New Series for Parents, Postpartum Doula Care, Awareness
“America’s cultural glorification of individualism and freedom do not prepare women for the intense need for family after giving birth. We prepare our babies with the softest swaddling cloths, organic diapers and the perfect nursery, but we are not encouraged to anticipate our own needs, especially that of simple connection with others. I equated my own crushing loneliness, my dependency on my husband and phone calls with my mother — or any adult who listened kindly, for that matter — to be weakness.” (source)
These words struck my heart hard. Serving pregnant women and moms has been my life for the past 4 years and this truth hurt. As a society, we glorify busy independence. We put unrealistic expectations on girls and women. They have to look a certain way. Act a certain way. Feel a certain way. This pressure grows during pregnancy then explodes in parenthood when judgement runs far and wide from our own parents to strangers on the street. How demeaning it is to share negative/scary stories with pregnant women! Why don’t we offer some goodness, some positivity, some support when times get hard? Because generations before us ‘did it themselves’ and that story is supposed to be our future. No, our future is one where we build community with other professionals that will help us feel good, with other mothers and parents who we can share our grief, joy, pleasure, angst with.
Others perspectives can cause a lot of damage to those women and parents who aren’t sure in their efforts. And what first-time parent is confident in what they’re doing?! Barely any! It’s a new role everyone must learn and get used to. Most of the time, society and on-lookers shut down the ones that actually express struggle, hardship, and need. As outsiders, most people don’t know how to handle ‘bad/sad feelings’. So they don’t want to know. They don’t want to see it. They don’t want to hear it. So we repress pregnancy fears, we hold it all in, we don’t process properly, we become depressed/anxious/angry.
As we explore pregnancy and postpartum emotional, physical, and mental healing, we’ve realized how utterly unsupported mothers and parent are. Yet we expect the women to be the glue to the family without ever supporting what they really and truly need.
Many new mothers do not return to strength training postpartum for various reasons. I can predict one is overwhelm. She’s got a lot to do and if she’s returning to work, life basically hits the fan until a schedule can be figured out.
That’s why I became a postpartum doula. To decrease the overwhelm, to lend a hand, to watch your baby while you catch up on sleep. Read more about my services here. But I’ve also created a new 8 week group for new mothers.
The 8 week Rebuild Your Foundation New Moms Group is the combination of my expertise for mothers.
As a new mother, you’re beginning a new adventure as a person who now cares for another little person. This new role can feel overwhelming, scary, and exciting. Mentally and emotionally, you’re creating new way of making this all work, you’re laying new framework to be ‘mom’. Physically, you’re recovering from pregnancy and birth. Your body is doing a lot and right now, you need guidance on how to rebuild the most important parts of you, your core. In these 8 weekly gatherings, we will connect with each other in a safe space, listen, support, and empower while learning one new core rehabilitative move each week. You’ll leave feeling refreshed, supported, and stronger.
Each hour long class will include:
- opening introductions, authentic relating
- breathing/bracing/posture awareness for increased well-being
- coached movement: core move of the week (also your homework) and focused stretching/tension release
- community building/asking Qs/sharing/listening
Register here for $80. Space limited, reserve your spot now!