@shoplalisa

???? WHY WE REST POSTPARTUM ????

ok – so let’s talk about everything that is happening with our bodies after we give birth:

• 50% blood and tissue loss
• estrogen and progesterone drop dramatically
• prolactin levels rise to begin breastmilk
• uterus is shrinking back to its original size (from watermelon to lemon)
• body is detoxifying any drugs that were taken
• skin cells are hard at work repairing vaginal tears or c-section incisions
• your brain is changing: studies show the area in your brain that controls complex emotional judgment and decision making grows within the first 6 weeks

Holy f-ing sh*t. That’s a lot going on.

Birth was a big, beautiful expenditure of my energy physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I felt a wide range of emotions in the moments, days, and weeks following the birth of my baby. Immediately after birth, I felt so high on adrenaline. I felt that I could handle absolutely anything thrown my way after labor and delivery. That high lasted when we got home and then at about a week postpartum I started feeling the hormonal surges which brought weepiness, joy, fear, uncertainty, and love at a whole new level. I remember just crying in the bathtub to my husband in awe of everything that we had gone through so far. I felt raw, vulnerable, and open and I knew that postpartum required a closing down of sorts, an inwardness, a gentleness.

This time was a rite of passage into motherhood and I wanted to honor this time with enormous intentionality. Heng Ou’s book, The First Forty Days and the wonderful practitioners that were a part of my care team, truly were my roadmap to this time. Slowing down wasn’t a part of my lifestyle until the past few years. It truly is a practice.

???? HOW TO REST POSTPARTUM ????

It’s no secret. Our society places very little value on rest, and we feel the pressure to be productive at all times. Instead of waiting for time to rest, we can prioritize it. Our last post focused on why we rest postpartum… now let’s talk about how.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Rest is a practice. It’s helpful to frame it this way bc it makes it more attainable. It’s something that is always there and you can keep coming back to.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

TIPS TO REST: ⤵️⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

• slow down⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
• listen to your body⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
• say “no” – to guests, to plans, to hosting⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
• mind your digital consumption⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
• set a 5 min timer to sit in stillness⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
• be gentle with yourself ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
• nourish yourself with warm food + drink⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
• do want you want to do, not what you “should”
• sitz bath + meditation

Autumn invites us all to slow down, so you may find it’s easier to rest this season whether you are postpartum or not. If you were unable to rest postpartum it is okay. Another beautiful time to practice rest is during your cycle. You can use this time as a mini postpartum.

How do you rest? ???? #readshugie