Expecting a baby between now and October 2016?
Are you unsure what to expect from motherhood?
Do you hope to transition peacefully to motherhood?
Do you have a birth plan, but no postpartum plan?
Are you excited about welcoming your baby, but apprehensive about how your life is going to change?
Have you been given tons of unsolicited or conflicting advice about caring for your baby?
Do you want ideas to help you get the postpartum support you need?
We Are On a Mission…
to break the silence about the postpartum transition. Being pregnant and giving birth are major life events. With so much focus on pregnancy and birth, the postpartum time period often gets overlooked. We were surprised, overwhelmed, and challenged by the transition to motherhood and we felt drastically under-prepared. We have had many conversations with the theme “we wish we knew.” We talk often about why this transition is so challenging and why so many mamas feel blindsided by their entrance into motherhood. There seems to be great pressure to keep up a facade that becoming a mother and caring for a newborn is pure bliss and nothing else.
Our goal is to help new mothers have the best postpartum experience possible. We have identified 4 ways to support expecting and new mothers and, by focusing on all 4 aspects across a variety of postpartum topics, we believe we can help improve the experience of new mamas. Our 4 aspects of postpartum preparation and support are:
- Sharing our own stories and the stories of all mothers
- Demystifying and normalizing the postpartum experience
- Identifying self-care strategies
- Explaining how to access the social support that you need
Explore More About Each Aspect
Posts on Postpartum Planning for Pregnant Mamas
Postpartum Planning 2.0 – Balance Everyone’s Needs
Time is really flying now as I am 37 weeks pregnant. Our second child could join us at any time. People often ask me if I am ready and my response always starts with a pause. I feel so much more ready to have this baby than I was to have the first, although I thought I was ready to have her. At the same time I know what is behind door number two. I know it will be several months of having a baby attached to me for the better part of most days. I know it will probably be a year of frustration with how infants sleep (even though I know not to expect her to sleep like a grownup). I know it will be a series of moments in which I think about all the things I should get done and feel frustrated that I can’t seem to get anything done.Yes, I know what having a newborn is like, but what I don’t know is what having a newborn and a toddler is like.
Postpartum Planning 2.0 – Physical Recovery from Birth and Breastfeeding
For the birth of my first child I bought a couple large maxi pads, some nursing bras, and stocked a few meals in the freezer. That was about it. There were so many little things I felt like I was missing in the first few weeks. Luckily my doula came by with a little bag of goodies that helped me care for myself and recover from birth. This time around I am trying to be mindful of what I used the first time and what I wished I had on hand.
Postpartum Planning 2.0 – Birth Preparation
I am currently awaiting the birth of my second daughter – joining us earth-side some time in late June. I think I might be in the nesting phase of pregnancy because I am thinking a lot about what my birth and postpartum experiences will be like this time around. For the birth of our first daughter we did a lot of birth preparation and very little postpartum planning. I’ve turned that eqI am currently awaiting the birth of my second daughter – joining us earth-side some time in late June. I think I might be in the nesting phase of pregnancy because I am thinking a lot about what my birth and postpartum experiences will be like this time around. For the birth of our first daughter we did a lot of birth preparation and very little postpartum planning. I’ve turned that equation around this time. I’m much more focused on planning for a peaceful postpartum experience. Equation around this time. I’m much more focused on planning for a peaceful postpartum experience.
*New Mama Project is not intended to be a substitute for professional support if you are experiencing symptoms of a postpartum mood disorder. We hope to encourage you to start sharing your struggles and seek mental health support if you need it. If you think you might have symptoms of a postpartum mood disorder, please contact your care provider.