Preparing for the Phenomena of Postpartum Program
The immediate postpartum time starts after you have given birth to baby and placenta. The below video has more information on the importance of the Golden Hour including skin to skin, the breast crawl and initiating breastfeeding if that is how you choose to feed your baby. Another concept to discuss is Delayed Cord Clamping. Take some time to do your own research on delayed cord clamping but here are some quotes from my doula training:
"A delay of 1-2 minutes has shown to increase the newborn’s iron stores by 27-47%, enough to sustain until the third month of life.
A delay of 2-3 minutes allows about 70% of placental blood to reach baby. A full delay, until the cord stops pulsating, would allow as much of the total blood volume between placenta and baby to get to baby.
Blood carries life and it is incredibly important our babies have every opportunity to access the precious essentials that delayed cord clamping provides. There is much historical documentation on the detriment of cutting the cord prematurely, too, which only adds to the necessary need of updating protocols in hospital.
Delayed cord clamping can help prevent iron deficiency from developing before 6 months. It will also increase blood volume and reduces the need for blood transfusion. It aids in infant’s adjustment to life outside the womb (breathing, heart rate, etc.)"
The other information I want to give you is the idea of comfort stations. A healing station by the toilet stocked with pads, mesh undies, peri bottles, postpartum sitz or herbal bath items, witch hazel tuck pads is essential for your immediate postpartum. If you decide to breastfeed a lactation station is ideal next to a comfy place to sit. At this station I would have snacks for mom, a full water bottle, a copy of The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, nursing pillow, TV remote and access to your phone.
If you are birthing in a hospital there are multiple products that are provided that would be helpful for you to ask for extra of to take home with you.
Overnight pads. You can expect to bleed after birth for an average of 6 weeks. Any pads you can get from the hospital will be helpful.
Chucks- These are the puppy pee pad looking squares that are usually put on the hospital bed to save the sheets from getting soiled. These would be helpful at home to put on your own bed or to use under baby when changing diapers.
Peri bottle- This is a plastic squeeze bottle that is given to you so you can squeeze warm water on your perineum when urinating after birth. This can help avoid a burning sensation when you urinate. It would be helpful to be able to take two of these home. If you have a postpartum herbal bath it is nice to put some of it in the peri bottle to aid healing.
Mesh undies- It may be helpful to have some extra mesh undies to take home to reduce your laundry.
Donut pillow- If they provide a donut pillow for you to take home it can be helpful to make sitting down more comfortable if you have experienced tearing to your perineum.
Sitz bath- This is a small bath with a seat that is designed for you to be able to soak your perineum and bottom in without having to get fully in the bath tub. Adding a postpartum herbal bath to this would aid in healing as well.
For this section please:
-Watch the below video on the Golden Hour.
-View this blog post page and video by one of my mentors Erin Black about placentophagy.
-View the educational images by Spirit Y Sol below. You can find more of their art at www.spiritysol.com
Remember: If taking in this information becomes uncomfortable for you it is important to shift and move these feelings. Feel them, identify what you need to learn from those feelings, then take action to move those feelings. This could look like free writing in your journal about your feelings, moving your body or expressing your feelings verbally. If you can't get unstuck, reach out to me and we will do a clarity coaching call.
With love,
