Postpartum Support - Nurturing New Beginnings
Congratulations! Your little seed has now blossomed out into the world, and even if it’s not your first, each time you give birth, you too, are birthed into a new version of you!
Your body, mind and spirit are all integrating from the demands of gestation, birth and adjusting to postpartum life…
AND at the same time you have a new little human(s) who’s needing all of your attention.
Yet you have needs, too.
You need TIME to rest, to replenish, to recover.
In many traditional cultures around the world, the 40 days after birth are a considered a Sacred Window for bonding and recuperating, where community support and special care for the mother and budding family was considered ESSENTIAL for health, vitality and longevity.
In postpartum service, I am here to nurture and nourish YOU and your family through this precious and sacred time. I take a holistic approach to postpartum care, drawing on the Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine systems. which emphasize the importance of warmth, rest, proper nutrition, herbal support, ritual and honouring of the new mother, and a peaceful environment
And I can take care of some of those outer-world tasks too, so you can nestle in and focus solely on rest and replenishment, on getting to know your new little one, and finding your new rhythm of life together.
“Andrea made the most delicious, nourishing meals and teas, as well as prepared soothing sitz baths, and kept our kitchen impeccably tidy while I rested—along with so many other thoughtful touches! I highly recommend Andrea's postpartum services—every family deserves this kind of support during this extra special time.”
— Joelle Connolly
POSTPARTUM PACKAGES
Nourishing the new mother is at the heart of my service!
My packages include a combination of holistic supports - from postpartum meal and snack preparation to herbal sitz baths, vaginal steams and warm oil massages. Your package is tailored to you, and we discuss your preferences at length in our prenatal preparation sessions. Scroll to “Holistic Postpartum Services” for more details on specific services included.
My Postpartum support also includes :
emotional support (processing your birth and adjusting to postpartum life; and referring out to other professionals when needed)
informational support (responding to questions about your birth, postpartum self-care, baby care, breastfeeding etc and referring out to other professionals when needed
caring for baby when you need a break/nap/shower etc,
nutritional and postpartum wellness support and suggestions
light house cleaning
helping care for other children or pets (time permitting)
ALL PACKAGES INCLUDE :
One prenatal intake/planning session at your home (including looking at your Ayurvedic constitution and how it might affect your postpartum experience)
Continued communication and support via phone/text/email beyond the hours spent in your home
Postpartum Planning Handbook and Resource Manual
Herbs for herbal sitz baths, vaginal steams, and foot soaks
Yoga Nidrā for Postpartum Healing (recording)
Grocery staples for meals such as spices and some bulk foods.
Postpartum Gift basket
Seedling Package
This package offers nourishing care in the tender, early days after birth.
Nurturing your body, mind, and spirit as you navigate the profound transition from pregnancy to baby in arms, and ensuring you are deeply supported right from the start!
15 Hours of Support : 3 Visits @ 5 hours each
- within the first 1-2 weeks after birth
Includes:
3 x Nourishing Postpartum meals + snacks and drinks
1 x Abhyanga full body massage
1 x Abhyanga foot, hand and shoulder massage
2 x Herbal sitz baths
1 x Vaginal steam
1 x Yoga Nidrā recording
*Option for herbal foot soak in lieu of sitz bath or vaginal steam
+ Nutrition suggestions and food prep for the days when I am not in your home.
**Some services may be substituted - we discuss your priorities and preferences prenatally - and create a care plan, just for YOU.
Bloom Package
40 Hours of Support : 8 Visits @ 5 hours each
- within the first 2-4 weeks after birth
Includes:
8 x Nourishing Postpartum meals + snacks and drinks
3 x Abhyanga full body massages
1 x Abhyanga foot, hand and shoulder massage
5 x Herbal sitz baths
2 x Vaginal steams
1 x Mother Roasting Moxibustion session
2 x Yoga Nidrā recording
*Option for herbal foot soak in lieu of sitz bath or vaginal steam
+ Nutrition suggestions and food prep for the days when I am not in your home.
**Some services can be substituted - we discuss your priorities and preferences prenatally - and create a care plan, just for YOU.
(More Info coming soon!)
Full Blossom Package
This package offers the full spectrum of holistic support throughout the 42 day Sacred Window. It reflects the traditional ‘lay in’ period that we see in cultures worldwide where you are fully held and nourished throughout this momentous life transition, .
90 Hours of Support : @ 4-6 hours per visit
- scheduled throughout the first 6 weeks after birth
With the length of time we spend together in this package, it is the most customizable. You’ll be able to choose which areas of support you want to focus on and how often, and together we’ll co-create a care plan—leaving space for flexibility as your needs shift and evolve throughout your sacred window.
This package also includes:
1 additional prenatal session/‘nesting party’ (to help you prep things like bone broth, freezer meals and nesting station)
1 Closing the Bones ceremony to honour your emergence from your Sacred Window
3 x Yoga Nidra Recordings
1 x Infant Massage session
“Andrea’s support during this special time was so precious
and made me feel well taken care of, allowing me
to pour my love and energy into my baby.”
— Muna Ibrahim
Holistic Postpartum Services
-
Meal Preparation
Special postpartum healing meals, snacks and drinks prepared with love in your home (and served to you in bed!) Meals that are warming, well-cooked, easily digestible, and full of good fats, protein and nutrients are optimal in the early postpartum days. Accompanied by a plethora of nutritive teas, herbal infusions and hydrating drinks for breastfeeding support. Remember that you are eating not only yourself, but your baby too!
Click here to read more about healing through postpartum nutrition
-
Herbal Sitz Baths
Using a variety of medicinal herbs to assist healing and restoration of the sensitive perineal and vaginal area after birth. This soothing ritual also offers some quiet space just for mom - accompanied by a hot cup of tea, candle light and maybe a favourite book.
All herbs have been wild-harvested or organically grown myself, or sourced from other local herbalists. All have been tended to with love and intention for the new mother’s healing.
-
Abhyanga Oil Massage
A time-honoured Ayruvedic tradtion!
More Info coming soon
-
Mother "Roasting"
Mother Roasting is a healing ceremony that uses moxibustion, a practice from Traditional Chinese Medicine that involves burning sticks of dried mugwort herb (Artemisia Argyi) over specific acupuncture points or meridians. The heat and medicine from the mugwort helps to stimulate these points to improve the flow of chi (life force energy).
Moxibustion can also be used to help breech babies turn, which is another service that I offer.
More info coming soon!
-
Vaginal Steams
While herbal sitz baths help heal the outer tissues of the vaginal and perineal area, the herbal medicine in vaginal steams penetrates deeper up to the cervix and womb.
More info coming soon!
Box custom designed and built by : Earth Tone Designs
-
Postnatal Yoga Nidrā
A guided resting meditation to help you “sleep when baby sleeps” - Yoga Nidrā (Yoga Sleep) has numerous benefits for Postpartum Healing!
Recordings of my ‘Yoga Nidra for Postpartum Nourishment’ are included Bloom and Full Blossom packages.
-
Postpartum Closing Ceremony
More Info coming soon!
-
Belly Biding
More Info coming soon!
-
Infant Abhyanga
More Info coming soon!
Benefits of hiring a Postpartum Doula
Reduced risk of postpartum depression
Greater self-confidence in mothering/parenting
Greater success with breastfeeding
More affectionate bonding with baby
Better relationship with partner 6 weeks after birth
And overall, feeling more nourished, more rested, and ready
to confidently step into your new mothering role!