New Mama Without a Postpartum Plan
I’m Tijana a new mama to twin girls, Evie and Poppy. This is how I looked pregnant, glowing and happy. I felt energetic and alive, was proud of my body and what it had achieved. According to my baby books I was totally prepared to welcome our twins into the world. The perfect nursery, all the cute baby clothes, a diaper changing station but you know who I didn’t prepare for? ME! Where was I in the plan?
I started this page because I was lost as a new mama when it came to my postpartum journey, which I’m still going through. Every pregnancy book I had there were a handful of postpartum pages at the back I saved them to read once the babies arrived! First big mistake. After Evie and Poppy arrived I searched online for more postpartum information. A lot of what came up was focused on postpartum depression and I didn’t know where to turn. Where was the everyday mamas account of postpartum? Was what I was going through normal? Did everyones baby cry at night forever?
When I finally connected with some of my mama friends it seemed the struggles I was experiencing they also had, to some degree, but no one had prepared them or spoke about the postpartum period either. They were happy to dish when I brought it up but no one offered the information up freely prior to birth.
YOU’RE NOT ALONE NEW MAMA
Why were women not sharing their stories about the postpartum period? I started to think about how I felt. Ashamed. Sad. Frustrated. Lonely. Unprepared. (Of course along side this there was joy, happiness, and love.) I would hardly admit these negative feelings to myself, let alone my friends. When I did finally open up, I realized we were all having similar experiences. The women in my life who had become mothers also struggled in their own way. The problem seemed to be, none of us had prepared for postpartum or made a plan before the baby arrived.
I’m still trying to figure out motherhood. I wanted to create a space where women could come together and know they are not alone, the experiences they are going through are normal and a little of what to expect during the fourth trimester. I will be as authentic as I can when it comes to my own postpartum journey. After being a new mama for three years and becoming a postpartum doula I hope my journey and expertise will be able to help the mamas out there who are lost or unsure as they enter their postpartum period.
Welcome to Flourishing Postpartum. I became a postpartum doula so I could support new mamas in their journey into motherhood. My goal is to help you feel prepared, confident and supported!
