SERVICES
Postpartum Support
“The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new.”
- Bhagwan Shree Ranjeesh
Be Held, Be Healed…
Sacred, Holistic Postpartum Care
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In many other cultures there are practices in place that allow the new mother to acclimate to her new baby. In some cultures a mother has a 40-day rest period where she doesn’t leave her “cocoon” or her baby. This is a sacred space in her home that is respected by all and only certain family members and caregivers can enter that space. Many generations may live in the same household, or at least very close together, providing the new mother with many generations to support her in that special postpartum time.
Here in the UK we don’t have anything like that in place. After giving birth, the new mother is discharged from the hospital, and her care is transferred back to the community midwife. She is supposed to receive a visit from her community midwife within the first 36 hours after birth, and then by day 10 her care is typically transferred to a health visitor. The new mother is able to call her community midwife with any concerns, but other than the visits outlined above and some family coming over or bringing meals, there is not much in the way of true support for a new mother, much less celebrating the birth of the mother. Note that this visit outline is based on NHS care, not independent midwifery, the latter which has become more and more difficult to secure with independent midwives being forced to the margins and refused indemnity in the UK.
The postpartum period is a dramatic time of rapid change in a woman’s life on every level of her being. It is also the most demanding time, with the baby needing to be fed and cared for around the clock. This can make recovery and integration very challenging, often leading to postpartum depression. Estimates vary, but a most statistics point to postnatal depression rates of between 15-20% in the UK. In cultures where the practice of nurturing the new mother for the first 40 days is a standard practice, the postnatal depression rate is less than 2%.
Just as we must return birth to the family and regain trust in the intuitive wisdom of birth, it is time that we in the U.S. reawaken these ancient healing and nurturing practices.
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Below is an overview of the postpartum support I can provide:
How to alleviate common postpartum ailments and how to alleviate them, including natural remedies
Breastfeeding support and infant care, which includes bathing, swaddling, cord care and diapering
How to wear your baby
Emotional support, listening to the new mother’s needs and worries, and helping her to integrate and process the birth experience.
Meal prep/cooking
Some housekeeping (laundry, dishes, mopping etc)
Please note that as a Postpartum Doulas, I do not give medical advice, as I am not a medical professional, but I am always happy to speak with families about their concerns.
What’s included in your sacred postpartum
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POSTPARTUM PLANNING SESSION
In this 2-hour visit, I will support you as you envision your ideal postpartum time. Together we we will imagine…
The logistics specific to your world and we create a space and time for sacred rest and integration. Does this include childcare for siblings? Additional support at home?
Based on what you determine your needs to be, we look to building a support team
The envisioning of a sacred postpartum nest
Arrangement of meal deliveries from friends & neighbors
If you are breastfeeding, we will dive into your personal her-story, discuss your ideal breastfeeding relationship, and discover ways to heal any past struggles or future concerns
Any supplies you might need
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INITAL POSTPARTUM VISIT
Soon after you give birth, we will schedule our first visit. In this visit, I will be there to answer any questions you may have and offer my company. This 2-3 hour visit may include:
Sitting with you
Listening to your birth story (Birth Story Medicine Listening is a separate service)
Holding space for a cord cutting, burning ceremony, lotus birth, or Closing of the Bones ceremony
Preparation of your placenta for fresh consumption, such as in a smoothie
Breastfeeding consultation
Brewing healing teas
Support team check-in
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TWO FOLLOW-UP VISITS
My postpartum package includes two follow-up visits of 4 hours each after the initial postpartum visit. These will much of what is provided in the initial visit, and can additionally include::
House cleaning & laundry
Facilitating herbal baths
Honoring the placenta through art or burial
Breastfeeding check-ins
Babywearing demonstrations and assistance
Baby care support
Nourishing foods
More listening
Support with a reintegration plan as you move out of your sacred postpartum and into the outer world as a transformed, powerful mother
SACRED Postpartum care
The new mother - whether you have just birthed your first, second, or fifth child - is a transformed woman. She is open, raw, emerging, and healing.
Your postpartum space should be a sacred nest of care, attention, and holding. Allow me to move seamlessly in and our of your space, cooking you nourishing foods and and offering you healing teas. The herbal bath feels soothing as you immerse your healing body in its waters. Your only responsibility is to get to know your baby, skin-to-skin, curled up in the comfort of your bed. I can hold your baby while you take a shower. You don’t need to host or entertain. You have no housework to tend to. You only need allow yourself to reintegrate the wholeness of your being on this side of your birthing journey. I will be there to hold that space for you.
The Sacred postpartum care package includes:
One (1) postpartum planning session before you give birth
One (1) initial postpartum visit in first days after birth
Two (2) follow-up visits over the coming weeks
INVESTMENT: £400 + expenses (e.g., ingredients for meals, to be invoiced at the end of the month)
Additional hours may be booked at a rate of £40 per hour.
13 Moons has an Accessibility Fund that is entirely devoted to making our services accessible to women and families without disposable income. 10% of every purchase is placed in the accessibility fund, and we use these funds to make our sliding scale possible.
Sliding scale pricing is available for all of our services.