There are exercises an educated therapist can guide you through to support healing the abdominal muscles and restoring the integrity of the pelvic floor. Deep, mindful breathing down into your belly is a wonderful place to start in the meantime. Although you will always be a woman who has given birth, you can go back to a life of peeing normally and enjoying intercourse. Love yourself, mama!

Your postpartum time with your new baby can be a magical time of bonding, snuggles, sweet baby sounds, breastfeeding, healing, and rest. It can also be exhausting, frustrating, physically uncomfortable, and challenging. Focusing on your own care means you will more easily be able to care for your newborn. For many of us, it is hard to put our own needs first - as women we often focus on what is best for the whole group, and put our individual needs behind others. However, when you have just given birth and are caring for a newborn, your needs and the baby’s needs work together in a special way. When you are taken care of, it is easier for you to take care of your baby. Now is the time to focus on what is best for you and your newborn.

...taking care of yourself during your labor and delivery and immediate postpartum period is so vitally important. Birth calls upon your strength in ways you may not have experienced before. Providing the environment for that strength to fully emerge is what self care is all about.

After giving birth, a new mother goes through tremendous changes physically, emotionally, and hormonally. She changes more during the first 72 hours postpartum than she does during her entire pregnancy! Her body is no longer dominated by progesterone and estrogen. Now, she is under the influence of lactogen and prolactin, two wonderful feel-good hormones that make it possible for her to nurse her newborn.

When you are pregnant you need lots of support so you can have a happy fit pregnancy.  The thing is, when I say "you need support", I’m not only talking about how another person can help you. I want to show you how other supportive measures, like meditation and herbs, can comfort you during pregnancy and guide you as you journey into motherhood.

When you spot the first signs of a diaper rash, relief is all that’s on your mind. Judging by the inflamed, red, tender skin you see, your little one just wants to be soothed as well. If you’ve ever had skin chafing and irritated, you know how miserable it can be. You both just want a diaper rash remedy that actually works – and fast.

I combined calendula with other herbs in our postpartum herb bath to help aid in rapid perineal recovery and soothe hemorrhoids after giving birth. Calendula is also in our Nipple Salve, Diaper Salve and Healing Salve because it helps repair sore nipples, inflamed skin caused by diaper rash and it works as first aid skin care.  Calendula is why our Cesarean Recovery Spray leaves your incision feeling fresh and clean as your body heals.

Let me tell you a little more about this delightful plant and why you might want to grow some yourself...

One of my clients was asked by a friend, “What is the biggest difference in your body before and after birth?” First and foremost, let me remind you how amazing your body is. Your pelvic floor, vagina, and perineum are made to give birth. Having realistic expectations and some basic supplies will help you prepare.