Postpartum lasts three years.

I’m always astounded when I ask people around me “What does postpartum mean?” and people reply “it’s depression”. Or if you search the same question on Google, there are lists of articles on postpartum depression, the postpartum body or various medical-related conditions. The negativity and the focus on “postpartum depression” makes me feel so sad and angry!

So, what does postpartum really mean?

According to the official medical definition, postpartum corresponds to the period between the exit of the placenta at the time of childbirth and the first menstruation. This duration is extremely variable depending on the woman, from six weeks to two and a half years.

The postpartum period is a unique and transformative time when a new life enters the world and brings about significant changes. Physically, a woman's body undergoes numerous adjustments after childbirth. From hormonal shifts to healing processes, these changes can be both challenging and awe-inspiring. The body gradually returns to its pre-pregnancy state, but the journey takes time. Emotionally, the postpartum period can be a rollercoaster ride. The profound love and joy of being a new parent are often accompanied by exhaustion, mixed emotions, and hormonal fluctuations. 

As per the french midwife @_anna.roy_, “Postpartum lasts three years”. She has her own definition of postpartum and she is trying to change things in France. We, at The ÔM Journey, agree with her.

Anna Roy

“I want to impose my own definition, according to which postpartum ends when the child is 3 years old, approximately when women stabilize, when emotional life and sexual life begin to look like something again. The baby becomes a child, the body has recovered from its emotions, women are less tired because they sleep at night... Obviously, this is an average. It's an idea that I dared neither think of nor formalize before, but I am convinced that it really takes three years to become a parent, to reinvent your life when a child arrives. This figure is based on the experience of thousands of women I have followed. It took nine months to build a child, there is no reason for the body to recover in three months. I always say that the arrival of a child has the effect of a reset in his life. You have to review everything, your daily life, the way you work, your couple that becomes a parental couple... It changes everything, but that doesn't mean it's not good. It is tiring but it is also a great marvel. Very beneficial changes are often seen in people's lives.”

She believes that the postpartum period has three stages: the first 40 days, the Fourth Trimester and the longer part, that can last years: 

1 - The Golden Month / The first 40 days 

The first 40 days after child birth are known as the Golden Month in Chinese Medicine. This postnatal period of 40 days, finds its origins more than 2,000 years ago in China. However, traces of it can also be found in stories from the Maghreb, India and, more and more frequently, from the West.

The idea behind this ancestral practice? To offer a period of recovery to the mother, both physically and emotionally and to value the new-mother through attentive listening, kindness, patience and adapted care.

We often find ourselves with the body completely loose, a big belly, bleeding and pain. The first days are also characterized by the baby blues, which subsides after about twenty days. 

Find out more about the Golden Month

2 - The Fourth Trimester

The 4th trimester is the first three months after birth and an amazing and overwhelming period wrapped into one.

While this early postpartum period is a time of great joy for many, it's also a very vulnerable time. Women and their families experience substantial physiological, social, and emotional changes. 

Find out more about the Fourth Trimester

3 - & beyond

And then life goes on… 

The initial rush of joy and overwhelming love for this tiny being you've brought into the world is juxtaposed with bouts of fatigue and uncertainty. The constant worry about whether you're doing things right or living up to others' expectations can be mentally draining. Yet, amidst the exhaustion, there are moments of sheer bliss and contentment as you witness your little one's first smile or gentle touch. You navigate the challenges of sleep deprivation and hormonal fluctuations, all while adjusting to the newfound responsibilities of parenthood. 

Hey Mama!

We really want you to know that if you are having difficulties, it is normal! It's a disruptive period, which we often go through with little help, so it's normal that it's hard. And most importantly, it's the same for everyone.

Communication

Becoming a mother is a major life change. Reading, listening to podcasts, and asking other parents can all help to prepare you. However, no matter how much you read, everyones experience is different, and nothing can fully prepare you for the reality.

Never hesitate to share your experience of motherhood as you live and feel it. Find people you feel comfortable to communicate with, your partner, family, friends, doula or others that are going through the same transition. Through sharing you’ll likely discover many others feel exactly the same way! Remember, there is always help and support for you during the challenges of postpartum, all you need to do is reach out and communicate.