by Dr. Sarah Winward, ND IBCLC
What’s the biggest mistake to make after giving birth?
Rushing to lose weight.
It is my biggest pet peeve, as a women, that so many of us feel such intense pressure to look model ready 24/7.
If you don’t like the way you look after spending 9 months growing your baby, I get it. Your body has been completely taken over by the process. It’s not just yours anymore. And if you believe what you see in the media, you’d think that you should have your old body back immediately after your baby is born. That plus the lack of sleep of new motherhood can leave anyone feeling like they aren’t adequate.
But what you see in the media is not reality.
Let me break it down:
Your weight gain during pregnancy consists of this:
- Baby ~7lbs
- Uterus 2 1/2 lb gain
- Placenta 1 lb
- Mother’s breasts 3 lb gain
- Mother’s blood 4 lb increase
- Mother’s fat 5 + lb increase
So, most of this weight isn’t even fat! It will come away on its own. You just need to give it time.
Remember too that your core has undergone significant changes. Even if you don’t have a vaginal birth, your pelvic floor and abdominal muscles have a lot of stress just from carrying baby for so long. These muscles and ligaments need time to heal.
Basically, your body needs rest and rehab. I truly believe that every pregnant person should see a pelvic floor physiotherapist.
Rushing into exercise can lead to injury, including pelvic floor complications like incontinence. No physique is worth peeing yourself.
Coming from a kinesiology background and a competitive athlete background I always tell people there is no such thing as over-training its actually under-resting.
Cutting back on calories or “dieting” can be a big problem too. Breast milk production may also be affected, but more often we see exhausted women exhausting themselves even more. Your baby needs you as nourished as possible, that means eating nourishing foods. In nourishing amounts.
Growing your baby took you 9 months, assume it will take at least that long for your body to adjust afterwards.
So, give your body the rest and nourishment it truly needs.
Your body, mind and soul will thank you in the long run.
Several factors contribute to postpartum chills. One of the leading causes is the rapid drop in hormones that occurs after delivery. During pregnancy, the body produces high levels of hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, which help regulate body temperature. After delivery, these hormone levels drop rapidly, which can cause a drop in body temperature and trigger the body’s natural response to generate heat through shivering. Additionally, the physical exertion of labour and delivery can cause fatigue and dehydration, contributing to shivering. Women who receive epidural anesthesia during delivery may also be more likely to experience it as a side effect of the medication.
Our team is a mix of varied experience from those practicing since 2002 to newer graduates. Our collective prides itself on our collaboration and mentorship focus. Which means that even if you work with a newer graduate, they are under the direct mentorship of a more experienced naturopathic doctor and doula, with access to them during your birth. So no matter who you work with, you will get the benefit of the experience of our whole team.
It depends on their comfort level of desire in participation. We have intake processes for both parents to see how we can best serve families in creating inclusive and family first births. Our role is not to replace your partner, but to assist them in helping you and filling in the gaps of care. 
Currently we cover the following cities: Toronto, Etobicoke, Mississauga, Oakville, Brampton, Vaughn, Aurora, Newmarket, North York, Markham, Scarborough, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa.
Sometimes we do! It depends on our caseload that month. Although it is unlikely that you will go into labour at exactly the same time as our other clients, we do have a backup team dedicated to ensuring smooth coverage in the case where your primary doula can not be present. During your on-call period you will receive information regarding who are your backup doulas, their contact information and an opportunity to meet with them. The backup team is SO great we wish they could attend more births, but the reality is that your primary doula is highly likely to be at your birth. 
We are on-call for you 24/7 starting at 38 weeks gestation. So yes – please do call us at 3am if your labour has started! We will go over the specifics of how best to mutually communicate and reach us during your appointments. While each client’s care is specific to them and their labour, generally, we will provide virtual support in early labour and meet with you when you are in active labour.
While each client’s care is specific to them and their doula, if we are able to connect in active labour we are there until 1-2 hours after your baby is born. We will not leave you high and dry, but we try to aim for 24 hours (without sleep…can be longer if the doula has an opportunity to rest) maximum for safety purposes. 
What matters is how you feel about them. Our role is not to choose for you, but to learn about your needs and desires and to assist in creating a positive experience through education, emotional and physical support and advocation. 
We do! Your birth doula will be able to support you getting started in immediate postpartum, however we also have a
Regardless of the type of birth you have, you will need help. Keeping your supports up to speed with your breastfeeding intentions, will also help them understand where your priorities lie once the baby arrives. They will understand the importance of supporting the parent during the first 2 weeks postpartum as breastfeeding is being initiated. Remind them that you will need extra support with meals, everyday household chores as well as changing, diapering and bathing baby while you rest and work on breastfeeding.
Going into the experience feeling calm and rested may set the tone for your birth experience and certainly help with recovery. If you are having a planned c-section, speak to a birth professional to find out how your recovery can be best supported.
Colostrum harvesting is when you hand express and freeze colostrum before the birth. This may allow you to use the harvested colostrum at the hospital after the birth to feed baby, along with breastfeeding. Colostrum harvesting must only be done after 37 weeks gestation and must be done under the guidance of your birthing team.
If you are feeling drowsy, be sure to have someone with you to help. Otherwise, the baby can be skin-to-skin with the other parent or closest support. Skin-to-skin offers both physical and emotional benefit to both the baby and the birthing parent.
The hospital staff will be monitoring your level of comfort and awareness until you feel confident in holding your baby on your own. You may need some time to sit up comfortably to hold your baby. Take your time. Do not rush your progress. You will be able to hold your baby comfortably, in several breastfeeding positions in a couple of days.
Along with skin-to skin, the suckling, bonding and oxytocin released by having baby latched will help to initiate your breastfeeding journey and feel calmer.
