What does postpartum mean?

It is the time after the birth of your baby. You will often see a definition of 6 weeks post birth up to 6 months. I believe that there is no specific time frame for the postpartum period. You are always postpartum after the birth of your child because you never go back to the same person you were before your child joined your family. The timeframe that families typically need the most assistance is between birth and 6 weeks but can be beyond that depending on each individual circumstance.

What is Matrescence?

It is a word to describe the transition to motherhood not only with your first baby but each time you have a new baby.

Check out this Ted Talk to learn about Matrescence:

Alexandra Sacks: A new way to think about the transition to motherhood | TED Talk

What is a postpartum doula?

A postpartum doula provides support to the new mother including but not limited to:

• Emotional Support

• Evidence-Based Information and Support

• Physical Support

• Partner and Sibling Support

• Connection to Community Resources

• Almost anything else a new mom needs to thrive in the postpartum time!

My goal is not to hold the baby but to hold the mother physically and/or metaphorically so that she can bond with her baby. Doulas do not provide medical care for mom or baby.

What is the cost for your services?

The rate for each service depends on your specific needs. Please reach out for a free 15 minute consult with me so we can talk about what you are looking for and how I can support you.

Why should I hire you for meal prep services?

Healthy food is vital in the postpartum period to help heal your body after pregnancy and birth. If you are breastfeeding, you will need more calories than during pregnancy to feed your baby. The most important thing during the early postpartum time is for mom and baby to have as much time as possible to bond and get to know each other.

I bring my love of cooking, passion for support and expertise in food safety to the table (or should I say kitchen) when you hire me. I enjoy feeding people and want to help you feel nourished and taken care of. My background is in food safety and I practice these principles any time I am cooking for especially for clients.

When should I hire you for meal preparation?

Whenever works for you! I can help prepare and freeze meals during pregnancy, so you are prepared with food when baby arrives. I can help prepare meals any time in the postpartum period which is defined by your family and your needs.

Where do you prepare the meals?

All meals must be prepared in the clients home per the Wisconsin Food Code. This is an ideal set up for safety and sanitation and it gives us an opportunity to connect while I prep food and you snuggle your baby. At the end everything is cleaned up and put away so you are not left with any mess.

What do I need to provide for you to meal prep for me?

• Kitchen with cooking equipment such as a stove top and oven

• Food can be onsite already, or I can assist with doing a grocery pick up or grocery shopping for you

• Some kitchen utensils to prep food, I will have a list for you ahead of time and can bring specific items with me as well

• Containers to put meals in, I typically recommend glass storage containers

Can you support my specific dietary needs? Allergies? Food preferences?

Yes! All meals are specifically created for you and your needs. I am familiar with the top 9 food allergies and how to practice food safety in a kitchen. My goal is to create nourishing food that you want to eat so we will work together to find recipes that fit your dietary needs, food preferences and family size.

What kinds of foods are recommended in the postpartum period?

I look to books about traditional cultures such as The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother by Heng Ou. Traditional cultures use warming foods in both temperature and flavor, easy to digest foods and nutrient dense foods for new mothers in the postpartum time. One of my favorite postpartum meals that I discovered more recently is homemade bone broth soup with kale, lentils and quinoa. It is so warming, nutritious and filling that I make it when I am starting to feel sick or depleted.

Can you give recipe/menu examples:

I have a few examples of recipes that I enjoy below. When you hire me for meal prep we would discuss what foods you are craving, any recipes you would like me to make and any other preferences you have.

Breakfast:

-Quiche with peppers, spinach and goat cheese, can be made with traditional pie crust or sweet potato crust

-Coconut oatmeal pancakes

-Loaded oatmeal with nuts, seeds and fruit

Meals:

-Warming quinoa and lentil stew (my favorite!)

-Congee with roasted chicken and vegetables

-Coconut curry with chicken or chickpeas

-Slow cooked beef or pork roast with mashed root vegetables

Snacks:

-Chocolate peanut butter energy bites

-Banana oatmeal muffins

-Pumpkin chocolate chip muffins

What is the cost for meal prep services?

The cost for my meal prep services are based on the number of meals and number of portions needed for the family. Please contact me and I am happy to schedule a free 15 minute consult to discuss your needs and provide you with a quote.