When We Gather In Support of the Mother

Most pregnancies are spent planning for the baby and the birth, but not the mother. Most often the baby is showered with gifts, but not the mother. And in the postpartum, the baby is held, but not the mother. 
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This country forgets about mothers. It forgets to celebrate them, thank them, honor and support them. But not in my circle of birth workers. The mother comes first.  We care for her and support her because we know that if she is healthy and well that the baby will be too.

Have you ever been to a baby shower? What about a postpartum shower? Or a Mother’s Blessing? Most of us have been to plenty of baby showers, but what about the other two? I recently had the honor of helping throw a postpartum shower and Mother’s Blessing for a friend and here is how it looked:

Women in a circle, sharing positive stories about their birth in support of the mother.

Women bringing food to the group to nourish the mother, including bringing extras for her to put in her freezer for when baby comes.

A bead ceremony was completed where we chose beads that symbolized our wishes for her birth and we shared our wishes and added our bead to a bracelet for her to wear during labor.

Making affirmation cards for her to hang in her room to remind her to trust her body and herself as a mother.

Speaking our intentions for her journey as a mother into a bottle of water for her to drink during labor.

Instead of gifts, people brought cash donations so the mother can hire the postpartum support she needed after baby is born.

The mother sat and received our love and the beauty of henna on her skin by a loving artist.

It was beautiful and loving and supportive for this woman. She knows she can call on any one of us during her postpartum days for support, a meal, or encouragement. With this event, she sealed her circle of support. None of us were there about the baby. We were all there about the mother and THAT is where our attention needs to be in order to truly support those around us. And I’m sure if you tend to the mother first, she might even let you have a chance to hold that cute new baby. ​