearing
The Postpartum Couple
Nurturing a relationship during the postpartum period can be difficult. Most experts suggest that you sustain your relationship in the same way you would at any other time in your lives together as a couple. The difference now is one of time and energy—think small. Here are some easy ways to remind your partner of how much he or she means to you: Spend a few minutes tog … [Read more...] about The Postpartum Couple
Tips for Postpartum Blues
Anyone who has suffered from any form of postpartum depression knows that it is nothing to be taken lightly. One in 8 suffer from Postpartum Depression (PPD), according to Postpartum International, and dads experience it too. Knowing that you are not alone, and that your feelings are not your fault, are important things to remember when trying to find a way to tackle your pa … [Read more...] about Tips for Postpartum Blues