Want a Positive Postpartum? PLAN FOR IT!
If you're pregnant or planning to have a baby, you might be wondering how to have a positive postpartum experience. After all, you've probably heard stories of how challenging and exhausting the first few weeks and months after giving birth can be. You might be worried about postpartum depletion, depression, or feeling overwhelmed and isolated.
But what if we told you that you can have a positive postpartum, and that it starts with planning for it? That's right, you can prepare yourself for the physical, emotional, and mental changes that come with becoming a mother, and set yourself up for a smooth and joyful transition.
In this blog post, we're going to share with you some of the insights and advice from Dr Oscar Serralach, a functional doctor, postnatal specialist, and author of The Postnatal Depletion Cure. Dr Serralach has helped thousands of mothers recover from postnatal depletion and reclaim their health and vitality. He has also identified three main principles that can help you have a positive postpartum:
- Restore your nutrient reserves
- Rebalance your hormones
- Rebuild your village
Let's take a closer look at each of these principles and how you can apply them to your own postpartum journey.
1.Restore your nutrient reserves
One of the main causes of postnatal depletion is the loss of nutrients that occurs during pregnancy and breastfeeding. As Dr Serralach explains: "The placenta passes many nutrients to the growing baby during pregnancy, tapping into the mom’s iron, zinc, vitamin B12, vitamin B9, iodine, and selenium stores—along with omega 3 fats like DHA and specific amino acids from proteins."¹
This means that after giving birth, many mothers are left with low levels of these essential nutrients, which can affect their energy, mood, immunity, brain function, and overall well-being. To restore your nutrient reserves, Dr Serralach recommends eating a nutrient-dense diet that includes plenty of protein, healthy fats, complex carbohydrates, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and fermented foods. He also suggests taking supplements such as prenatal vitamins, fish oil, probiotics, magnesium, and vitamin D to fill in any gaps.
2. Rebalance your hormones
Another major factor that contributes to postnatal depletion is the hormonal roller coaster that mothers go through during and after pregnancy. As Dr Serralach says: "A mom’s brain has been shown to shrink during pregnancy as it supports the growth of the baby and is socially re-engineered for parenthood."¹
This means that mothers experience changes in their levels of estrogen, progesterone, oxytocin, cortisol, thyroid hormones, and more. These changes can affect their mood, sleep quality, metabolism, stress response, and libido. To rebalance your hormones, Dr Serralach advises getting enough sleep (or at least rest), managing stress (or avoiding it altogether), practicing self-care (such as meditation or massage), and seeking professional help if needed (such as hormone testing or therapy).
3. Rebuild your village
The third and perhaps most important principle for having a positive postpartum is to rebuild your village. As Dr Serralach points out: "There is plenty of prenatal support but as soon as a baby is born, the whole focus goes to the baby. There’s very little focus on the mother. The mother disappears into the shadows of her role."²
This means that many mothers feel lonely, isolated, and unsupported after giving birth. They may also feel pressure to do everything by themselves, and to bounce back quickly to their pre-pregnancy state. To rebuild your village, Dr Serralach suggests reaching out to your family, friends, neighbours, and community for help and support. He also encourages joining or creating a mother's group, finding a mentor or a coach, and hiring professionals such as a doula, a lactation consultant, or a cleaner.
Having a positive postpartum is possible...
...and it starts with planning for it. By following the three main principles of Dr Oscar Serralach, you can restore your nutrient reserves, rebalance your hormones, and rebuild your village. These steps will help you feel more energized, happy, and confident as you embark on the amazing journey of motherhood.
If you want to learn more about postnatal depletion and how to cure it,
we highly recommend reading Dr Serralach's book, The Postnatal Depletion Cure. You can also visit his website, The MotherCare Project, for more resources and support.
We hope you found this blog post helpful and informative. If you did, please share it with your friends and family who might benefit from it. And don't forget to sign up for our newsletter to receive more tips and tricks on how to have a positive postpartum. As a bonus, you'll also get 2x FREE Birth Affirmation Cards that will inspire and uplift you during your pregnancy and birth. Don't miss this chance to join our community and get your freebies!
¹: Postnatal Depletion - Shake Brain Fog & Regain Energy | goop
²: The MotherCare Project with Dr Oscar Serrallach
References:
(1) The MotherCare Project with Dr Oscar Serrallach. https://www.themothercareproject.com/.
(2) Postnatal Depletion - Shake Brain Fog & Regain Energy | goop. https://goop.com/wellness/health/postnatal-depletion-even-10-years-later/.
(3) Drop Bio Health | Wondering what Postnatal Depletion looks like .... https://www.dropbiohealth.com/health-resources/postnatal-depletion-dr-oscar-serrallach.
(4) The Postnatal Depletion Cure: A complete guide to rebuilding your .... https://www.amazon.com.au/Postnatal-Depletion-Cure-rebuilding-reclaiming/dp/073364032X.
(5) Postnatal Depletion Treatment Byron Bay | The Health Lodge. https://thehealthlodge.com.au/services/postnatal-depletion/.