15 Best Tips to Enjoy Your Postpartum

I will be sharing my 15 best tips to enjoy your postpartum as a Holistic Nutrition Consultant for Postpartum Mothers and a Mother of four.

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Postpartum can be such a whirlwind. Your body is healing from birth, you may be adjusting to breastfeeding, your newborn wakes several times a night, you may have other children to care for and so on.

For a long time, many women did not talk about the raw, unfiltered and messy reality of postpartum, which is why I believe many women find an aspect or more of their postpartum journey a shock.

I remember having my first baby and being overwhelmed by the demands of this new life. Time is not on your side anymore and it can feel all-consuming. However, since having my second and third babies and preparing for my fourth, I am more equipped at preparing for a blissful postpartum.

Blissful postpartum? Yes, I truly believe it can be blissful and I am going to share why in just a moment.

I am a Certified Holistic Nutrition Consultant for Pregnancy, Postpartum and Babies. I would say that pregnancy and postpartum are my sweet spots, as I am passionate about sharing ways you can look after yourself during these critical times of life.

I struggled with antenatal and postpartum depression with my second baby. With my third baby, I took the time to prepare for a blissful postpartum. I hired a doula, I made sure I was eating nourishing foods, I made sure I rested as much as I could, I didn’t put pressure on myself to do housework and I chose to be present with my baby and other older children.

Whatever you envision your postpartum to be; peaceful, joyful, restful, ethereal or the whole package, I hope you take a thing or two from these 15 tips I have to share about enjoying your postpartum.

What I will cover in this post

15 tips with:

• Ways to recover from a vaginal or c-section birth
• Ways to nourish yourself with optimal postpartum nutrients
• Traditional postpartum practices

Ways to recover from a vaginal birth

Let’s first talk about recovery. This is crucial for a blissful postpartum when you take the time to look after your postpartum body.

3 tips to recover from a vaginal birth:

1. Witch Hazel: extremely soothing and can reduce inflammation. It can help stop minor bleeding and provide relief for hemorrhoids. Soak circular cotton pads in witch hazel or use in a peri bottle spray/padsicle and apply directly.
2. Sitz Bath: can help new mothers relax and soothe postpartum discomfort from tearing, an episiotomy, stitches, bleeding, bruising and hemorrhoids. You can use herbs like lavender, calendula, red raspberry leaf, yarrow or comfrey or epsom salts. Steep herbs using 2+ tablespoons per bath and soak in water for up to 20 minutes a day, 2-3 times a day.
3. Afterbirth pain tincture: this is mainly for women who have had more than one baby, as afterbirth pains intensify the more babies you have, however, I know some women who experience this even after having one baby. Click here for the product I recommend.

Ways to recover from a c-section birth

While I have had no experience with c-sections, I know from other women and my own research, what has helped with a c-section recovery. Here are three things you can do to make recovery easier:

1. Bach Rescue Remedy spray: can be especially helpful for an unplanned emergency c-section.
2. Homeopathic arnica: promotes healing from surgery. Women have reported less bruising and require less pain medication after using this (study).
3. Sea Buckthorn oil: strong antioxidant that supports wound healing, reduces scars and improves skin elasticity (apply only once sutures or stitches have been removed and surgeon approves of topical ointments).

Ways to nourish yourself with optimal postpartum nutrients

I have another blog post dedicated to 20 best foods to eat for postpartum. However, I thought I would share my favourite foods for optimal postpartum recovery here too.

1. Vitamin D3: for maternal thyroid function and mental health, for baby’s bone health, respiratory system, reduces risk of asthma, type 1 diabetes and autoimmune diseases in children. Foods: seafood, eggs (yolk in particular), beef liver, pork.
2. Omega 3 (DHA): sufficient intake of DHA from the mother increases the DHA content of her brain and her baby’s brain (if breastfeeding), can reduce the risk of baby developing an allergy to eggs if eaten while breastfeeding, and has anti-inflammatory properties. Food: fatty fish, like sardines and salmon. Plant-based sources of Omega 3 (ALA only): flaxseeds, walnuts, chia seeds and hemp seeds.
3. Probiotics: the maternal microbiome greatly impacts her baby’s microbiome, especially during birth and breastfeeding. Eating probiotic-rich foods or taking a probiotic supplement supports baby’s gut health, immunity, lowers risk of allergies, asthma, thrush and eczema. Foods: plain yoghurt, fermented vegetables, sauerkraut, kimchi, miso and buttermilk.
4. Choline: your needs for choline are higher than any other time while breastfeeding. Needed for babies to thrive both physically and mentally, for their brain development and supports maternal liver health. Foods: eggs, liver, salmon, brussels sprouts and red meat.

Traditional Postpartum Practices

During postpartum, you are not just getting to know your baby, you are getting to know yourself as a new mother, even if this is your second or fifth baby.

If you haven’t heard of a lying-in period, then I’m here to tell you that it is a traditional practice around the world, particularly in Eastern cultures, for postpartum mothers.

This is where traditionally you would stay inside for about 40 days and focus on resting and nourishing your body with warm, soft and nourishing foods.

This is important for your recovery, replenishing your nutrient stores, establishing breastfeeding, and restoring vitality. Plus, it gives you the time and space to bond with your baby without daily demands and distractions.

Here are some practical ways to restore your body during the lying-in period:

1. Stay hydrated with a batch of herbal tea to sip throughout the day. You need to drink plenty of water throughout the day, so why not add some extra herbal benefits, like chamomile, passion flower or ashwagandha?
2. Eat warm, soft and easily digestible foods. Warm foods help blood circulation and optimal healing for your postpartum body. Think of eating during your postpartum like you would when you have a cold; warm soups or stews, slow cooked beef, nourishing stir fry and so on.
3. The housework can wait: remember that you are never getting this time back with your baby again. Enjoy it and do the bare minimum. If that means you need to ask your partner to pick up the slack and do the heavy lifting of the housework or get help from family, then do it. You are not being a bother. Your main focus should be recovery and being with your baby.
4. Prepare meals in advance and freeze them: During the last weeks of your pregnancy, gather your closest women and prepare some nourishing meals together for your postpartum. You will thank your pregnant self later. Some wonderful postpartum meal ideas: chicken bone broth soup, slow cooked lamb and pumpkin mash, veggie-loaded lasagna, chicken stir-fry.
5. Do one thing a day for you: because you will be looking after your baby and it will feel all-consuming, find something that you can do for just yourself. This does not mean the essential things like taking a shower. It could be reading a book, doing a facial scrub or just sitting with a herbal tea and watching a tv show. Whatever it is, prioritise it each day whenever you get a moment. You will feel better for it.

They are my 15 best tips to enjoy your postpartum! I hope you take something out of it and get to truly soak up such a treasured time of life. It may feel tiring, lonely and painful in ways, but it can also be beautiful.

If you have any questions or other suggestions on how to make postpartum enjoyable, feel free to comment below!

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