40 day principles
It takes nine months for the body to become fully pregnant, and it takes around nine months to fully recover from the pregnancy, even longer, if you breastfeed long-term. This recovery starts by observing six weeks of maximum rest. Allow yourself that time for recovery. It will impact your body and emotional state in the long run.
Some women feel the need to get back in touch with their old selves, to get their non-pregnant bodies back. Be patient with yourself! Not respecting the necessary recovery time will weaken the nervous and immune system. Fatigue, physical and emotional imbalance may affect the long-term healing process. What really matters is that you have been initiated into motherhood. Allow yourself to be mothered, nurtured and cared for. You will recuperate faster and be more available to build a better relationship with your child.
Resources
The basic guidelines for the 40-day postnatal period
- Be cosy at home. Stay close to your baby.
- Get plenty of rest.
- Be conscious of healthy food and drinks. (More about food).
- Start with pelvic floor exercises.
- Practice long and deep breathing with abdominal breath (bringing the pelvic floor muscle up).
- Avoid abdominal over-stretching.
- Do not strain nor lift anything heavier than your baby.
- For the first few days, lie on your stomach (with a little pillow underneath the belly) to help compress the uterus.
- Stimulate the circulation of the blood in the legs by lying on your back with your legs straight and pulling the toes towards you.
Diet Guidelines
- Our guidelines are based on general yogic principles combined with universal traditional knowledge, scientific research and eco logic. The yogic lifestyle recommends a vegetarian diet. Each mother is different and each baby is different, so find the adequate nutriment for your optimal digestion. Learn to observe your body and be aware that it takes around 2.5 days after birth before breast milk will be effected by your diet. The first 40-day postnatal period and breastfeeding times are not good moments to radically change your diet, because this has effects on the milk and baby’s feeding. Read More…
Recipes
- Find our postnatal recipes here.
How to organize
Your postnatal support needs to be organized well in advance. If possible, it should be done around the 33rd week / seventh month of pregnancy. A rest and bonding period sounds ideal, beautiful and relevant, but may feel unrealistic to make possible. To make it happen, mothers and fathers need to be able to ask for and accept help. Read More…here.
Registration and costs
If you decide to ask for a dedicated Postnatal doula, you can fill in the registration form here. Our local coordinators will share your request within our local international network via mail and our Facebook group. Our network consists of trained by us Postnatal doulas are aware of your postnatal needs and our code of conduct. Once a suitable doula is found, we recommend having at least two telephone or Skype meetings before you meet in person. This contact should create mutual understanding and be your chance to agree on practical procedures, what to do or not to do, the boundaries, and timetable. Read More…
Blog For Families
Tips, Tricks and Recipes from our Expert professionals for new Parents and their families.
postpARTum
Hearts full of joy, we introduce a new rubric to our newsletter and blog: postpARTum! Here the Postnatal Support Network invites artists to share their art inspired by the idea of Mothering the Newborn Mother and the universe of postpartum experiences. Today we...
ESSENTIAL ITEMS FOR THE NEWBORN MOTHER
We checked with a few newborn mothers to compile a list of essential items for the new mother. Of course, this list will be very personal and depend on each unique situation, but we share with you some basics that would make your post-partum time more peaceful and...
DATES and ALMOND SMOOTHIE
Ingredients: ● 6 medjool dates ● 20 almonds ● 1 cup of soaking water for the dates ● 1 cup of soaking water for the almonds. Soak them overnight, remove the skin in the morning and throw water. ● Pinches of cardamom, cinnamon and / or nutmeg (optional) ● 2 cups of...
Get in Touch
The Postnatal Support Network organises Helpers training all over Europe. This training gives both ancient and contemporary knowledge and practical techniques on the 40-day recovery time.
The basic training takes two or three 3 days and is organised all over Europe. You will be asked to do a minimum of 40 hours postnatal service with a family close to your home. Included in your training fee, you will receive a manual and one year membership of our network.
We have a few upcoming events in 2021.
Trainings:
- 21-23 January 2022, Postnatal Doula Training in Handel (in Dutch), the Netherlands (Ingrid Bal, charankamalkaur@ingridbal.com)
- 24 January 2022, Postnatal Massage Training in Den Bosch, the Netherlands (Ingrid Bal, charankamalkaur@ingridbal.com)
-
10 Septembre au 21 Novembre, Global Postnatal Doula Training Online in French: Formation Doula Postnatale
Durée : 7 semaines avec une rencontre par semaine:
10/09 10h-12h30
19/09 19h-21h30
08/10 10h-12h30
22/10 10h-12h30
07/11 19h -21h30
19/11 10h-12h30
21/11 19h-21h30Pré requis: Aucun
Comment s’inscrire : https://www.helloasso.com/associations/collectif-materner-la-mere/evenements/formation-doula-postnatale (inscrivez-vous auprès d’Elsa Kiran Gian Kaur à maternerlamere@gmail.com ). - 20-22 May, 2022, Postnatal Doula Training, Kerkom , Belgium (Ingrid Bal, charankamalkaur@ingridbal.com)
- May-June, 2022, Global Postnatal Doula Training Online with Satya Kaur (in English), May 5, 12, 19 and 26, and June 2, 9 and 16 2022 (Beant Devi Kaur, beant@postnatalsupportnetwork.com)
- October 21 - October 23 2022, “ Materner la Mère ” RÉSEAU DE SOUTIEN POSTNATAL , Lieux : Iles de France ( Elsa Kiran Gian Kaur, maternerlamere@gmail.com )
- Vendredi 13, samedi 14, dimanche 15 octobre 2023, 9h00-18h00, FORMATION EN SOUTIEN POSTNATAL, MATERNER LA MÈRE SUISSE ROMANDE, À Présilly, en Savoie à 15 minutes de Genève leterroir.net, SUPPORT NE WORK ATAL Postnatal Support Network Avec l'organisation internationale "Materner la mère - Suisse romande" Formation organisée par l'association
@maternerlamere_suisseromande
- 30th of November, 2nd and 4th of December, 2022, POST ABORTION Doula Support Training, ONLINE & LIVE(Beant Devi Kaur, info@postnatalsupportnetwork.com)
- January - February 2023, ONLINE GLOBAL TRAINING: Postnatal Doula for the Immediate Post-partum & Beyond with Satya Kaur : 15, 22 & 29 January, 5 & 12 February 2023 (Beant Devi Kaur, beant@postnatalsupportnetwork.com)
- Mars 10-12 2023 en français, en Savoie, à 15 minutes de Genève, possibilité de dormir sur place, avec Eric Amrit Kaur.Info et inscription: formationsoutienpostnatal@gmail.com ou Catherine Tuchschmid – 0041795094734
- DEVENEZ "Doula Postnatale - La Fenêtre de 40 jours": Pour le post-partum immédiat et au-delà. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Mai et 6/13 Juin. INSCRIPTION: contact Kiran Gian, maternerlamere@gmail.com ou (33) 0640849118
- 8, 10,12th of November, 2023, POST ABORTION Doula Support Training, ONLINE & LIVE(Gurujot Kaur, gurujot@quinta-do-rajo.pt )
- POSTNATAL SUPPORT TRAINING _ NEW FORMAT,
Janurary- February - March 2024, Location:Vught, Netherlands, language: Dutch, Ingrid Bal via ingrid@postnatalsupportnetwork.com
Connect & Blossom Meetings (for PSN trained Postnatal Doulas)
- March 2, 2022
- April 14, 2022
- June 14, 2022
- September 12, 2022
- October 25, 2022
- December 8, 2022
Postnatal Research Summit Online
26-28 March 2021
18-20 March 2022
If interested, please get in touch with the local organizers. Looking forward to experiencing a new insight on how to mother, mothers with you!
Or you can participate in the Postnatal Support module from our partnering trainings The Mother’s Journey with Satya Kaur or Yoga Doula School with Gurujagat Kaur
Keep an eye on our pages on Facebook and LinkedIn for updates and news!
Or Contact our national Coordinators
| Name | Country | |
| Agnieszka Bera | Global | info@shaktidoula.dk |
| Ingrid Bal | Netherlands | charankamalkaur@ingridbal.com |
| Mónica Santos | Portugal | monicaaum@gmail.com |
| Amina Merabet | Spain | amina@madre-selva.com |
| Elsa Martineau | France | elsayogadoula@gmail.com |
| Solène Bourgeois | France | soleneyoga@gmail.com |
| Sofiya H. Angelina Bonde | Denmark | mail@sofiyahenrietta.com |
| Magalie Beantpal Kaur | Switzerland | info@beantpal.ch |
| Catherine Tuchschmid | Switzerland | catherine@gaiaom.ch |
| Patsy Gormley-Steele | UK | satprakashk@gmail.com |
| Vesela Genadieva | Bulgaria | vessy@positivepostpartum.eu |
| Yanitsa Karamarkova | Bulgaria | info@moiatadula.com |