What Is The Village Model?
Newly postpartum individuals have just gone through a several month long incredibly physically and emotionally demanding experience, and now have a whole unfamiliar set of responsibilities that are part of their new normal. The old saying “It takes a village” in regards to raising children couldn’t ring more true, especially in more vulnerable moments like those postpartum. The village model refers to people within a community coming together to support parents. In many cultures, postpartum is a sacred period of rest and bonding with your new baby. The postpartum period looks different across varying cultures – to some it might look like extended family moving in to help with other responsibilities so mom can focus on rest, recovery, and baby bonding time, and to others it might mean loved ones dropping off meals, stopping by to clean, offering a listening ear. Whatever the structure, having a community of people, or your “village” to help in this time of recovery, makes all the difference.
How Does Healthcare Come into Play?
While having your village be made up of family and close loved ones is a precious experience to have, the reality is that for a lot of new mothers this isn’t possible for a variety of reasons. While healthcare can’t replace that, utilizing the integrative nature of naturopathic medicine and related fields can help to support your recovery, both physical and mental.
What might village support from practitioners look like?
Physical Recovery & Support
- Naturopathic Doctors
- Pelvic floor therapy
- Hormone health & other physical changes that occur postpartum
- Lifestyle guidance for nourishing yourself and supporting breastfeeding
- Mental health/mood support
- Massage Therapists
- Lactation Consultants
- Nutritionists/Dieticians
Mental/Emotional Support
- Counselors
- Doctors or psychiatrists
- Support/community groups like those available from Postpartum International The changes that come with having a baby can be so precious, and it is still a time that is very vulnerable and a lot to balance. Leaning on your providers to help support your physical and mental health to be able to feel present and grounded during this time can be extremely nourishing.
- Mental Health Resources – Scroll to the bottom of the page for Postpartum specific resources
I’m Dr. Tia Meechan, a Naturopathic Doctor with a clinical focus in women’s health, fertility, and postpartum care. I believe that postpartum is a truly sacred time that should be full of support, nourishment, and healing. I work with postpartum individuals to support nutritional needs, pelvic floor health, the health changes that come after pregnancy and birth, and along more physical and emotional recovery avenues. My goal is to support building a village of care for all postpartum individuals. My approach is to bring information to the table so you know what’s going on in your body, support you in whatever that may look like, and be a support to offer care and resources so you know you are not alone. You can learn more about my approach to care here.