the first eight weeks
it's true what they say. time really does fly. the eight week post-partum period went especially fast this time as i had family in town and a four year old to care for. our last out of town guest left this past weekend and now i can really reflect on how transformative the last 10 weeks have been for me. i mentioned this post i wrote on
before. it's interesting for me to read now, after experiencing two different types of birth, and to think what differed in my healing process this time around. the first year of motherhood you are so filled with aches, pains, and strange changes. whether this is the first or fifth time, we are not our old selves anymore. we are new mothers and our post-partum period is a singular experience. i kept in my mind that i would not remember the things i "missed" by slowing down and allowing myself to laze about with my little one (besides, there is nothing lazy about caring for a newborn, right?)
a few days before francesca was born, i arranged to have my placenta encapsulated. some of the purported benefits of doing this are to balance the hormones, increase milk supply, increase energy, prevent/treat the baby blues, and shorten postnatal bleeding time. i feel like it did that and then some. on the recommendation of a few friends, i used mommy feel good. sara made the process so easy and i know i reaped huge benefits because of this practice. i kick myself for not doing this with elodie.
in the first few weeks, the only time i had to myself was in the shower. i would dry brush or use origin's salt scrub and then do a self massage after with weleda's arnica massage oil. since i had to have a c-section, i would massage the scar once a day with cold pressed wheat germ oil as well.
once i was able to take baths, i started putting a few drops of frankincense in the water or kneipp's warmth and energy bath. showers and baths are still my favorite way to reset.
as soon as i was able, i made sure i walked, walked, walked. getting outside for a bit of fresh air every day made a huge difference in my body. i didn't walk more than a mile until she was eight weeks old. now that i am feeling a bit better, i have resumed yoga and cycling. i am going to start wearing her for hikes in the next few days. i'm so excited to start exercising again!
i still struggle with breastfeeding and had to consult a lactation consultant to work on francesca's latch. i keep lecithin, a heating pad, and medela nipple cream on hand as i am prone to mastitis and plugged ducts.
i bought a belly bandit as i'd heard so many great things about wearing a binder in the postnatal period but always forgot to wear it.
i was fortunate to have so many dear friends bring me food for the first few weeks. i made sure to drink a load of water and to take vitamin supplements (floradix iron, calcium, DHA) to help keep my immune system strong. this was the first holiday season that i escaped a cold, most likely due to staying in my bed with baby!
next i'll share the things that have been the most handy with francesca.
image by jesse chamberlin of our labor of love
