THIS BLOG WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE THRIVING MAMA VILLAGE PAGE ON JUNE 24, 2020.
THE BLOG HAS NOW MOVED TO THE MAIN MILK & OIL CO. PAGE WITH SOME EDITING.
It‘s raw, it’s new, it’s unplanned. I’m sitting here make-up free starting the dream of helping YOU become the mother you wish to be. A bit differently from what I planned would be my first post... but it’s out there & I’m proud to be fighting for women to reclaim their right to the postpartum they choose.
Postpartum is a period of time between birth & week six after the birth (post/after partum/birth). But truthfully it's the time between the end of a pregnancy of any length & the rest of your life.
It is not a state of mind.
It’s not a condition.
One doesn’t suffer of postpartum, one goes through it.
One cannot accurately say “I have postpartum” because that doesn’t mean anything. You cannot have postpartum because postpartum is the time that a woman’s body needs to return to its pre-pregnancy state. If that is ever even possible. So you don’t have it like you have a cold; you experience it like a journey.
That the words postnatal & postpartum are depicted with images of depression, anxiety, desperation, women almost pulling their hair out looking at their babies with despair & anger; & the cliche of beaten down bodies with stretch-marks & saggy bellies is almost shocking & yet it isn’t. What is shocking is that women have actually bought into this connection & with it, lost the power to control & decide over their postpartum experiences. Or have they?
I am not surprised women claim they don’t need postpartum care; they are ok & can do it by themselves. We know you are ok & we know you can do it by yourself.
Postpartum care doesn’t question your mental health or your capabilities as a mother/human; postpartum care is a necessity, like when you have surgery & take time off work because you need time to get better. Yeah, like that.
Postpartum care is not about pills, white robes & moms chained to their beds; yet society, particularly in rich western countries, has made new moms believe that. No, postpartum care is about warmth, coziness, yummy food, massages, herbal teas, rest, relaxation & bonding with your baby.
It's about recognizing that you have created life & you should give your body the care it needs after such magnificent endeavor.
Why would any woman give that up?
That is what postpartum doulas do. We stand by to make sure you get the chance to experience your postpartum instead of being told you are “suffering from it”.