Doula Wisdom Blog

Preventing Postnatal Depression

One of the more common questions I get asked from pregnant women is ‘how can I prevent postnatal depression’? If you type ‘postnatal’ into google, some of the suggested phrases are ‘postnatal depression’, ‘postnatal anxiety’ and ‘postnatal depletion’.

It’s not very positive is it? I’ve heard some people refer to their symptoms as ‘having postnatal’, suggesting tha...

When it comes to preparing for birth, do you risk knowing too little or too much? Even if you aren’t actively preparing for birth, you already know a lot. Beliefs and ideas are formed from hearing stories and being exposed to media. Depending on where you grew up, your exposure to birth culture will be different and this effects how you feel about labour and parenting.

Birth can be beautiful

Ima...

Growing and birthing a baby takes a lot of energy. In many cultures, the time after the birth is treated with reverence. It is believed, that many chronic ailments can be cured during the postpartum time, as long as the mother is cared for properly. It is considered a potent time for healing and renewal. However, if the new mother isn’t given the right support, it is a time that she is susceptible...

Many people are aware of the role that the love hormone oxytocin plays in making and birthing babies, but do you know it’s critical during postpartum too?

Feeling loved up after you have your baby is important for several reasons. High levels of oxytocin will help with milk flow, help you bond with your baby and be more sensitive to the non-verbal cues they are sharing. This helps you be more in-...

I’m making it my mission to bring more awareness around the transformative postpartum time.

I must admit, as a doula and childbirth educator, I’ve been guilty of placing a lot of importance on birth preparation. Indeed, there is a strong correlation between a woman’s experience of birth and her transition to parenthood. However, a good birth doesn’t necessarily mean a good postpartum, and vice ve...

Preparing for the postpartum time is just as important as preparing for the birth. There are remarkable changes happening in the mind and body of the new mother. I encourage you to take time to think about the post-natal period before you are experiencing it. It can give you time to organise some helpful natural remedies for postpartum and hopefully, you can ease into motherhood a little easier.

A belly goes through an immense transformation to grow a baby. After giving birth the belly can feel quite soft and vulnerable. Women have described this feeling as ‘your insides being on the outside’ or feeling as though everything might fall out.

Sometimes there is even separation in the abdominal muscles called ‘diastasis recti’. The internal organs move during pregnancy to make space for the ...