Small, gentle movements for post-partum recovery

Open your arms and feel a nice chest stretch. This is great when you are doing a ton of baby-holding, baby-wearing, and/or breastfeeding.

No matter how complicated or straightforward your birth, your body needs a lot of healing and recovery. At the same time, you are adapting to the physical, mental, and emotional demands of parenting a new child.

​Make recovery as easy as possible on yourself

​It's challenging to make time to move, and that's why it's important to focus on simple movements that you can work into your day-to-day parenting life.

For starters, parenting already has many hard tasks. During postpartum recovery, small, gentle movements are key. When doing recovery movements, nurture your body and don't push it.

​Try this stretch that helped my own post-partum recovery

In February 2017, I gave birth to my second child. As part of my part-partum recovery, I did regular stretches on the floor. I also spent time in bed napping and baby-gazing (as much as my toddler would let me, anyway!).

One favorite stretch I did was to lie on my back with baby on my chest and belly. This stretch is just like one of the #mamamovescards. It's great when you are doing a ton of baby-holding, baby-wearing, and/or breastfeeding. You can try it too:

1. Set up a few pillows, so that they end around the base of your shoulder blades, like a ramp for your upper body.
2. Lie down on your back and rest baby so you are belly to belly. Spread a blanket over baby so they are warm and snuggly.
3. Open your arms out wide and stretch out your fingers. You should feel a nice chest stretch.
4. Hold for a few breaths, then relax. Take your arms to your sides, or give baby a hug.
5. Breathe in and repeat.

Do this whenever you can, and it also integrates well into other movements from Mama Moves Cards.

​Over to you

​What helped your post-partum recovery?