Comment se préparer à allaiter ?
21 novembre 2024
Vous avez souhait d’allaiter ? On vous explique comment vous préparer à cette belle aventure !
5 minutes reading
After the birth of a baby, the young mother is often faced with a host of challenges: between the fatigue of childbirth, the new rhythm imposed by the baby and this new role to tame, it's not always easy. Some women end up exhausted both physically and mentally, or simply feel overwhelmed and isolated. And yet, according to ancient beliefs, the way in which the first 40 days following childbirth are spent is decisive for the present and future well-being of both mother and baby. Discover here the importance of the golden month, how to prepare for it and how to practice it.
The Golden Month is an ancestral practice originating in China. As the post-partum period is a fragile time for the mother, the Golden Month plays a particularly important role in the physical and mental balance of both the young mother and her baby. For 40 days, mothers are advised to rest as much as possible to recover from childbirth and discover their newborn. In fact, a well-rested, calm mother means a well-functioning baby.
According to these beliefs, the 10th month of pregnancy is the time to look after the young mother's good health. Indeed, they believe that if she were to fall ill during these first 40 days, it would have an impact on her future. The family, friends and home helpers work hard to ensure that everything goes smoothly. This tradition is also found in Latin America, and is known as "cuarentana".
These 40 days allow the young mother to rest with her baby, get to know him and let her body recover from pregnancy and childbirth.
If you want this golden month to go smoothly, it's important to get informed and prepare for it right from the start of your pregnancy. Books such as "Le mois d'or, bien vivre le premier mois après l'accouchement" by Céline Chadelat and Marie Mahé-Poulin will help you to better understand the specifics of these 6 weeks.
Anticipating your postpartum period also allows you to think about the things you want to put in place, but without too much pressure, of course. Having a concrete plan of how this month will unfold also helps you reduce stress and leave less room for the unexpected.
For those who don't always have their entourage to hand, plan ahead by preparing healthy, nutritious meals before the birth to save time when baby arrives.
It's also important to explain the importance of this month and the role they'll have to play to your partner and family. The watchword is rest, so make sure you have the help you'll need when the time comes. It's not for nothing that they say it takes a village to raise a child.
You're interested in the Golden Month, but how does it work in practice? There's no one best way to proceed during this golden month, so it's up to you to see what suits you best. However, we can give you a few tips:
Why, you may ask, does it take 40 days? The reason is primarily physiological: the young mother's body needs at least 40 days to regenerate, regain its energy and heal from childbirth. That's why it's so important to rest as much as possible, staying at home in bed or on the sofa with baby, avoiding physical activity or carrying heavy loads. Let your body recover gently and serenely.
Your partner and those around you play a fundamental role in this golden month. It's thanks to their help and support that you'll be able to take advantage of all this time to rest and get to know your baby. So don't hesitate to ask them for help with various tasks (shopping, cleaning, preparing meals, looking after your older children if you have any...). You can also call on home helps, doulas or midwives if you have questions or need help. If you're breastfeeding, your partner is also the person you'll be relying on. We've written an article on this subject, so that your partner can support you as best he or she can.
With the birth of your baby, you may have a tendency to forget about yourself. Yet it's important to take care of yourself. So when baby's asleep or your co-partner is taking over, you can do postnatal yoga, meditation, a rebozo session or a postnatal massage at home... The aim is to do what makes you feel good and to protect your body from certain complications (urinary leakage or organ descent) thanks to robozo, for example.
It's important to adopt a balanced diet after childbirth. Choose nutritious, warm, revitalizing foods that will make you feel good and comfort you. Warm, liquid meals (veloutés, herbal teas, broth, dhal, etc.) are often the best choice for this period.
The jolly mama brand has developed a whole range of healthy and delicious products, particularly for the post-partum period, and you can also take specific food supplements such as those from Laboratoire Hollis, developed by this mother pharmacist. Finally, if you're breastfeeding, check out our advice on food and breastfeeding, to find out what you can and can't eat .
If you're breastfeeding your baby, all the more reason to lie down with him as often as possible. This will encourage your milk to come in and help you to be available for feedings on demand.
Having the right support and resource people will be one of the keys to a smooth start, which is why we offer you the breastfeeding coaching pack, giving you access to a breastfeeding pillow and a consultation with a consultant. You may also need advice at any other time, and make an appointment with our expert.
Here again, ask your partner to support you by preparing meals and relieving you of the tasks you were doing before the baby arrived.
"My best advice is to communicate. You have to feel good about the people around you. I'd advise learning to communicate well, knowing what you want and knowing your needs..." - Céline Chadelat, author of the book "Le mois d'Or".
Now that you've understood, the golden month is a moment suspended in time that will allow you to recover calmly from childbirth and savor every moment with your baby.
Photo credit: @dominika_siejewicz_photography
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