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There’s something really exciting unfolding in pregnancy circles, women are moving beyond focusing solely on birth and beginning to talk more and more about the postpartum period, you know, those blurry weeks when you dive into the deep waters of motherhood - and then someone throws you a baby!

When I was pregnant with Cooper now 4.5, there was very little talk about what happens after labour. Everything was geared towards birth and meeting baby. But I feel in my Mama bones that a change is coming, the circle is opening and we are rebuilding our village. Our postpartum Mama village, we are truly blessed to have no shortage of inspiring and passionate women leading us back down the path of woman-centred care and support. Secrets once locked away are now being shared and we are beginning to return to the wise ones to guide us.

Sophie Walker of the chart-busting, highly successful podcast Australian Birth Stories has created a 4 part educational series, Postpartum: Life After Birth to openly discuss and demystify early postpartum. Specifically:

• Breastfeeding with Amberley Harris of Maternal Instincts by Amberley
• Pelvic floor and abdominal rehabilitation with Shira Kramer of Be Active Physio
• Post Natal Depression with Psychologist Lisa Fetterling and;
• Sleep and settling with Midwife and sleep guru Amelia Lamonte aka The Midwife Mumma.

I was so very fortunate enough to be given access to this wonderful four-part interview series which by the way I absolutely loved and highly recommend. You can liken this series to sitting at a round table enjoying the gentle and encouraging conversation. What strikes me most is the genuine passion each guest holds for their profession, their enjoyment and desire to support and nurture women is unmistakable.

It’s the kind of resource that every expecting Mum needs.

• Evidence-based
• Easy to digest and;
• Supportive of the unique needs of individuals and their families

Even as a Mum of two, well beyond the immediate postpartum period I gained so much from this series. Of particular note is the incredibly important yet, rarely discussed, topic of how birth impacts breastfeeding, how to recognise the difference between ‘baby blues’ and postpartum depression and how to begin to seek help as well the importance of listening to what feels right for you.

I personally found Lisa Fetterling's interview to be pure magic, could there be anyone who adores women and mothers as much as this woman? I think not. Her encouraging and frequent affirmations made my little heart warm and fuzzy: “It is because they ARE SUCH GOOD MUMS!”, “Because they are WONDERFUL Mums”

It’s true babes - You are damn wonderful Mamas.

You can purchase the four-part interview series here and listen to Sophie’s exquisite podcast Australian Birth Stories on iTunes or Spotify.

1. Clean and dry

I think we get told this a lot - it’s a bit of a banal throwaway.
“Keep the area clean and dry”
But HOW!?
HOW?! It was the question I had for every midwife at every home visit, and I see variations of this asked in Facebook group thread after Facebook group thread. Because, how can you keep stitches clean AND dry when you have heavy (totally normal) postpartum bleeding?

Allow me to introduce you to the three ‘S’s -

SOAK - in a bath
SITZ - in a sitz bowl (over the toilet) or, a warm bath filled to hip height
SPRITZ - with a perineal irrigation bottle or a Perineal Spritz

Do one, do all three but just don’t leave this out of your daily routine.
C-Section Mama’s stick with the Sitz and Spritz until your care provider gives you the A-OK for a bath soak (Countdown!) When in the shower opt for fragrance-free simple and gentle body cleansers. Lather up and carefully avoid your incision site. Simply let the goodness cascade down. Pat very gently dry with a super soft towel.

2. Easy Breezy

This one is a cinch for Summer babes, but a bit trickier for winter ones!
After your soak, sitz or spritz, pause a while - don’t pop those disposable undies on yet Mama. It’s time for phase two - (one of my personal favourites FYI). Place a towel on the bed or couch anywhere you feel comfortable and lay down on your side, knees bent.

If you’ve just finished feeding - take a boobie breather and let ‘the girls’ hang out
Let the fresh air caress your lady loves like millions of little healing kisses. Take this moment to remind yourself how awesome you are and that you are doing an amazing job.

3. Just Chill.

Aaaaah cold compress therapy your very best friend for:
Reducing pain and inflammation
Slowing bleeding
Controlling bruising

Can I get a collective sigh of sweet relief from Mama’s with
Swollen vulvas
Perineum Stitches
Engorgement
Haemorrhoids
Tender cesarean incisions

Some No No’s using a cold compress though:
Never put the ice/cold source directly on the skin, wrap in a clean towel or sleeve
20 minutes of contact is ample, return to the fridge or freezer for recharging of its chilly goodness and allow your skin to return to its normal temperature before applying again.

4. Kindness is key.

In every way.
Kind words to your body
Kind and nourishing food in your belly
Accepting kindness and generosity from family and friends
Walking away from places or people where kindness is not present
Kindness to others whose journey is different to your own

5. Trust your Instincts aka Be a ‘Difficult Woman’.

YOU are the expert and authority on YOUR body
YOU are the expert on your Babe
When you feel uncomfortable, worried or anxious this is your body telling you to stop and assess.
“Is this what is right for me?” or perhaps “Am I satisfied that I have been heard or supported?”

Do you have anything you would add to this list?

Go forth and conquer! But like . . . totally at your own pace. . .  with kindness . . . and confidence.

You've Got This! x o x o 

Crack open the non-alcoholic champagne this Mama has finally reached 39 weeks! I am certain I have been pregnant forever, in my local village familiar faces and neighbours give me that “still?!?” look. And while I have been staring down the end of this pregnancy for awhile it just recently hit me that it’s actually going to happen and that there are things I need to do apart from waiting.

The most sensible of them being: pack my hospital bag. Now, I’m not planning to stay in the maternity ward for long - I’ll be coming home as soon as they’re satisfied we’ve ticked all the boxes (hopefully within 24 hours - or earlier would be great!) So my needs are pretty simple but I do have a swag of products which I’m NOT leaving home without, most of which will support me during labour as well as in the immediate hours postpartum.

Obviously everyone’s journey is unique and your hospital bag will reflect that, I view my hospital bag as an extension of my birth plan. What comfort measures are a priority for me in those 24 hours, what makes me feel safe, and confident? What do I need to begin to thrive?

My hospital bag, therefore, is divided into 3 top priorities (each of which have been heavily influenced by the experiences of my first birth and the learning that has taken place since).

1. Save my va-jay-jay
2. Save my nips
3. Save my sanity

So without further ado, let’s get into it - or as my son would say - Let’s go rock and roll!

Save My Vajayjay

My number one priority for this labour is an intact perineum. No stitches! So, of course the BodyICE Perineum Pad is the first thing I’m packing! Are you guys sick of me harping on about the brilliance of this heat/ice pack yet? Too bad - it’s the best and no birthing Mama should be without it. I’ll be using this cheeky lady in early labour as a warm compress, folded in a v and placed on my pubic bone. My birth plan is solidly geared towards a water birth, but the Perineum Pad will be an important back up in case I’m unable to deliver in the bath - still used as a warm compress and placed on my Perineum to protect the area, encouraging softness and offering some pain relief. Once bubs is in my arms (squuuueeeeeeee!) It’ll go straight in the freezer and I’ll place it back on the perineum cold to soothe swelling.

Next to go in is my trusty Perineal Irrigation Bottle. She’ll get filled with luke warm water to take the sting out of those first trips to the bathroom. She’ll also assist in keeping my perineum clean and dry - reducing any risk of infection and irritation.

• Technically not for saving my Vajayjay but my BodyICE Hip and Lower Back Heat/Ice Pack will be coming in with me. Hospitals can be a bit thingy with using kettles and microwaves (not all - but some - ask at your ante-natal visit!) but I need not worry, all she needs is hot or cold/ice water. The pack is designed to provide warm or cold compress - wait for it - hands free! Which is brilliant for labouring Mama’s with freedom of movement high on their list of birth preferences.

Save My Nips

A pair of seamless, soft cup fully flexible Nursing Camisoles and Nursing Bra. This one is pretty self explanatory. I choose Cantaloop nursing wear for the BBFB range. Namely because of the quality of the material and comfortability whilst wearing. Little one will be nursing frequently and I’ll need to be comfortable at all times.

Nipple Balm. My balm of choice is Sal Remedia Nipple Balm - handmade, natural and simple nourishment and hydration. Here’s the best bit about having a Summer baby is the opportunity to let the girls hang out! (apologies in advance to my maternity ward roomie!) Allowing the nipple to air dry, in the sun is even better, prior to applying any balms or fabrics/pads will go a long way in protecting your precious nips! While initial discomfort is normal Mama’s, put your foot down and say no to any painful cracking or bleeding - reach out to a trusted IBCLC Lactation Consultant to ensure there’s no underlying issues. Rule #1: Look after those nips!

Bamboo Re-Usable Breast Pads from Milk and Cookies by Jewels. Now it’s unlikely that my supply will burst forth in the first 24 hours, but these re-usable breast pads are oh so soft, they’ll provide an extra layer of comfort as well as catch any early leakage if I need it.

Save My Sanity

I respond really well to touch in times of stress and discomfort so the pure and simple Body Oil by Sal Remedia is not being left at home! A simple blend of Sweet Almond and Apricot Oil makes this perfect for massage in labour and every hour thereafter (demanding much!?) The exclusion of additional fragrances or oils means it’s completely safe to use for Mama.

Eco. Aroma Essential Lavender Oil. For calm and relaxation in Labour. Say no more! A drop or two on my Kayelle Aromatherapy Necklace will diffuse my favourite scent for as long as I need it. Find what makes you feel at home, safe, alone and peaceful and bring it will you.

Bad Ass Birth Affirmations by Angie Bee Holtz. Because laughter is what I live for, I fight stress and worry with humour and these affirmations are exactly what this foul-mouthed, goofy Mama needs. Equal parts of both focus and hilarity.

And that’s it! Of course the ol’ toothbrush will come along as well as my Maternity mattresse-pads, I mean pads. Oh and pants *note to self: pack pants. Stay tuned for what I’ll have waiting for me at home!

I hope you’ve found my checklist useful - especially if you’re finding yourself overwhelmed with a seemingly endless list of items to bring! Of course all items*** are available online here at Bouncing Back From Birth, don’t hesitate to shoot any questions about these products and their benefits in labour or postpartum in the comments, via email, social media or carrier pigeon - whatever you prefer Mama!

Now go forth and birth your babe like the glorious goddess you are - you’ve got this!!

Brooke x  

*** Except for these beauties

Bad Ass Birth Affirmations by Angie Bee Hotz

Aromatherapy Necklace by Kayelle

BodyICE Hip and Lower Back Pack by BodyICE Recovery

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