Written by Robyn MacIver, Ayurvedic Postpartum Doula
Robyn MacIver, is an Ayurvedic Postpartum Doula, who focuses on mental health, and brining balance back to the body after childbirth. Her personal postpartum experiences fuelled her passion to support other families through this major life transition.
Welcoming a new baby is a time of transition for all, partners are often left unsure about how to best support during this time period. Here are 5 must knows every partner needs to know as they head into this life changing time. As a bonus we have 5 ways that you can support the new mother, ensuring that you enjoy this beautiful period of time together.
1. Newly delivered mothers are in a state of tremendous transition. This is a time for the new moms and babies to be nurtured and nourished. When new moms feel supported, it decreases feelings of overwhelm and helps to balance out their nervous systems.
2. Your partner's psychophysiology is as delicate as your newborn's, and every tissue and system is in transition for 6 weeks. It is important to be mindful that it takes roughly the same 6 weeks, often longer for the hormones to return to a state of balance. This is a general time frame and healing time can take longer, depending on the circumstances.
3. The metabolic principle which governs all movement is heavily challenged by pregnancy, labour and delivery. This can incline the birther to anxiety, worry, depression, weak digestion, and restlessness at night.
4. The quickest and most effective way to restore balance at this time is through nurturing and nourishing the new mother. It helps to soothe her systems and bring back balance. Allowing time for rest and recovery is very important but can often be difficult with a new baby. Ensuring that mom is eating nourishing foods, and able to rest when needed is vital to the healing process.
5. Know that while this is a time of transition and everyone is learning and adjusting, your support is appreciated. Your partner will look to you for support, and reassurance, especially in the early weeks when she is in deep transition to this new life role. Remember that this is a big transition for you as well, allow for grace and understanding as you and your partner navigate this transition together.
5 ways to support your partner postpartum
Give greater attention if needed to see household chores are done. Preferably have a close female family member who is a mother help, or your wife's best girlfriend to organize a main meal to bring in, errands to be run or housework to be done. This helps to decrease feelings of overwhelm, as well as allows more opportunity for mom to rest.
Plan together before the birth for what you, your family and friends can do to protect this six-week opportunity for your wife, newborn, and family. Having a postpartum plan is always a great idea, this way you can have your support in place before the baby comes. You will know in advance that the help and support are there for you, and you won't be scrambling to find help after the overwhelm sets in. You can grab your postpartum planning guide.
Take some time off of work if you can, to minimize the stress of adjustments in the family, and mostly of course to enjoy your delicacy of feelings with your newborn. If able this is a great opportunity for you and your partner to enjoy this transition together. Helping each other navigate this new stage of life, as partners.
Our culture has forgotten to a great extent that taking care of mothers is as important as taking care of babies and that when she is doing well, babies will thrive. When a mother is taken care of during postpartum it allows for her to heal, not just physically but mentally and emotionally as well. Knowing that she is supported and taken care of and not bombarded with feelings of overwhelm, stress, anxiety and depression. We often overlook how support can help to avoid common postpartum mood disorders.
Your strength and peacefulness will be a great security for her and your newborn. Be sure to take care of yourself.
Robyn MacIver, Ayurvedic Postpartum Doula
Robyn MacIver, is an Ayurvedic Postpartum Doula, who focuses on mental health, and brining balance back to the body after childbirth. Her personal postpartum experiences fuelled her passion to support other families through this major life transition. She believes that with the proper support, and knowledge this transition can be a positive experience. MacIver has created a platform that helps families create a postpartum plan, and understand what the postpartum period is all about and how to navigate it in a way that works best for you and your family.
