When we think of preparing for a baby, the first thing that comes to mind is often the labor and delivery process. We read books, share our excitement with others, pick out names, and plan out our birth experience as best we can. OMG and the baby shower! Let's not forget that....maybe a lavish gener-reveal too! What about all those adorable outfits, and how much I love my parnter, they've been so great and will be the best parent ever.I'll get my body back, we'll still go out and have these incredible family trips. Oh, and I'll NEVER do what that parent is doing/do what my parents/sister/bestie is doing, can you even imagine??
But what about the realities after baby arrives? That’s when the "happily-ever-afters" begin, right?! That’s when the physical, emotional, and mental challenges of motherhood hit—and many women feel like they’re not as prepared for that transition as they had hoped. I know I wasn’t. Do you have enough confidence in the people around you to provide 100% non-judgmental support and evidence-based information? The baby is adorable, but do you feel adequently supported and ready for the toddler? The teenager? Parenthood doesn't just magically all come together once baby arrives.
I remember the moment my oldest daughter was born. Boy oh boy was she cute as a button! After all the planning and excitement of pregnancy, labor, and delivery, I looked at her and thought, "What now?" My life, and the lives of my friends, had suddenly become worlds apart. While they were out partying, living their carefree lives, mine had drastically changed. I was home, sleep-deprived, and alone in this new journey. I didn’t have a support system to turn to, and even if I did, I felt too embarrassed to ask for help: we're supposed to be able to do it all. The truth is, I didn’t know where to go or who to turn to. I felt lost, determined, but so lonely. This should come naturally, right?
In addition to not knowing wehre to go, I struggled with bleeding nipples, but was determined to breastfeed through it (even though my baby was waking up every two hours to nurse—and no, that’s NOT normal!), and I was hell-bent on nursing for as long as possible, despite the toll it was taking on me. I was sleep-deprived, emotionally drained, and felt like I was barely hanging on.
And that’s when I realized—I needed help.
I called a lactation consultant, but she wasn’t much help at all (not a diss on all LC,s they are invaluable and if you need a good one, I have many for you to chat to!). I felt more alone and desparate after she left than before she came over. The isolation was suffocating, and I realized that this wasn’t just about having a baby—it was about navigating a whole new chapter of life. This experience is what inspired me to become a postpartum doula. I never wanted another mother to feel as alone and unsupported as I did.
That journey led me to the creation of Cosmic Egg Wellness. My goal has always been to provide support and community to women before baby arrives, so they have a solid foundation of people they can rely on once the baby is born. In my expereince, It’s essential to build that support system long before labor so that when the time comes, you’re not left scrambling to find answers and feeling isolated in your journey. For this reason, I also offer 4th trimester workshops for women to have some tools in their belt way before they are needed.
Prenatal Yoga: Strengthening Your Body and Building Your Tribe
Prenatal yoga is more than just physical exercise; it’s about building a connection with your body AND your baby as well as with other expectant moms. When you attend prenatal yoga classes, you’re not just preparing your body for labor—you’re also starting to build a support system of women who are going through the same experiences as you. These women will be the ones who can understand exactly what you’re going through when the sleepless nights hit, when breastfeeding isn’t going as planned, or when you just need someone to listen. You will have already started forging those bonds before baby arrives, and that makes all the difference.
Prenatal yoga offers a variety of benefits, including:
Relieving physical discomfort: Prenatal yoga helps ease common discomforts like back pain, swelling, and pelvic pressure.
Building strength and flexibility: Yoga helps to prepare your body for the physical demands of labor and delivery. Your body can do great things!
Mental preparation: Yoga allows you to center yourself, cultivate breath awareness, and prepare for the mental focus needed during labor. In the same was as your body can do great things, so can your mind!
Building community: It’s a wonderful way to meet other expectant mothers and form connections that will last well beyond pregnancy. When we come together in authentic, caring community, TOGETHER we can do great things!
Postnatal Yoga: Healing and Recovery with Support
After your baby arrives, postnatal yoga can help you regain strength, improve flexibility, and find a sense of calm amidst the chaos. But even more importantly, postnatal yoga is about community. It’s about being surrounded by other women who understand the challenges of motherhood.
When I was in the thick of new motherhood, I didn’t have a community that supported me. My friends, although well-meaning, didn’t understand what I was going through. They didn’t know how it felt to be sleep-deprived, overwhelmed, and isolated with this tiny human solely relying on your for it's continued existence. It’s so important to have a group of people—a tribe—who can offer support, listen without judgment, and remind you that you’re doing an amazing job, hear you when you feel frustraed, and provide a place of comfort, even when it feels like you’re barely keeping it together.
Postnatal yoga offers:
Physical recovery: It helps with regaining strength in your core and pelvic floor after childbirth. You do NOTYour body can do great things! have to spend your life peeing yourself.
Mental health support: The postpartum period can be emotionally challenging, and yoga offers space to process your feelings and feel more connected to your body. Understanding the power behind the mind/body connection and having a direct line to resources, should you need them, is paramount.
A safe, supportive space: Being surrounded by others who are going through the same challenges helps foster a sense of belonging and community.
Why Building Community Before Baby Arrives is Key
The truth is, labor and delivery are just a small part of your motherhood journey. The work really begins once baby arrives. Building a community before your baby is born means you’ll have a network of women who have your back—moms who can offer support, reassurance, and love when the going gets tough.
When you’re pregnant, you focus so much on labor and delivery. But what happens after the baby arrives? You’re suddenly in uncharted territory, and without a support system, it can feel like an uphill battle. That’s why building community before your baby arrives is crucial. You’re setting yourself up for success and emotional well-being by surrounding yourself with people who understand your experience.
At Cosmic Egg Wellness, I want to help create that support system for you. Whether it’s through prenatal and postnatal yoga or other offerings, I want you to feel empowered, supported, and connected throughout your journey into motherhood—and beyond.
In addition to yoga classes, I’m also excited to announce that I’ll be offering childbirth education classes soon—just like the ones I taught in Brooklyn back in 2007. To this day, I’m still in touch with the couples who attended classes with me, and we still reach out to one another with updates, which is something that warms my heart.
For those times when getting out of the house just isn’t possible, I’ll also be offering livestream yoga classes so you can still be part of the community, no matter where you are. However, in-person, human connection is invaluable and irreplaceable. There's something so powerful about showing up, being present with others, and knowing you’re not alone. Plus, there's always the option for a hug should you need or want it.
You don’t have to go through this alone. Let’s build this community together, one class at a time.
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