You’re probably familiar with the term ‘Baby Brain’ aka 'Mommy Brain'. If you’ve ever been pregnant and looked after a newborn baby you might even remember those foggy-headed moments when you can’t find your sunglasses (on your head), or when you call your partner by the dog's name and struggle to remember which floor of the car park you’ve parked your car. We wonder what’s happening to our minds and worry that...
Over many years of working as a maternal postpartum care specialist, I have perfected a number of recipes that to me, encompass all the benefits of the recommended postpartum food guidelines for new mamas. Namely that they are warm, rich, flavoured with spices, densely nutritious and absolutely delicious. Whenever I cook this chicken soup, I am asked for the recipe but up until now, I haven't written it down. Instead, it's...
Have you heard the news? Seen the social media posts? Followed the Instagram 'influencers'? If so you would be convinced of their message - that it's perfectly acceptable and even reasonable to 'bounce-back' after you've had a baby. Bounce back into your old jeans, bounce back into your pre-baby body, bounce back into your old life. You just need to work hard enough, eat the right 'diet', do the right...
[playlist ids="1591"] Taking time out to relax and be still is so important in those busy first few weeks and months of mothering and parenthood. We often don't think we have the time but even just five or ten minutes of relaxation can make a big difference. When we consciously relax and breathe, our nervous system is nourished and the stress hormones that build up from our busy life will be...
The evenings are getting cooler here in the Southern Hemisphere so my thoughts turn to cooking soup for my lovely postpartum clients. Not only does a healthy, sustaining soup fit in with the postpartum food guidelines, but it also has the added benefit of being able to be enjoyed with one hand or even in a mug or flask. Important for a new mother who often has her babe in...
All over the world and in many indigenous cultures, new mothers have been afforded a period of rest and recovery following the birth of their babies. 'The Golden Month', 'The Sitting Moon', 'The First Forty Days'. The postpartum weeks have been viewed as an important and potent time where a woman is given time and space to recover from her efforts, fall in love with her new baby and learn...
This is a comment that I make on a fairly regular basis following the oft-asked question "what do you do for your job?". :-D . The career of a doula is not one that is commonly known here in New Zealand but that is changing as more and more women and families become aware of the need for 'village support' both before, during and after the birth of a baby. The word...
In this article, I explore the various postpartum care practices from around the world and how they benefit and support the new mother. You can read Part One here. FORTY TWO DAYS FOR FORTY TWO YEARS "After birth, there's a sacred window of time. A time for complete rejuvenation of a woman's physical, mental and spiritual health. A time for deep, extended bonding with her newborn. The first 42 days after birth...
A few weeks after the birth of my son the midwife arrived to find both of us crying. When asked what the matter was I explained through my tears that unfortunately, I had made a huge mistake. I thought I had wanted a baby but, in actual fact, I didn’t want the baby any more, it was far too hard and I asked her if she wouldn’t mind returning him...
I recently went to do a postpartum visit for one of my lovely clients. When I arrived the house was full of guests who had come to see the new baby. They had arrived laden with gifts. There were bottles of champagne and boxes of brightly coloured iced cupcakes as well as beautifully wrapped presents of clothes and toys for the newborn. As they chatted, popped another bottle of bubbles...