The First 40 Days of Postpartum and Beyond
One thing that has been a common shock amongst our new mother friends - and was a massive shock for us personally, was how huge and devastating the full effect of postpartum can be - and how little attention, time, and energy is put toward it compared to preparing a woman for birth. Now, none of this is surprising. The current war on Roe v. Wade makes it perfectly clear that our society treats a woman’s body as a vessel of production and not as a being of value within itself. So it 100% tracks that once the baby is out of the body, the mother’s recovery is seen as grossly secondary.
The truth is that postpartum period deserves the same respect and care plan that pregnancy does. Not only will it last as long (even when it’s mostly invisible to others), but there’s an even higher chance that it will last longer than the pregnancy itself. Tragically, we as a culture tend to treat illness and injury with a binary approach - if it’s not visible or dramatic, we don’t count it . No matter how a birth turns out, it is dire that every mother receives a tailored approach to recovery via nurturing and support to adequately and healthily heal while caring for their new baby. The postpartum period is never easy, but a lack of support and understanding can be make or break.
So while postpartum continues long past 40 days, here are a few things you can do to help support the new mom in your life during one of her most vulnerable moments in life:
A New Mother Deserves Nurturing
The first 40 days postpartum can significantly impact a mother’s future health. Birth tends to deplete a mother’s reserves and mineral bases, so when given ample time to restore, heal, and rest, she can bring her body’s levels back to normal. These foundations and building blocks are essential to future pregnancies, long-term health, and overall mental health.
Slow Down and Rest
Slow down and rest with a newborn baby; funny, right? Not really, even though most new moms feel like laughing in the face of whomever suggests this. But the truth is that the body cannot possibly heal without adequate rest. So, this might mean employing the hands of a friend, doula, or partner - or all of the above - to allow you to reposition or take a nap. Or even a day off. Whatever she feels she must do to receive proper rest - do it.
It’s going to feel next to impossible, and there will be guilt. But believe us when we say it’s okay and highly encouraged to slow down and rest.
Find a Village
Part of being able to rest is finding a village. Use your pregnancy as an opportunity to surround yourself with the people you trust the most. These are the ones that will enable you to rest, heal, eat, and shower on occasion.
These first 40 days are an excellent time to employ that village and soak up all their offerings and support. An advantage to choosing a birth center is establishing a village early on with the care providers and wisdom they offer.
When thinking about how a village can serve what may be needed, think about the following:
Nutritionally packed prepared meals
Offering a bottle to the baby to let you nap
Doing a few loads of laundry
Cleaning the home once a week
There isn’t a magic recipe on who your support system should consist of, so think about making new connections, leaning on family members, and asking your other mom friends.
Nutrition Is Essential to Healing
When it comes to why the first 40 days postpartum are important, nutrition can pave the course for healing. Think about your comfort as well because, after all, that is a top priority. Try to bring in foods high in protein, fiber, and hydration. Protein can offer the body and wound sites adequate properties, while fiber can support your digestive system.
Aim to drink about half one’s body weight in ounces of water, especially if breastfeeding. Remaining hydrated is essential to rebalancing the body’s composition within those first days.
THE HEALING CONTINUES
Lastly, don’t expect things to be normal once the 40 day mark goes by. The effects of postpartum are not always straightforward and often the hardest symptoms come later, when unexpected. Personally, we recommend keeping a therapist on hand for at least a year post. Having someone who will not judge you in your darkest moments and can help give insight as to how to manage the different challenges as they come is absolutely invaluable at this time. Additionally, if you happen to breastfeed for a long period of time, keep tabs on post breastfeeding, as postpartum symptoms can often show up around that time as well.
