Birth By Design

You will advocate for your child the rest of your days - I like to think of birth as the training ground. & we’re so fortunate to have the freedom and resources that allow us to claim the birth we and our babies deserve. 👊🏼

This list can seem pretty overwhelming but I promise you, taking the time to educate yourself is irreplaceable time spent! 🤍

I listed a few of mine, but what are some of your favorite resources you found helpful during your journey?

Ever since I had my first baby, the postpartum period has always been special to me. I was told by my pelvic floor PT back then to spend 4 weeks in the bed, and (for once 😉) I actually followed the rules. I had people joke at me "are you seriously still in bed?", or being as active as I was at that time, “when are you going to start working out again?" But honestly none of it ever felt natural. It felt best for me to be in the bed with my baby. Then I started learning more and more and more, and it all validated my intuition.

Our culture really has things set up oddly, and honestly unsafe, for new moms. If you look at other cultures its vastly different. In India, new moms go back to their own mothers house for 6 weeks, and are relieved of all duties other than feeding and caring for their newborn. In China, the new mom is to “sit out” a full month while her mother and mother in law spilt all tasks. Two practices to name of many. IMO - theres something to say behind it. Not only with the physical healing but also mentality, bonding, overall health of mom/baby and breastfeeding success.

This is an easy rule of thumb given by my many and something I always tell my clients.
- 5 days in the bed, topless and skin to skin as much as possible.
- 5 days on the bed, maybe wearing jammies but they ideally button down and you’re still doing skin to skin, holding baby often.
- 5 days near the bed, maybe on the couch nearby - still relaxing in the house, still skin to skin often and loving on/holding that baby as much as possible.

I know it’s not always easy, we all have our situations - when my second was born my first was 18 months old, a handful within itself but then he got jaundice and required a hospitalization at 4 days old. There’s always the outlying scenarios but, as much as you can prep for this 2-4 weeks of quiet time with your baby, do it! Hire a postpartum doula, have family come, make frozen meals ahead of time, or have a friend start a meal train. Your body and your baby will thank you! 🤍

📷:

This mama rocked her birth!

Welcome to the world baby Mylo!

Our first March baby was born just a day before his guess date! His sweet mama worked effortlessly as she brought him into the world.