Steph Ord - Holistic Postpartum Care

🌸🌺 Why is rest important during early postpartum period?? 🌺 🌸

Rest during the early postpartum is not only about energy levels its about your organs, tendons and ligaments returning to their original place, this is really important for preventing prolapse which is all too common it today culture.

It’s about connecting with your baby and being able to read their cues and responding appropriately. It’s about listening to your own body and giving yourself the time and space heal and adjust to this radical life shift that is becoming a mother. (or adding another child to your family)

Recovering from birth is not just physical, it’s mental and emotional, even spiritual healing. Your body has amazing regenerative abilities especially in that first 40 days after birth if given the space and time to do so.

I have a big problem with the sleep training industry…

They profit off of exhausted, under supported parents who just want a full night’s sleep and they are convinced into believing that a full night’s sleep is what is best for their baby.

It is biologically normal for your baby to wake often at night. Breastmilk is low in fat because human beings are designed to keep babies close and nurse them often. Breastfeeding is a supply and demand system, if you aren’t nursing at night it will affect your supply.

Babies are so wise! They know that their survival depends upon your close proximity. We may live in a modern world with large homes and separate bedrooms but our brains haven’t evolved as fast as our technology has.

🥣 Squash Soup 😋

An easy delicious meal to make for a postpartum mama. Chicken bone broth is the base of this soup just roast a squash and blend it into the broth and you are ready to eat!

I never thought id be breastfeeding a 5 year old 😱

I just recently weaned my 5 year old daughter and I definitely have mixed emotions, although I was so ready for our breast journey to be over, I was kind of sad when weeks and months would go by where my daughter wasn’t interested or hadn’t asked to nurse.

Before I ever had a child I remember being repulsed by the thought of breastfeeding older children. Now look at me 😂

The road was not easy, constantly being bombarded by other opinions and beliefs, but now that we are done for good I am so proud of myself for staying strong and listening to my instincts instead of doing what everyone else thought I should.

How long did you nurse your child? Did you stop before you were ready?

Frozen meals are just not the nutrient dense or easily digestible foods that your body needs postpartum. Most of the time freezer meals are very heavy and hard to digest like a lasagna or other casseroles. Nothing is going to beat a lovingly prepared, fresh cooked meal. You really want to be thinking, warm, soft, oily foods to facilitate postpartum healing.

I was totally that Mom that spent my 3rd trimester preparing freezer meals for after my baby was born. While it was well intended I ended up causing digestive issues for myself and my baby.

Asking for help and support is time better spent. As mothers in this culture we are sent the message we should be able to do it all on our own. My dream is that all mothers are able to ask for and receive the help they deserve. It takes a village as they say!

Did you have the support of your community during your postpartum period?

🥘 Foodie Friday 🍚
Featuring Ginger Fried Rice 🤤

This recipe is from the book “The First Forty Days” by Heng Ou

Lots of amazing info in this book as well as delicious, nutritious recipes and more!

Phases of Recovery

Day 1-5
The first five day after birth should be spent IN bed. Having support and care during this time is essential.
Day 6-10
The next five days should be spent close to bed, still taking rest very seriously. You may be feeling like you have enough energy to do more but resist this urge.
Day 11-15
Even if you feel your energy has returned it is still so important to rest. Your organs and ligaments are still returning to their place and could cause issues in the future if you don’t respect your need for rest and repair. Your bleeding should be slowed or stopped, a classic sign you are doing to much is increased bleeding and/or breastfeeding issues.
Day 16-22
you may start to feel more like yourself, may feel you have a lot more energy but you body is still recovering. Rest is still so important and while your feeling more energetic, for the sake of your pelvic diaphragm and core muscles it’s important not to do too much too soon.
Day 23-40
Congratulations, You are in the home stretch! You have regained a lot of your strength and a beginning to feel more confident in your mothering journey. Still resting as much are possible but now is a good time to introduce some gentle movement if you are craving it. A short walk around the block or gentle yoga poses would be a good choice for this time in your recovery.

The first 40 day after birth should be a sacred time of self care and preservation. It is such an amazing time for your body to repair and regenerate but only if you give your body the rest and nourishment it needs.

Join my Community! Support your local Moms

Do you really need some one to take your baby? Or is the lack of support leading you to completely burnout.

Would you need someone to take the baby if you were able to prioritize rest and nourishing your body with healing foods, someone to talk to about what you are going thru, someone who inspired confidence in your decisions instead of fixing things for you?

Mother’s know best when it comes to their own baby. In our culture we are so quick to pathologize normal baby behaviour and try to sell you the cure.

Its so important to talk to your spouse, family and friends about your postpartum plan. Its good to have everyone on the same page so they know their roles and how to best support you.

BOUNDARIES- pregnancy is a great time to set boundaries it will help set yourself up for a smooth postpartum experience. Ex. Please don’t show up uninvited and expect to see the baby.

DELEGATE - having a plan before baby is born for who will be taking on your responsibilities so you can rest after baby is born is a great way to ensure you can focus on recovery and your sweet newborn. Ex. Setting up a meal train so you dont have to worry about cooking for the early postpartum.

VISITORS- just like it’s important to be careful who you invite into your birth space, it also important who you invite into your postpartum space. Early postpartum is a very vulnerable time, well meaning relatives offering un solicited advice can be difficult Ex. You should really get baby used to a bottle if you want others to help OR your holding the baby too much, your going to spoil them! 🙄

BE VOCAL - don’t be afraid to speak up about your needs and how you want to parent, you get to be the one to make decisions. Your doctor and even family members might give you not so great, well meaning advice so make sure its in alignment with what you really want and need. You are the expert on you body and baby. Ex. I want to cloth diaper so please don’t bring disposable diapers unless I ask.

I offer postpartum planning and support, if you are interested please send me a DM and we can have a chat about how I can help 😊💕

Hey ! I'm Steph, wife, mother of two and postpartum caregiver. I have always had a fascination with nature and biology, even as a small child I was intrigued by pregnancy and birth.

It was my own postpartum recovery that sparked my passion for postpartum care, as well as learning about Ayurveda and herbalism.

I provide local families with traditional postpartum care which includes prenatal planning, meal preparation, emotional support, education on breastfeeding, birth recovery, biological baby norms and nutritional guidance. I also provide and make custom tinctures, herbal infusions & teas, herbal bath salts and other herbal remedies.

When Mothers have the postpartum care and the community support that they need it can affect their whole motherhood journey for the better.