Postpartum

There is health and then there is optimal health for new moms. And what I want for each and every new mom is optimal health! And let’s be clear, I am NOT talking about the absence of disease— I am talking bursting with joy, thriving, feel’n like a million bucks and taking on the world kind of health.

But sadly, this isn’t what I see in my clinical practice. Instead, I see mothers who are weighed down, over extended, under nourished (in every sense of that word), and who need much more support and love then the world is giving them.

And this was my experience too!

I had no idea what a toll motherhood would take on me or what it could mean for my health and my vitality. In truth, there is a lot medical school doesn’t prep you for in motherhood. And to be down right honest, no one can really prepare you for this journey because it is uniquely your own.

After healing myself, I set out to do help other mothers do the same. And there is not a day I am not grateful for the lowest points in my health because from it I became a better doctor, a better woman, and a better mother.

Optimal Health for New Moms

And I was inspired to write the book I wish I had when I gave birth to my son. It has been a long labor (yes, longer than my son’s birth), but I am so excited that Healing Your Body Naturally— The New Mom’s Guide to Navigating the Fourth Trimester will launch on January 14th! 

While the release of my book is only a few days away, I want to share with you my interview with Dr. Sara Defrancesco regarding optimizing your health as a mother.

Here’s a bit of what I share:

• Postpartum Care: how to take care of mom in the year after childbirth and beyond.
• Why feeling tired isn’t just a normal part of being a new mom and needs to be investigated.
• Viewing childbirth as an intense athletic event and caring for moms appropriately.
• Creating a postpartum care plan as part of your prenatal and birth plan.
• Solutions for fatigue, decreased milk production, and irritability.
• Holistic Pelvic Care: Rehab for the pelvic bowl myofascia on a physical and energetic level.
• Why kegel exercises aren’t always the best approach for healing pelvic issues.
• How postpartum depression can be caused by thyroid problems and when to get your thyroid levels checked.
• Dr. Brighten loves coffee! And her message to you about why she wants you to enjoy it instead of depend on it.
• Feeding the adrenals with B-vitamins, magnesium, vitamin C, gelatin, and bone broth.
• Finding the support you need to thrive.
• Why your #1 job in the first two weeks postpartum is to lay in bed and cuddle your baby.
• Labs Dr. Brighten runs for her postpartum patients.
• What to do about hair loss and anxiety postpartum.

Listen to the interview here!

Get you free
Fourth Trimester Birth Plan here!

Straight out to of the gate I want to say— This is my Opinion. You’ve likely found your way onto my blog because you are interested in learning more about your health and I want you to know that you will continue to find educational health posts on this site, but today, well today I just have to speak out on this one.

Natural Mother Magazine, a free online publication that offers families a wealth of natural knowledge just launched their breastfeeding issue. It’s pretty much amazing and in the heart of full disclosure, I contributed to the issue. In fact, I’m a regular contributor, but you’d only have to flip through a few pages to discover that yourself.

And just in case you’re curious– No, I do not get paid or receive any monetary compensation. I contribute to this magazine because I believe in it, I’m passionate about it and it brings me joy to do so.

The magazine released its latest issue and as they have always done, they scheduled their Facebook ad to get the word out. After all, Facebook is where a lot of us moms connect and there is a whole fan forum for the magazine where women share their stories and get support (also, awesome).

Facebook’s response has ignited my desire to write this post. Facebook flagged the magazine as inappropriate and even after an appeal, the magazine was still denied posting any pictures of breastfeeding. Yup, in the name of all that is decent, Facebook has deemed breastfeeding to be on the same level as pornography—requiring censorship.

Now here’s the thing, if Facebook doesn’t want breasts on the feed then that is totally their prerogative. But when Facebook responds by stating they just flat out don’t allow this and then I see pages that are dedicated to women’s breast (Angelina Jolie gets her own page with breast shots galore) I gotta pump the breaks and ask “what is really going on here?”

Why is my feed filled with pictures of women’s breasts selling me the American ideal of what a woman should look like?

The truth is, Facebook is fine with cleavage and all things breasts as long as there is money behind it and as long as those breasts aren’t serving the basic human function of sustaining life. This is where I take issue.

When you censor breastfeeding, categorizing it as pornography, you are shaming moms.

Moms have enough going on and there is plenty of shaming to go around. And frankly, I just can’t get behind shaming— not of moms and not of anyone.

You don’t want breasts of Facebook? Fine. But the inconsistency is shaming and degrading to women. Our breasts are appropriate when displayed in advertising, but have a child’s head covering more of the breast than a swimsuit does and that is inappropriate?

Breastfeeding or bottle feeding—no mom should feel shame!

You can support Natural Mother Magazine by just reading their issue or liking their Facebook page.

Yeah, you’re probably thinking, “why don’t we just leave Facebook.” But, how about we shift the stigma around this whole breastfeeding and mother-shaming thing and get a little more involved on Facebook?

Here’s a hashtag if you’re into that. #‎facebookstopcensoringbreastfeeding‬

If you’ve gotten this far, thanks. And if you’re thinking, “Woe, this is a bit of a rant.” I admit that it is, but I really felt compelled to stand up and call this one out, not as a doctor, but as a mother.

Much love to all the families out there.

Healing Your Body Naturally After Childbirth, June 20th, 6:00 pm at Milagros in NE Portland.

Childbirth is one of the most amazing and demanding events a woman’s body can experience. In the days and weeks following the delivery of your baby it is important to take steps to optimize your healing. Postpartum care is not only important for mom’s health, but also your baby’s.

Join Dr. Jolene Brighten as she provides tools and natural solutions to many postpartum ailments including pelvic pain, incontinence, breast tenderness and constipation. This talk is great for women who are currently pregnant, contemplating pregnancy or who have already gone through childbirth.

Event Details:
When: June 20th, 6-7 pm
Where: Milagros 5433 NE 30th Ave. Portland
Cost: Free

This workshop is free but space is limited.
Please RSVP to reserve your seat. 

Jolene Brighten is a licensed Naturopathic physician and certified Holistic Pelvic Care provider. She practices integrative family medicine with an emphasis in women’s health and chronic disease management. She is also a mother to a wonderful boy, Bensen.  Click here to learn more about Dr. Brighten.

I’m a new mom and if you are a mom reading this you know exactly what that means. I am lucky to get enough sleep, have a sit down meal or even use the bathroom in peace, let alone meditate. But as a doctor and yoga instructor, I know how beneficial meditation is, especially when you are chronically stressed. That’s why I decided to join the Deepak Oprah 21 Day Meditation Challenge!

Now I am not saying that my baby isn’t the most joyous aspect of my life; he is. In fact, I am crazy about him.

However, motherhood isn’t without its moments and I will admit that despite all my medical education, my initial reaction to my own child is always to freak out when there is something scary new. “What? The baby didn’t poop today! Oh, right, they do that.” Stressful.

Stress and My Daily Meditation Practice

But my stress began way before motherhood. Once upon a time, in a life that seems ages away, I had a daily meditation practice. Bliss. It went along with my daily yoga practice. Sigh. But then came medical school and the days of movement and meditation became few and far between. I still practiced. I still meditated, but far less than what I had done in the past.

Then comes motherhood, a time in which you dedicate pretty much all your energy and resources to your most precious asset. I take the babe on walks, but oh wait, the dog has to come too. A squirrel crazy dog in a city of trees with my mini riding in the Moby is a workout and hardly peaceful. Well, to the dog’s credit, it is sometimes peaceful.

I am finding myself at that place where I meet many of my patients. It’s the place where I tell them to take time for themselves, to find ways to revitalize and to nourish the calm in their lives amidst all the chaos. “Great idea, Doc!” Yup and now it’s my turn.

Deepak & Oprah 21 Day Meditation Challenge

So, why Oprah and Deepak? Honestly, I never thought I’d jump on the Oprah wagon. Ever. (Although she did recommend Portland’s Salt & Straw’s Olive Oil icecream and she was spot on with that one.) But these days I spend a lot more time mindlessly wandering the internet in an attempt to stay awake during one of the many middle of the night feeding sessions. When I saw the challenge pop up on my Facebook page I wandered my way right into signing up.

During this 21 day challenge you are emailed on the daily with a mantra centered meditation. The meditations are guided by Deepak, which I need at this stage in my life. Guided meditations can be very useful in focusing the mind and allowing you to let go of all other thoughts. I’m juggling a lot and finding that sitting in silence only allows my to-do list to grow.

The program also offers a daily lesson on how to incorporate mindfulness into your daily life, as well as questions for daily reflection. I am hoping this will grow my tool box of ways to live a more present life for myself and provide tangible information I can share with my patients.

I know from experience that my patients who feel a sense of accountability are more successful in the changes the make. This program has a level of accountability with a whole lot of encouragement. Plus, the

I am doing this challenge for myself, but in my heart I know that it will help me be a better mother and a better doctor overall.