The Breeders: Postpartum Self-Care

As I've mentioned before, if someone wrote a book about pregnancy and early parenting I read it. I thought they would help prepare me for what was to come. In some ways they did, and in some ways they didn't. There is a glaring omission in all of the pregnancy and early parenting books.

No, not the simple math of just how many hours you may spend those first few months, nor how many you will have to do and undo for all those diaper changes. 

The books go from pregnancy and birth to diaper changing, but they skip one very critical part. It's as if once you give birth you disappear. With the exception of what to expect when breastfeeding, very is little is said about what to expect when you are no longer expecting — and let me tell you there is a lot you should expect.

They discuss hormonal surges and swings and lack of sleep, but giving birth to a person — no matter if it is natural, C-section or aided by the wonders of the epidural — to be quite honest, does a number on you. So does nine months of carrying 25 or more pounds of baby and all its accoutrements. And carrying, rocking, bouncing, and nursing the eight or nine pounds of baby after delivery ain't no walk in the park, either.

Sure, there are those women who whip back to their pre-baby weight before the baby can roll over (I'm even friends with a few of them, despite it), but postpartum recovery doesn't just mean weight loss. Things get moved around. Ligaments loosen, hips widen and swing at weird angles, ab muscles separate...no, really. They do.

So the postpartum period isn't just about getting back your pre-baby body, but recovering from some pretty serious physical exertion, getting back to healthy alignment and reacquainting yourself with your center of gravity. Luckily, here in Alameda (the epicenter of Bay Area breeding) there are people who are here to help.

Its no secret that I'm a little addicted to massage. I think that if we could all have one once a day there would probably be no wars — certainly a lot less road rage — so, I was really looking forward to the my first postpartum massage when I could get a truly full body massage. Unfortunately, when you get massive plugged ducts just thinking about lying on your stomach is out of the question, but that is okay, because Alison Luke can give you a killer postnatal massage with you on your back, side, and probably even hanging from the ceiling.

Alison is one of those massage therapists who has truly found her calling. As a mom of three girls and a doula she understands the special needs of pregnant women and new moms. Alison truly practices massage therapy. She knows that breastfeeding neck is real and I swear has special magnets in her fingers to find all the teeny tiny muscles it effects. And she won't be fazed if you leak a little on the sheets.

More importantly, she knows that new moms have limited time, new budget requirements, and might not be able to get a baby sitter, which is why she comes to your house. I always thought in-home massage would be ridiculously expensive, but Alison charges incredibly reasonable rates. And, because she specializes in postpartum care, she even has a special introductory rate for moms — 9 p.m. on Fridays is half off. That sure beats hanging out at a bar in my book.

If you aren't comfortable having her come to your house (don't worry, she also doesn't judge new parents on their housekeeping) or just want to get out of the house, she has just opened up a new office space over by Crab Cove. And because she understands that you might not have a babysitter or be ready to leave your bundle of joy with one, she has a cosleeper next to the massage table. Breastfeeding friendly massage? Genius.

Of course, while Alison can help relax your muscles to aid in your postpartum recovery, you also need to spend some time getting all those joints and ab muscles used to not carrying a big old belly. Suzanne Koval of  knows the best way to do it.

Pilates is a great postpartum workout, but just like yoga is a great prenatal workout (Pilates is, too — Suzanne also offers prenatal), you can't just be doing exercises willy-nilly as if your body didn't just create a human. You need someone who knows what exercises will actually coax those ab muscles back to the right spot and that your hips are probably still a little wobbly. And Suzanne knows about it first hand, she welcomed her daughter on Christmas.

Her classes are very small so you get a lot of individual attention and the opportunity to meet another mom or two. Suzanne also knows that childcare might be hard to come by so she works with individual schedules and welcomes your wee one to hang out on a mat while you work with the reformer. And, once again, the pricing is very reasonable, especially considering she is a licensed physical therapist.

What other postpartum care experts have you found in Alameda?