When Family and Friends Aren't Local-Postpartum Recovery
Hello friends,
I often get asked on social media what to do when family and friends aren’t local to the area you live. I completely understand that it can be overwhelming and daunting to care for your own healing body and your baby’s constant needs. I love preparing families with simple tips to help them thrive.
These are a few of my favorite tips ⬇️
🤱🏼plan for family (and friend!) visits after the first six weeks:
🍂You might feel the rush to have family and friends visit right after birth. This is completely up to what feels the best for your family. I have experienced watching so many families thrive by taking a pause and enjoying the newness of this newborn season. Giving yourself time to adjust to the unknown, your baby’s cues and what parenthood looks like for you, might be the healing you need. Sit with it and always chat with your partner as to what feels the coziest. Even a simple few days pause can give your brand new family a chance to bond before connecting with your larger family.
🤱🏼Book 1-6 visits with a postpartum doula
🍂This can look like a lot more visits but I always share a very simplistic amount of time to book. Typically families choose to book 1-2 visits per week for the first 6 weeks. These visits can look like light laundry, dishes, newborn education, maternal healing modalities and nourishing meal preparation.
Are you unable to book with a doula? My virtual course provides a brand new course workbook to create the most healing postpartum recovery plan - it is like I am right with you guiding you in person.
🤱🏽Order from a postpartum meal delivery service
🍂Make things absolutely the most simple and nourishing when it comes to meal prep. I love ordering meals for families through Mama Meals - everything is so nourishing and the ingredients are high quality. Taking the guess work out of what to eat during postpartum can be a sigh of relief. I always encourage families to purchase all three meals and three to six snacks per day - you will be SO hungry!
🤱🏽Take turns going to sleep early and sleeping in with your partner
🍂If an extra set of hands to help is not an option, I always encourage families to use their energy wisely. If one partner chooses to go to sleep early while the other chooses to take more of the night shifts, this can help one partner to heal. While the other partner might choose to stay more away during the night and sleep in during the mornings. Whatever works best for your family, go for it! Sacrifices will need to be made but having more rest during this season will matter more than doing anything else.
🤱🏽Ask trusted neighbors to help with small tasks
🍂Most people have a few neighbors more than willing to help take the trash cans down to the street, water some plants, walk your dog. Why not take this moment to accept their help and even ask for it if it’s not initially offered. It helps a community build trust and love. There is nothing sweeter than to ask a for help!
🤱🏽Slow down and take one day at a time
🍂Thinking about all the memories lost or the care you might not receive will just make things absolutely stressful. Focus on what you do have, what resources can you use for more help and the little things. Slow down and just see what you do need, you can always call a doula for extra support!
Feel free to reach out to me if you need additional support - postpartum doulas are trained and passionate about supporting mothers through their journey of healing no matter the season they are in.
Happy healing!
This is how we heal
Your healing matters
You matter 🤍
Holding mommas,
ML 🥹✨🤍🧺
