Restoring Your Vitality After Giving Birth, with Kimberly Johnson

What does restoring your vitality after birth even mean? Is restoring the same as “getting your body back”? What are the five universal needs towards restoration? How can you prepare for the profound experience of codependency that’s coming your way, within a culture that’s obsessed with self-sufficiency? Kimberly Johnson shares the simple answer. Check it out.

What we talked about:

• What does “restoring your vitality” even mean?
• Un-shaming the body
• How long will this take?
• How postpartum takes the lid off your unresolved issues
• The five universal needs during postpartum
• Setting up your support
• Creating a postpartum plan and having a code word for mental health
• The connection between your mental health and your pelvic floor (and vice versa)
• When to book your pelvic PT appointment
• The need for gathering
• Preparing for a profound experience of codependence
• Learn to truly rest

Mentioned resources and additional links*:

• Natural Health after Birth: The Complete Guide to Postpartum Wellness, by Aviva J. Romm
• After the Baby’s Birth: A Complete Guide for Postpartum Women, by Robin Lim
• The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother, by Heng Ou, with Marisa Belger and Amely Greeven
• Birthing from Within: An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparation 1st Edition, by Pamela England
• Seven Sisters for Seven Days: A Mothers’ Manual for Community-Based Postpartum Care, book by Michelle Peterson
• #metoo movement (metoomvmt.org)
• Bringing Baby Home, articles from the Gottman Institute
• The seven BEBA principles developed by Ray Castellino
• Meal Train, Meal Baby, and Take Them a Meal: 3 meal delivery coordination services
• International Pelvic Pain Society (IPPS)’s Find a (Pelvic) Medical Provider Directory
• The Wood Cutter Stories, on “sharpening your axe”

Related Birthful episodes:

• Setting Up Your Postpartum Support, with Michelle Peterson
• Will You Shower During Postpartum?, with Lisa Chin
• Hormones After Birth, with Dr. Jolene Brighten
• Postpartum Doulas, with Jackie Kelleher
• Taking Care of You, with Mar Oscategui
• Healing Your Birth Story, with Pam England

Courtesy of Kimberly Johnson

About Kimberly Ann Johnson

Kimberly Ann Johnson is a Sexological Bodyworker, Somatic Experiencing trauma resolution practitioner, birth doula, and single mom. She specialized in helping women prepare for birth, recover from birth injuries and birth trauma, and heal from sexual trauma. She is the founder of Magamama.com, an international holistic women’s health care resource for expectant and new mothers. She is the co-founder of the STREAM School for Postpartum Care, where she trains birth professionals, yoga teachers, somatic therapists, and bodyworkers to help women prepare for birth and recover from birth. She is the author of The Fourth Trimester: A Postpartum Guide to Healing Your Body, Balancing Your Emotions and Restoring Your Vitality, which is out now on Shambhala Press.

Learn more (and get a free audio on doing Kegels that Work) at magamama.com

 
Title music: “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, from the Free Music Archive / CC BY (edited for length).
Sponsorship music: “Air Hockey Saloon” by Chris Zabriskie, from the Free Music Archive / CC BY (edited for length).