The Importance of Postpartum Rest
BIRTH PHOTOS + FILM | NASHVILLE, TN | JESS HARRIS PHOTO + FILM
That post birth bliss is magical... but it’s also freaking hard. You’re vulnerable + hormonal, and for some reason, society and social media expects us to bounce back, get up & walk out of that hospital room 24-48 hours later, moving on with our lives as if we didn’t just birth a whole dang human being.
Hear me out. I have been pregnant at least 8 times. I’ve given birth 6 times. It wasn’t until my youngest was nearly 5 years old that I finally heard a Midwife lean into a momma and ever so sweetly tell her that her ONLY job postpartum was to snuggle & nurse her new baby… FOR AT LEAST A WEEK!
Y’all… I about fell over. This precious momma and her family were being told she should just stay in bed the first 24-ish hours... and then she should still stay in bed/on the couch the following days. In case you’re wondering, the general rule of thumb in a homebirth setting is 5-5-5. Five days IN the bed, five days ON the bed, and five days NEAR the bed. Sounds much more restful, doesn’t it? More than two weeks. To rest. To eat good food. To snuggle and nurse. And to heal.
We need help. We need to slow down and soak in those tender newborn moments. We need someone to do the laundry and make the warm, cozy, feel-good, body-fueling, soul-healing foods that our ancestors made all the mothers before us. We need to be taken care of. To allow our bodies time to heal. To allow ourselves and our new babies time to figure out this whole new life and nursing journey together.
Meanwhile, the unfortunate reality for many new moms looks more like mine. Prenatal visits are a quick blood pressure & weight check and postpartum life slams you back into it whether you’re ready or not. I was personally back to cooking and cleaning and taking care of toddlers... and by baby #4, packing a whole house, last minute cleaning a yard and moving multiple states away with a 10 day old baby. Do you know how many times I heard “don’t do that” even though my doctors knew my plans. ZERO… ZILCH… NADA. Just a wham, bam, thank you ma’am... we’ll see you in 6 weeks.
But you know what... Enough of that mentality. It’s okay to ask for help. It’s okay to soak up this magical time.
While society might expect us to just clean ourselves up, slip into those skinny jeans and get back to normal, we deserve better! We deserve providers that listen and care no matter where we give birth. And while the comfort and coziness of homebirth will likely always be my go-to suggestion, despite not having that choice myself, above all what I will advocate for is being cared for and listened to. That no matter where you chose to give birth you feel seen and supported. That no matter where you chose to give birth you are listened to and cared for. And that no matter what your birth looks like you have the tools to get you through those first days, weeks and months with a team of people by your side who love and support you.
Momma, in case you don’t hear this from anyone else, you’re amazing and you are doing an incredible job. Motherhood is hard. Pregnancy is hard. Giving birth is hard, and you are absolutely phenomenal!!
If have questions or are looking for support, you can message me anytime. Click here for an awesome list of providers in the Nashville area that are super supportive of mommas.
XOXO~
Jess
Nashville Birth Photographer | Nashville Birth Videographer | Nashville Newborn Photographer | Nashville Family Photographer | Nashville Maternity Photographer | Nashville, TN Photographer | Middle TN Birth Photographer | Middle TN Family Photographer | Middle TN Family Films | Middle TN Maternity Photographer | Middle TN Newborn Photographer | Spring Hill, TN Photographer | Spring Hill, TN Birth Photographer | Nashville Birth Doula | Spring Hill, TN Birth Doula | Nashville Baby Photographer | Murfreesboro Photographer | Brentwood Photographer | Franklin, TN Photographer
