Tis the season for giving (& for receiving)!
Postpartum is a sacred transitional, inwardly focused time, optimized by cherishing the time-tested principles of seclusion, rest, warmth, nourishment, and love. When our postpartum window overlaps with the busy holiday season, we may be faced with certain challenges as we do our best to balance the best of both worlds.
If you're ready to take on the holidays with a newborn in tow, consider how you might keep your postpartum needs met.
Create a "Grounding Space"
Designating a home base for you to seclude yourself and baby in during holiday get-togethers is a great way to reset, rest, and breathe whenever needed. Asking for a getaway in a spare bedroom as a guest, or creating sanctuary in your own home can allow you to seamlessly flow from the holiday happenings to peaceful postpartum. The added benefit of privacy for breastfeeding doubles as an excuse to step away!
Wear Your Baby
Everybody loves babies at family gatherings! As a parent, it can be nice to share that love, but it can also be stressful to keep track of who has your baby and maintaining the boundaries you create around baby holding. Keeping you favorite baby carrier on hand is an easy, nonconfrontational way to ward off a round of "pass the baby" and enjoy having two free hands for your plate!
Eat Up
Nourishment is an essential component of postpartum wellness, and breastfeeding requires 500 calories per day! Don't be shy digging into the variety of hot, prepared dishes presented before you . . . & enjoy the leftovers too!
Plan to Leave Early
Even with the excitement of sharing special holiday moments with friends and family, your rest is a priority. Consider your own needs for sleep, cozy clothes, and skin to skin in your own bed, and lean into your intuition on when to call it a day. If you're feeling obligated to keep it inconspicuous, you and your partner can create a codeword together, and whip it out when you're ready to scurry back to your own nest.
Let the Party Come to You.
I bet your go-to holiday recipe is AHHHHH-MAZING, and I bet it'd be pretty sweet to let everyone else do the cooking this year. Bask in your postpartum self and let the party come to you this year. If you must insist on contributing something, consider that something being one that is a light workload. You're already giving so much - and the postpartum love emitting from you is a gift all of it's own. Put your feet up, snuggle that babe, and enjoy receiving all the love coming back to you.
Do you have other Holiday Hacks for Postpartum? Let us know!
We love to hear from you!
留言