Why Postpartum Care Matters
Postpartum care is not a luxury, it's a necessity!
Across cultures and throughout history, there are practices, often hidden in plain sight, that exist to support and care for mothers as they care for new life. These time-honored traditions emphasize five essential elements: Rest, Nutrition, Community Support, Body Work, and Warmth. Together, they form a powerful “recipe” that nurtures the mother’s healing, strengthens the bond between mother and baby, and lays the foundation for the baby's healthy development, especially the development of a resilient nervous system.
Up until birth, mother and baby share both a body and a nervous system. In the first two years of life, they remain deeply connected through the nervous system. The first 40 days postpartum are especially critical: a sensitive window during which this shared emotional and physiologic co-regulation is nature’s intelligent design. A baby is biologically wired to attune to the mother’s state, relying on her nervous system as a blueprint for their own safety, regulation, and connection to the world.
When mothers are left alone for long stretches with a newborn, grabbing cold mac and cheese after going hungry all morning, or trying to “bounce back” into household chores or office work, their nervous system and body pay the price. This isn’t a moral issue. It’s rooted in physiology and the innate design of the female body.
A woman’s health is cumulative and it builds over time. When approached with care, the postpartum period has the potential to restore and strengthen a woman’s well-being, even surpassing the health she had before pregnancy. This profoundly affects not just her immediate postpartum experience but also her long-term health, including her transition into peri-menopause, menopause and beyond.
Postpartum planning is about seeing this vital window through a holistic lens. It involves:
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Identifying circles of support and clarifying who can help in which ways
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Offering community education by reimagining the modern baby shower
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Getting partners and families onboard through resources like the 4th Trimester Course
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Creating a clear plan where each person knows their “ingredient” in the recipe for a successful postpartum experience.
When we honor and support mothers, we set the foundation for thriving families and healthier communities.
