Preparing for a baby’s arrival often focuses heavily on the birth itself, but planning for the postnatal period is equally crucial. We often underestimate the profound physical, mental, and emotional impact of carrying and birthing a baby. Did you know it takes about two years for a woman’s body to fully recover from pregnancy and childbirth? That’s huge!

Even with an ideal birth experience, time and support are vital for physical recovery and adapting to life as a new mother and family. Ideal births are rare, and difficult or surgical births require even more recovery.

As you recover from birth, you’re also on a steep learning curve, figuring out how to be a mother and care for a baby. Your home life and relationship dynamics change drastically, and everything takes on enormous importance. There are countless decisions to make every day. It’s hard to imagine this while you’re pregnant—I remember feeling like I was on the edge of a precipice, unable to see what was on the other side.

Societal pressures add to the stress, with an expectation to have it all together and radiate that new mom glow. The reality is way more complex. By planning and setting up support systems beforehand, you can better navigate the overwhelming early days and months. Asking for help can be tough, so putting a few things in place now will make it much easier when you need it.

Here are my top recommendations for a smoother postnatal experience:

1. Placenta Encapsulation

This process can significantly improve your sense of self, emotions, physical energy and recovery by harnessing the power of your placenta’s feel-good hormones, stem cells, iron, and other essential elements. Boosting mood, energy, and breast milk production is a game-changer! Book your encapsulation, have your placenta picked up, and enjoy the benefits within days. This is the simplest, fastest and most cost effective way to impact your post natal experience. https://openingtolife.com.au/

2. Hire a Doula

Having personal, caring support during and after birth is incredibly powerful. A doula helps you feel safe and empowered, providing a level of personalized care that hospitals often can’t match. They support your entire family, ensuring everyone feels safe, supported, and confident. This is priceless.

3. Book an Osteopath Appointment ASAP

Birth is a physical ordeal for both mother and baby. An Osteopathic appointment soon after birth can address issues that, if left untreated, can lead to difficulties. This goes for the baby too! Sometimes an unsettled baby is simply a baby in pain. An adjustment can help with breastfeeding, settling, sleeping, and digestion. I’ve seen babies transform from “upset and unsettled” to calm and relaxed after treatment. My top recommendation is Osteo4Kids.com.au ask for Miranda Cox, she is amazing!

4. Create a Support Network with a Twist

Pre-plan your support roster by enlisting friends and family to organize a emotional and practical support as well as a meal tree. Be specific about your needs, whether it’s dietary preferences or help with shopping and laundry. Quick visits for a cup of tea or a check-in phone call can make a big difference. Think about what alleviates your stress and include those things.

Dare to be specific. The more detailed your requests, the better your support circle can provide exactly what you need. Have loved ones commit to their offerings before the baby arrives so you can focus on the monumental task of bringing new life into the world. Assign a coordinator to be your point person, ensuring you have one contact to manage instead of juggling multiple helpers. Embrace the power of asking for help—it fosters a sense of community and connection during this transformative time. Talking about this with loved ones ahead of time, makes it much easier to act on when the time comes. I had one client who wrote her specific wishes on a little card with a beautiful hand drawing and sent it to her circle.

There are some apps to make this simple such as https://www.mealtrain.com/ https://takethemameal.com/

5. Meal Prep or Delivery Services

Nutritious meals are vital for recovery, but cooking can be daunting with a newborn. Stock your freezer with pre-made meals or sign up for a delivery service to take the pressure off meal prep.

6. Know Your Neighborhood

We are not meant to mother in isolation. This modern-day problem leads to depression. Research local postnatal support groups—mother and baby groups, walking groups, online communities, reading time, or mother-baby yoga. These should be local and easy to get to. Feeling connected is essential. Being with other new mothers will help you make new friends. Knowing what’s available locally before you need it will help you access it when you do.

7. Allocate Self-Care Time

Set aside time for yourself, whether it’s taking a warm bath, enjoying a cup of tea, or taking a gentle walk. Prioritizing your well-being is crucial and small moments matter. I recommend my Birth Bliss birth hypnosis tracks to help you wind down, relax, and trust yourself during this time.

Remember, the postnatal period is a whirlwind of emotions and challenges. With preparation, you can feel less isolated and more supported as a new parent. Your well-being is the cornerstone of the whole family’s well-being, and getting good at asking for help is the key!

Birth Debriefing

Birth can beautiful, shocking, transformative, political, overwhelming, empowering, traumatic, ecstatic, scary, wonderful, pleasurable etc. etc. It is a peak life experience. Sometimes moments of your birth can be popping up in your head or playing over and over again. Taking time and professional support to debrief and integrate your experience can help you understand what has happened, contextualize it and be more present.

Plan to Ask for Help Sooner Rather Than Later

New mums and women in general, often feel like our needs are too much trouble and hold off on getting help. It can be hard to prioritize funds for yourself. Change this mindset now. Plan to reach out as soon as you sense a need. There’s no need to hold off and risk normal challenges becoming chronic. Have a list of help ready with a number of options to call. Here’s a sample list:

  • Massage
  • Lactation consultant
  • PANDA
  • Counseling
  • Doula
  • Cleaner
  • In-home meal prep
  • Friends and family ready to come when called
  • Somatic release or bodywork
  • Online Mother’s Groups

What can you think of?

Birth is a continuation of life

We’re creatures of habit. Our regular patterns and behaviours often flow directly from our lives into our birthing experience. At the same time, birth is a peak moment of transformation, it is an opportunity to powerfully transform yourself. If you are often isolated or overly independent, if you find it hard to ask for help or to say no, if you have not learnt how to listen and trust your body… this can be a chance to make a potent change.

See my list of postnatal care recommendations and discounts here: Post Natal Support 

Anna Papadakis has been working as a Body Centred Therapist for over 8 years. Her training has included, Body Transformation (postural integration), counselling, working with trauma, group facilitation, doula Training (birth support), birth education, rebirthing (breathwork) and hypnosis.

Anna came to this work after the birth of her twin boys in 2001. Having had a background in both the corporate and the spiritual worlds her interests and skills came together when she discovered her passion for birth. This sent her on a journey of first becoming a doula (birth attendant), which led her to a deep trust in the body and it’s instinctive capacity to not only birth a baby, but to integrate all life experiences (including traumatic experiences) into a fully connected sense of being alive.

Anna has combined all of her skills into Body Centred Therapy which is a unique blend of somatic therapy and counselling.

Anna’s particular strength and skills lie in enabling people to learn how to deeply connect with their body, to listen to their body and psyche’s messages with deep compassion. She believes that when we are connected to ourselves in a loving way, we connect with nature and others in a loving way. From here love, healing and change are natural outcomes.

Book a treatment by contacting Anna on 0408 954 120 or anna@openingtolife.com.au.
www.annapapadakis.com.au