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
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Contact our National Coordinators
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Name |
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Vesela Genadieva |
Bulgaria |
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Yanitsa Karamarkova |
Bulgaria |
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Agnieszka Bera |
Denmark |
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Sofiya H. Angelina Bonde |
Denmark |
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Pauline Dubromez |
France |
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Ingrid Bal |
Netherlands |
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Milagros Virasoro |
Portugal |
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Catherine Tuchschmid |
Switzerland |
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Magalie Beantpal Kaur |
Switzerland |
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Patsy Gormley-Steele |
UK |
The Postnatal Support Network (PSN) addresses the importance of a well-prepared and relaxing 40 day postnatal period. It is an international organisation with a non-medical and social network, informing families and especially mothers about this special and delicate time after birth.