@nicole_franzen via @pinterest

The Importance of Community Support Postpartum

by | Dec 8, 2021

@nicole_franzen via @pinterest

Hi, honeys!!! It’s been a minute. One of the most freeing feelings in creating Shugie is changing the narrative on my productivity levels. It’s hard for me not to drive myself into the ground with work, but with an 8-month-old… that’s simply not possible anymore. I have to give myself grace, preserve my energy for my growing babe (who is basically a toddler now – wtf!?), and realize there’s no deadline here when I am the boss. Of course, I want (and feel called) to share postpartum health and wellness, but what kind of fraud would I be if it meant doing so at the cost of my health and mental well-being. Motherhood is such a beautiful reminder to prioritize your energy and to be OK with life as you knew it and the way you used to operate shifting.

So that’s that – now Let’s talk about community support.

I’ve spent time researching this topic bc I KNOW how important community support is for postpartum moms, dads + their new families. I feel like postpartum can be super isolating even in the best of times- and for the last (almost) 2 years we’ve been in a global pandemic quarantining and social distancing.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Studies show that ‘mothers without strong support from a community had ????????‍♀️ higher levels of stress, and mothers with higher levels of stress were more worn down and pessimistic about parenting.’ ????????‍♀️⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

AND they also found the opposite true. ???? Mothers with strong support from their communities had lower levels of stress and were optimistic about parenting. ????⠀⠀⠀

So, what can we do about this?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

???? build a network of support to help you through the difficulties of being a parent⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

???? identify your care team – this includes doctors, therapists, doulas, acupuncturist + other holistic practitioners, and family/friends⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

???? lean into your village and do so in good faith – bc children need multiple adults to help them survive and thrive. adults beyond mother, like dad, but also others in the community (the village) play a large role in how well the child develops (Hrdy, 2009).⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

???? ask for help + communicate your needs/expectations clearly. ex: “hey, I’ve had a really tough day with the baby. Would you mind stopping over to be with the babe while I take a shower?”⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

You are never alone! There are mothers all over the world standing with you. ???? How do you invite community support into your life? Tell us below #readshugie⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Interesting reads + sources \ The association between social support and postpartum depression in women: A cross-sectional study \ This Study Of New Mothers Reveals The Importance of Community

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Kaitlin

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