Pregnancy is a great time to delve into your inner world. Connect, reflect and meditate on the journey with these great pregnancy journals and coloring books:

Do you all have other resources or favorite Journals, Coloring Books, or Birth Affirmations? I would love to hear them and add them to the list.

Because my last post was all about the “Babymoon”, that sticky sweet time of bonding, breastfeeding and beaming at your newborn…this post is about the oft overlooked flip side of birth (and pregnancy); those darker more complex feelings many birth parents experience, but may feel unable to openly discuss. We have a general acceptance of the “baby blues” in our society, but Postnatal (and Perinatal) Depression, PTSD, Anxiety, and OCD are very real and can affect anyone, even when all seemingly goes to plan. Check out this article and excellent infographic by kidspot.com.au and the following piece on Birth Trauma.

Loving this piece on the Fourth Trimester, endearingly referred to here as the “Babymoon”.

Blogger Bear Mama Medicine has some great tips for how to set up for your postpartum, and ensure you get the most rest and bonding time with your little. Check out the full blog post on her page to learn more about the physiology of the postpartum, recommendations for physical and mental health, and a great list of additional resources.

“Babymoon. In my experience as a doula and educator, I see more people focus on the lovely things that they’d like to have at their births and less on what the days and weeks afterward will look like, beyond who will be there to help them out and how they plan on feeding themselves.

Those two things are certainly the biggest, most basic priorities for planning what your postpartum time (or fourth trimester) will look like, but overlooking the other ways that you should expect to be nourished, supported, and looked after is a setup for burnout and resentment. If you’re prone to mood swings, depression, and other mental health concerns, now is the time to take extra care and caution and make self-care a priority.”

Category: Self Care

Fun Ways to Reflect During Pregnancy

You are not alone, the shadow side of birth

The “Babymoon”