I was at wits end trying to find the perfect position, heat pad, ice pack, nipple shield, cabbage f*cking leaf to make the agony go away. My nipples were bloody and torn. I wondered how we evolved as a species if breastfeeding was so hard.

My anxious mind wouldn’t let me sleep when my baby slept. Plus, there were the mounting dishes and housework to tend to. I felt heavy and low in my pelvis as I kept pushing on.

This was how I felt after the birth of my first child as I entered matrescence. I had much to learn.

Here’s what I did differently after my second was born, to achieve the most blissful Fourth Trimester any mother could want. I set boundaries and followed through on my postpartum non-negotiables:

• I got very comfortable asking for help, and unapologetically receiving it.
• I did plenty of cooking in the third trimester and stocked up the freezer with foods crucial for healing and balancing hormones.
• I made sure to put the phone on aeroplane mode when my baby fell asleep, and rest my eyes as I lay quietly next to him, just being.
• I purposefully avoided housework, as I felt the heaviness in my pelvis region if I stood up for too long.
• I hired a cleaner to come in weekly.
• I kept my body warm, especially my feet and belly.
• I started peristeaming at about 8 weeks post birth (as I had a caesarean).

These postpartum non-negotiables are not of my own accord but modernised from rituals practiced around the world.

• The act of receiving is profoundly feminine, a muscle that modern women need toning.
• Proper postpartum nutrition is vital for healing and hormones.
• Resting your eyes does wonders for calming the nervous system.
• Heat keeps your circulation going.
• Not standing too long avoids gravity getting the best of you.
• Peristeaming benefits are profound for any new mother.

If you are interested in learning more, I’ll be at the Pregnancy and Post Birth Expo at Kilmore Trackside on Sat 19 Oct to answer all your questions.

You can also book an obligation free 30 min chat if you don’t want to wait that long.

See you soon 🙂