 Discover the advantages of planning for postpartum and how it can positively impact your well-being and the well-being of your baby.
Understanding Postpartum: What to Expect The postpartum period, also known as the fourth trimester, refers to the time after childbirth when the birthing person's body undergoes physical and emotional changes as it recovers from pregnancy and childbirth. Understanding what to expect during this period can help new parents navigate the challenges and transitions that come with it. Physically, postpartum parents may experience symptoms such as vaginal bleeding, soreness, breast engorgement, and fatigue. Emotionally, hormonal changes can lead to mood swings, postpartum blues, and in some cases, postpartum depression. It's important for parents to know that these experiences are normal and temporary, and that seeking support and planning ahead can make the postpartum period more manageable. The Importance of Postpartum Planning Postpartum planning involves preparing for the physical, emotional, and practical aspects of the postpartum period. It is crucial because it helps new parents prioritize their own well-being and the well-being of their baby. By having a plan in place, parents can ensure that they have the necessary support, resources, and information to navigate the challenges of the postpartum period. Planning for postpartum can help parents address their physical recovery needs, such as scheduling medical check-ups, arranging for postpartum care, and establishing a healthy routine. It also involves preparing for the emotional changes and challenges that may arise, such as seeking counseling or joining support groups. Additionally, postpartum planning includes making arrangements for social support, such as enlisting help from family and friends, or considering professional services like postpartum doulas or lactation counselors. By actively planning for postpartum, families can reduce stress, increase their confidence, and improve their overall well-being during this important period of transition. Physical Benefits of Postpartum Planning Engaging in postpartum planning can have numerous physical benefits for new parents. By prioritizing self-care and addressing their physical recovery needs, birthing people can promote healing and regain their strength more effectively. This may include establishing a healthy diet and exercise routine, scheduling regular medical check-ups, and addressing any lingering physical discomfort or concerns. Postpartum planning can also help parents navigate common physical challenges such as breast/chestfeeding difficulties, sleep deprivation, and managing postpartum weight. By having a plan in place, parents can seek timely support, professional guidance, and resources to address these issues, which can significantly impact their overall physical well-being. Mental and Emotional Benefits of Postpartum Planning Postpartum planning not only addresses the physical aspects of recovery but also focuses on the mental and emotional well-being of new parents. By acknowledging and preparing for the emotional changes and challenges that may arise during the postpartum period, parents can better cope with and navigate these experiences. Having a postpartum plan in place allows parents to identify potential sources of support, such as counseling services, support groups, or trusted friends and family members. This can help reduce feelings of isolation, anxiety, and postpartum mood disorders. Additionally, postpartum planning can involve creating a self-care routine that prioritizes mental and emotional well-being, such as incorporating relaxation techniques, journaling, or engaging in activities that bring joy and fulfillment. By taking proactive steps to address their mental and emotional health, parents can enhance their overall well-being and create a positive postpartum experience. Social Support and Postpartum Planning Social support plays a crucial role in the postpartum period, and including it in the planning process can greatly benefit new parents. By enlisting the help of family, friends, or professional services, parents can ensure they have the necessary support network to assist them during this transitional phase. Postpartum planning may involve discussing and arranging for practical support, such as help with household chores, meal preparation, or childcare. It can also include identifying emotional support systems, such as trusted individuals who can provide a listening ear, offer advice, or simply be there to provide comfort and encouragement. Having a solid social support system in place can alleviate stress, reduce feelings of overwhelm, and promote a sense of community during the postpartum period. It allows parents to focus on their own recovery and bonding with their baby, knowing that they have a network of support to lean on when needed.
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One of the parts about being a doula and a birth worker I love almost as much as supporting a family in birth is when someone who is thinking about becoming a doula, or a brand new, just out of training, doula calls me and wants to meet for coffee and to ask me a couple questions. I love their excitement and energy. I remember that excitement, especially before I had attended any births. I also remember being nervous, about starting my doula business and wondering how was I going to get anyone to allow me to support them. Usually these are the kinds of questions I get asked and many more. After meeting with A LOT of new doulas for coffee, I started offering to mentor them. It gave new doulas, who just completed their training some real experience and knowledge from someone who has been in their shoes and now, after quite a few years and births, has some experience to share.
I feel like its really important to support new doulas and to help them succeed. If we work to lift each other up then there will be more doulas who will have grown in a birth worker community feeling nurtured and empowered. This births new doulas into the world with the confidence and tools to serve families well and spread the word of the benefits of doula support, evidence based care, and all possible options during such a special time in life. These doulas also learn to help others in their community as they have benefited, paying it forward in the birth worker community. Just like a family or pregnant person deserves a doula during that miraculous time in their lives to educate, support and guide them. A doula deserves a doula mentor of their own as they transition into the world of birth work. A mentor doesn't just have to be for a new doula either. It can be a great help to someone coming back to birth work after a long hiatus or to a doula who is new to the area. Regardless of what ever stage they are in in life a mentor can be beneficial. It can also be a helpful if a doula is considering adding or changing services to their practice. Some of the ways mentoring can help a new doula, especially in the very beginning as they are still trying to get their businesses up and running, is to offer support after meeting potential clients, before and after client prenatal visits and before and after births. Questions arise for any doula, new and seasoned alike and it is essential to have a support system of knowledgeable colleagues. For new doulas that have not become established in their area and do not have that support a mentor can offer fill that role and introduce the new doula to a community full of support and resources. It is invaluable to have a mentor's help to process all births, good ones and not so good ones. Having the emotional support through all the stages and phases of learning, building successful practices and growing into seasoned doulas is very important. Finding a mentor can be one of the best ways to start a career in birth work. The business of birth work and the process of certification are two of the biggest concerns of new doulas. As a doula mentor who has established several businesses and has founded a co-op I have offered guidance as new doulas set up their practice. From contracts, fees and taxes to managing schedules and other logistical concerns, a seasoned doula mentor can offer their experience to answer any questions and give advice. If certification questions arise, or help is needed assembling resources in the community a mentor who has an already established network of resources can be very helpful. A doula mentor has already gone through the training, understanding the challenges certification can bring and has the experience and knowledge to guide someone through the process. As is said very often in the world of birth work, every family deserves a doula and I believe every doula also deserves a doula. Most major training workshops are pretty through but in a couple of days it it just not possible to cover everything. In addition, many potential doulas take trainings outside of the area they plan to serve so they will need people more local for resources, networking, back-up, and so many more things that arise in doula work. A mentor can fill those needs and connect a new doula with a whole community of not only other doulas but midwives, chiropractors, lactation professionals, childbirth educators, prenatal yoga teachers, massage therapists, pelvic floor therapists, and more. As a doula can shorten the length of labor I'm sure a doula mentor shortens the certification process. It is extremely helpful to have access to an experienced doula for all questions, problems, and support as a new doula embarks on their journey through birth work. If you are a new doula and interested in having a mentor please feel free to contact me. It is such an honor to be invited to the birth of a baby. Whether you are the soon to be grandparents, auntie or best friend, to be there for such a special time in the expectant family's life is truly special. With that great honor also comes the great responsibility to help keep the birth environment safe, secure and one that will allow the pregnant person to labor the way they need and desire. The people around the laboring person can have a huge influence on the labor, the birth and the entire experience. There are so many things you can do to help the family during this time and there are somethings that, even though well intentioned, might discolor the experience for the new parents.
Let's break down what it means to be a good support person. First, understanding that your title is support person, whether the laboring person has a doula or partner or both you were invited for some sort of support. If you can understand that you are half way there. You aren't there to simply watch, birth is not a spectator sport, you are an active participant. Please talk to the pregnant family before the birth and ask what role do they see you playing and how can you be the best comfort and support. Ask if they are taking a childbirth education class and maybe you can join them. While you are chatting also talk about the birth plan, what are their hopes and dreams for the birth and respect their choices. You may also find that you might need to help them advocate for themselves or remind them of their choices. If you feel you can not respect their choices or at least can't stay silent about your opinion maybe you could wait in the waiting room until after the baby is born. So you are at the birth place, you are wearing your support person badge of honor and the laboring person is experiencing a significant amount of discomfort, what do you do? You support and encourage, not pity. Sitting there, staring at the laboring person with a sad face and telling them to just get the epidural when you know that not what the family's wishes are is not good support. You are basically telling them to give up their dreams. Yeah, birth can be hard, it can be uncomfortable but the family hopefully already knew that. When things get tough that's when your job as support person kicks into effect. You have the power to change things with a few words. There are tons of great things a support person can say but the easiest is, YOU CAN DO THIS! Telling them that you are proud of them, that they are strong, that you love them. These encouraging words are better than gold and can really change things from feeling like throwing in the towel to feeling rejuvenated and confident. The labor is now progressing but you are starting to get a bit tired, nervous, anxious and that can effect the expectant family. The laboring person can pick up all sorts of energy while in this raw, laboring state. Just as your positivity and support can be contagious and bring the family up, bad vibes can bring a person down. You should prepare yourself that labor can be long. If you are feeling worn out just step out of the room and give yourself a breather, grab a coffee and something to eat and go back feeling renewed. Sometimes taking a walk outside, or a few minutes of meditation and you can support the laboring person better. Make sure you have things you need to be comfortable, a sweater, a toothbrush and snacks. If you feel that you are too anxious to be proper support during or better yet, before the labor begins because of your own personal experience be honest with the expectant family. They will appreciate you not wanting to alter their birth environment and you might be a better support to them that way. As a doula we try to anticipate a laboring person needs, all support people can help by looking for the needs of the family. If the birthing partner looks tired see if they would like to step out and get a bite to eat. Sometimes the partner feels obligated to stay but they need support too. Giving them permission to go and have a breather will allow them to come back a little fresher and able to support their partner better. A support person can model breathing to the laboring person, suggest position change or make sure they have a drink or lip balm if their lips are dry. If they need a hair band or lotion get that for them with out asking. Trying to read them and get them what they need so they don't have to think, keep them in Laborland and focused on what they need to do. If they are having a contraction try not to bother the laboring person with questions or touch. If you are told to stop talking, touching, or anything else just stop and don't take it personal. There are so many things going on in a pregnant person and it is hard to sort that all out in labor. You many be doing some back rubbing that is awesome one minute and then its annoying, its ok, just stop and don't resume unless asked. This is also a great time to tell you that this experience is the expectant family's experience that you were invited to be part of. The news of the labor and birth and all details that go along with that are the family's to share with the world. This is the most fun news to spread and it should be the person who had to work the hardest that gets to announce it. The worst thing is telling someone about your new baby and they say, "I know, your mom told me!" Supporting a laboring person is a huge honor and responsibility, its a full time job there will probably be very little time to spend on your phone or laptop anyway. If you want to share the special news with anyone make sure your have the permission of the new parents and NEVER announce it on social media before the parents. After the baby is born the family still needs you. They might even need you more now as they navigate parenthood. There are so many ways you can offer support after birth, from picking up some groceries to dropping off a meal to just hanging out with baby while the exhausted parents nap or shower. A support person is so special to the family, you will always be part of their birth story. You can say you have know their baby since they were 1 second old! What a terrifically special person you are! After I had my first child I didn't want anymore. The whole experience was unfortunate. I didn't enjoy my pregnancy, I was horribly constipated the whole first trimester and I didn't have the most informative or supportive medical providers. One of the OBs had a sign in his office that read, "Home Delivery is for Pizza".
I was induced and I wasn't even a week late. I was admitted to the hospital at 10 am, they told me we would have a baby in my arms by that night. That night came and went, and so did another. I was running on low-sodium broth and lemon ice. I was convinced my body didn't work. Why didn't I go into labor on my due date, why did they have to try to force this baby out of me, why was the induction not working? Back labor. Epidural. Finally, my water broke on its own as my midwife was unwrapping the amnio-hook, something in my body did something they wanted. After several hours of pushing my baby was born, I think it was wonderful, I look happy in the pictures but I don't really remember it myself. Maybe it was the drugs, or maybe I was just tired but that set the tone for the next year. A few years later I would find out I had postpartum depression. This was how I became a mother. When my firstborn, Edie, was three I got pregnant again. I didn't forget my first pregnancy and birth but was set to change things for this pregnancy and birth. My first change was the midwife and medical practice. My next change was not listening to all the horror stories people would tell me. I would stand there politely as strangers and co-workers spewed their trauma but I didn't listen. Some other changes were that I read more good books about pregnancy. I read more Ina May Gaskin and others who talked about how childbirth was natural and that my body could totally do this. I was a different person during this pregnancy, I wasn't scared of labor and birth. I was still scared of postpartum depression but talked with my midwife about what we could do if it reared its ugly head. We had a plan in place and that took some of the fear away. My water broke before contractions started, and I waited for my husband, Nick, and my neighbor to come home from work. Nick and I went off to the hospital and my neighbor watched Edie until my mother-in-law could come. At the hospital things were good, I was calm. My midwife was right there as I walked into the hospital. We hung out in triage until they could take me to a room. I was contracting but wasn't bothered by it yet, I felt so much more at peace in this experience. In about six hours I had pushed out Jackson. He breastfed great, he slept, Nick and I ate Wendy's and watched Law & Order. What a great birth! These two experiences were so radically different. One I felt like shit after, the other I was a glowing breastfeeding goddess during postpartum. It was during this time that I was feeling that others might have experiences like my first and it could scar them, at the time I was still scarred. How could I help that not happen? What could I do? I started looking into becoming a childbirth educator and then I found out about doulas. It was like a lightning strike! I wanted to do that! I started researching doula training and found one not far away and signed up. I read and read and read all the books on the reading list and more. I was so excited, I devoured all the information I could. I trained and certified as a birth doula, then a postpartum doula, then a lactation counselor, then trained to be a childbirth educator, then a placenta encapsulator. I wanted to help all the families I could have the best experience they could. Edie is now 15 and it seems like a lifetime ago that I had that experience. I look at the new mother I was and want to go back in time and hug her. She needed support, guidance, and education. I want to be her doula so she could start her journey as a mother feeling empowered not invisible. I am grateful for all that experience taught me and what it has made me into but I don't wish that on anyone and that is why I'm a doula. |
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Supporting All Births & All Families In Any Birthing Location Since 2013.
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Kind Words From Clients"I cannot recommend Jessica highly enough! My husband and I wanted a doula for my first birth, but didn't know any in the area and found Jessica online. We met with Jessica for the first time and immediately connected. We were impressed by her warmness, respectfulness, and knowledge. She emphasized how important it is to feel like it's a good match as the doula will be there for such an important and intimate day! After we left our meeting, my husband and I already had our minds made up to work with Jessica." -B.M. |
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