This week I have been nursing one of my children, who has had chicken pox. It has really reminded me of those early postnatal days. I’ve been experiencing moments where I have a sleeping child on my knee, sat on the sofa and not being able to move. We’ve lived off take away meals and I’ve found myself putting everyone else’s needs first and my own needs last – where is a postnatal doula when you need one!? I’ve been trying to drink cold tea, with one hand or sat feeling parched and desperate for someone to make me a cuppa. One day I found myself cuddling my 6 year old and listing all the jobs in my head, that I needed to do. Then I told myself to stop! I needed to remember the advice that I would give to a new Mum. My cup felt empty, my energy levels were low and I knew that I needed to refill my own cup, to be able to keep filling up everyone else’s. I decided to put some time aside for me and once my children were in bed, I allowed myself time to relax, read a book and watch some TV. I told myself to just enjoy those cuddles from my daughter, (which are less frequent these days) and make the most of them. I told myself that nothing else mattered, except comforting my child and getting her well again.
How a Postnatal Doula can help...
As a Mum it is so easy to put everyone else’s needs first and yourself last. In today’s busy world, there always seems to be something that needs doing or someone who needs you and it can become overwhelming. You need you too and having someone there to support you sometimes, isn’t always easy. That’s why postnatal doula's can really help lighten the load emotionally and physically. Having someone to talk to, someone who can offer you physical help around the home, make you a hot cup of tea or allow you some time out for yourself, can really make all the difference. It can be hard being a parent sometimes and we forget how incredible we are. That’s why I do what a do. As a postnatal doula, I know how easy it is to forget about ourselves and how important it is to look after ourselves too. That’s why I am there for new families, to support them and to remind them of how amazing they are and how great they are doing!
Do you ever feel overwhelmed as a parent? If you are looking for postnatal support, contact me to see how I can help you or visit my website to find out more about postnatal doula's and my services.
Julia xx
