This approach to a virtual baby shower really sets up the momma’s “village” for intentional support after she’s birthed baby. That’s the most important thing, when all the realness of motherhood happens - that her village of friends and family actually act on their promises of support. Between receiving the “wishes for momma” cards in the mail and each friend reaching out with touch-base texts or dinner delivery, she’s going to feel less lonely and better supported through one of life’s toughest transitions. The love and support felt in the moments of a baby shower should ultimately linger long into her motherhood journey. By giving her friends and family attending the shower the tools to place an emphasis on the long-haul of motherhood support, you’re giving her one of the greatest gifts ever - her “village”.
As two mommas, we know what it’s like to give birth in a hospital. We were ready, having taken a 12-week birth prep course, the nursery arranged and the birth bag packed. Something that really shocked us both, happened after our first post-birth shower.
Megan's nearly due with baby #2! We wanted to share her perspective on preparing for her second postpartum experience through an interview! We've got a lot to learn from her confident preparedness as she goes boldly into new motherhood!
We’re giving five more ways you can better prepare for your post-birth experience. The average expectant mother spends 20 times more preparing for her birth than her postpartum experience. While birth certainly necessitates preparation, the postpartum experience is much longer than birth and in many ways more complex, too.
Over the course of pregnancy, the average expectant mother spends around 20 hours preparing for her birth. Those same mothers-to-be spend anywhere from no time at all up to 2 hours preparing for her postpartum experience. Let's consider these ten steps to ensure you're prepared for a better postpartum experience.
Since giving birth twice and surviving a maternal mental health disorder, I am inspired to share the perspective I have that might help future mommas better prepare themselves.
After your baby arrives, consultation and continued support can be incredibly beneficial; remember babies are learning to eat. They are born with helpful reflexes, just as a mother has irreplaceable intuition, but it’s still a learning curve. I recommend this to be done within the first week of hospital discharge, and, if at all possible, before there is an emerging or ongoing issue. In my opinion, this would be the ideal situation.