Maintaining Your Peace
Childbirth, the postpartum period, and breastfeeding are primarily regulated by neuroendocrine processes. What does that mean? Well, it means that the onset of labor, the progression of labor, the postpartum period, and lactation are all fueled by our hormones. These hormones are released in your brain and have a feedback loop with your uterus and your breasts, respectively.
Our emotions play such a large role in starting labor, continuing labor, and lactation. Negative emotions can inhibit these processes. It is VITAL that during pregnancy and birth and into the postpartum period, you are able to maintain your peace; I fully understand that is easier said than done. Here’s some ways to maintain your peace in pregnancy, at birth, and during the postpartum period.
Pregnancy - Talk to your baby, ensure you and your partner are on the same page when it comes to your birth plan, read, go for walks, meditate, try yoga or Pilates, eat a balanced diet and increase your hydration, begin journaling, start a baby book or scrapbook, surround yourself with supportive friends and family members, begin birth affirmations
Birth - Consider limiting who you invite into your birth space choosing only those that fully support your birth preferences, create a quiet and calm environment, turn your phone off or at least silence calls, look at photos of your other children or friends and family, play music, repeat your birth affirmations, envision meeting your baby, use aromatherapy, receive a rub/massage in places you hold tension
Postpartum - Limit visitors, stay in bed or on the couch, skin - to - skin with your baby, stay hydrated, eat frequently, journal or scrapbook, delegate household responsibilities, baby wear, aromatherapy shower steamers (bath bombs but for your shower), enjoy the foods you weren’t able to during pregnancy like sushi
Read More on the Role of Stress and Negative Feelings and their Impact on Childbirth:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8578887/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1595201/