It takes a village, let’s talk about yours!
Becoming a mother I complex, so its so important to have a great support team! The body goes through some major physical, emotional, hormonal changes when giving birth, so it’s important to really plan ahead to take care of yourself, your new baby, and your partner. So let’s talk about who you may want to have supporting you!
OBGYN or Midwife- there may no one more important to have a trusting relationship with when giving birth. Make sure you feel really comfortable advocating for your needs and wants before birth and also sharing how things are going postpartum. You’ll spend a lot of time with your OBGYN during pregnancy, we want to make sure you’re getting as much support after also.
Partner or Support Person- who do you want supporting your through labor or surgery, how will help you once you get home? Your support person can make the difference between a very stressful experience and a happy one. Make sure you let them know what you want as well, so they can help advocate for you and support you when you’re healing later on.
Lactation Consultant- if you have plans to breastfeed or pump, find a lactation consultant! Even though this is a natural process, it can be demanding, confusing, and hard! A great lactation consultant can help identify issues with feeding, infection, and physical pain for the mother. Every new mom should meet with one at least once!
Perinatal Therapist- as a mother and therapist, I can attest to the importance of taking care of your mental health. The hormonal and emotional changes that happen during even the smoothest of births can be shocking, so why not have someone there to help you through this. Whether its the baby blues, a PMAD, or just the stress of new parenthood, a therapist can support you through it all!
Postpartum Doula- this person will focus on helping you and baby! Doesn’t it sound nice to have someone taking care of you as your care for your baby? Someone to help cook your meals, do your dishes, maybe some laundry, and also provide support if you are feeling alone when your partner returns to work or needs to run some errands! Just because you can do it all doesn’t mean you should have to!
Pelvic Floor Therapist-a pelvic floor physical therapist can be your best friend while healing the physical changes that came with birth. They will help teach you exercises to stabilize and strengthen your core! You just grew a baby for 9 months, your body went through something major! Meet with a PT, get yourself evaluated, and heal in the right way.
Chiropractor- much like a pelvic floor therapist, a chiropractor can help you heal physically and feel more like yourself sooner. They can reduce pain and increase mobility.
Mom’s support group- there are hundreds of online groups and in-person groups where you can get support from other new and experienced moms. Sometimes all you need is someone to say “I’m listening'“ or “that’s totally normal, I felt that way too”. Becoming a mom can be scary and isolating, don’t let yourself feel alone. It can also be really fun to join a mommy and me group, music, yoga, or whatever you like!
I’m sure there are even more people I’m forgetting, but just remember the better your support team, the better you can feel! No one should go through the transition to motherhood alone, like they always say, it takes a village!
