Postpartum Support: A Healing Guide for Body, Mind, and Skin
Giving birth – bringing a new human earthside – is no joke.
If you’re in the throes of postpartum (or even postpartum loss) right now, we see you. We honor the work your mind, body, and soul have done.
You’ve been pushed to the absolute limits. And now, as you gather yourself back up, you might wonder…
→ Is this normal?
→ Will this last forever?
→ Am I the only one who feels this way?
→ What can I do to be more comfortable right now?
This post on postpartum support is meant to give you a resounding, comforting answer: Yes, this is all common. No, it will not last forever. You’re not the only one.
Thousands of women worldwide are going through the same experience – wondering, hoping, worrying, and searching. It’s just not brought to light enough. And yes, momma, there are plenty of things you can do to ease your worries + make this trying season of life more enjoyable.
Postpartum is a time in life that requires gentle + intentional care for the whole being. Your mind, body, and soul (and, of course, your skin ;)) all deserve replenishment.
One of our biggest joys as a holistic skincare company is our dedication to empowering women in every phase of life. This resource is dedicated to our incredible postpartum mommas looking for a bit of guidance + reassurance in holistic postpartum support.
Postpartum Support for Skin
Troubles with your skin can take a toll on you emotionally. Postpartum skin issues can feel like a hit on your self-confidence as you adjust to motherhood – and the new body you call home.
Though almost all of these postpartum skin issues often resolve on their own, it’s totally understandable to feel anxious and want to get a head start.
We’ve got you covered, momma.
Let’s talk about the biggest root cause when it comes to postpartum skin issues: the steep decline in primary hormones (like estrogen and progesterone). This is the culprit for almost all postpartum skin issues.
Be patient as your body tries to regulate + heal. There’s light at the end of the tunnel, we promise! Let’s look at some of the most common postpartum skin struggles + the postpartum support your skin needs.
Postpartum Dry Skin
Many new mommas experience postpartum dry skin. This is dry skin on a whole new level – it can be intensified if you’re breastfeeding, too. Dry, flaky skin is not only uncomfortable but messy and frustrating. Here’s how you can help.
Postpartum support for dry skin:
- Try gentle exfoliation through dry brushing or body polish. It’s great for removing dead skin cells as well as cell turnover and rebuilding strong, healthy skin. (If you experience dryness on your face, try our facial dry brush instead.)
- Moisturize with oil and water duos. Though it may feel counterintuitive, oils can absorb more deeply when paired with “water” (or, in our case, plant hydrosols and water-locking ingredients). Try combining your Facial Mist with a Facial Serum or your Everything Spray with a Body Oil for deeper moisture.
- Try slugging with balms for overnight rejuvenation. Slugging with one of our targeted balms locks in intense moisture to restore dry, irritated skin.
- Add electrolytes to your drinks. Internal hydration goes a long way for the state of your skin. Electrolytes give your water a “boost” to provide hydration skin-deep. You can add simple sea salt + lemon at home or throw some natural electrolyte packets in your diaper bag when you’re on the go.
Dry skin won’t last forever! Focus on these skin-hydrating tips and give your body time to adjust.
Postpartum Itchy Skin
Sometimes, postpartum itchy skin goes hand in hand with postpartum dry skin. Unfortunately, some inflammatory and itchy conditions, like PUPP (pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy), can follow you into the postpartum period.
Postpartum support for itchy + inflamed skin:
- Our soothing line can be great for red, inflamed skin. It contains soothing + healing ingredients like blue tansy and marshmallow root. It’s also rich in healthy fats that help restore the skin barrier.
- Slugging with Everything Balm seals in moisture and can actively repair your skin barrier overnight. Tallow, emu oil, and essential oils of lavender and tea tree oil tangibly moisturize, calm inflammation, and improve the skin below the surface.
- Choose a non-toxic body wash that restores the skin barrier with nourishing oils and a gentle cleanse. Despite empty marketing claims, many conventional body washes strip your skin with harsh surfactants, only adding to the irritation.
- Put a humidifier in your room at night if you’re struggling with itchy or dry skin. Bonus: it will be good for your babe + their skin too!
Feeling itchy is one of the most uncomfortable conditions. Don’t suffer through it, momma. These tips for itchy and inflamed skin will help you feel more comfortable + at ease in your skin.
Excessive Sweat/Night Sweats
Excessive sweating, especially at night, is common for a few weeks post-birth. It’s part of your body’s natural detoxing process. However, hormonal changes can make sweat smell especially unpleasant.
Postpartum support for excess sweat:
- Put a waterproof pad or towel on the sheets before you sleep. Creating a physical barrier between your skin and the sheets eliminates the need to change the sheets constantly.
- Take Hot Baths with nourishing Epsom salt blends. Your skin is a major detox organ, so this postpartum support will help boost the removal of toxins and waste that could also contribute to smelly pits.
- Keep a Charcoal Deodorant + Everything Spray by the bed for a dose of freshness any time of day – or night. Our Charcoal Deodorant is one of our most powerful deodorant blends for excessive or super-smelly sweat. Our Everything Spray helps balance pH and neutralize odor with powerful antibacterial properties.
While there’s truthfully not much you can do to avoid excess sweat, these postpartum support methods will at least help you get through the worst of it!
Postpartum Acne + Breakouts
It’s no fun, but postpartum acne is a common concern for new moms in the first few months. The steep decline in hormones can confuse your skin. With too much oil building up (or maybe a lack of proper oil/lipids), it can feel hard to manage breakouts.
Postpartum support for acne:
- Switch to oil cleansing as your first step (if you haven’t already). Oil cleansing helps balance your skin’s oil production. Whether you’re over or under-producing, both can contribute to the development of acne. Add in double cleansing, too, if your skin is oil-rich.
- Try our clarifying line to reduce redness + inflammation. Our clarifying products are bolstered with powerful antioxidants like green tea with ECGC and wound-healing ingredients like prickly pear seed oil. Manuka also provides superior antibacterial properties (20-30x more effective than tea tree oil!).
- Sweat regularly with gentle practices. Sweat helps cleanse + detoxify your skin, pushing out impurities, moisturizing, and restoring balance. But only practice super gentle forms of sweating like a sauna or a hot bath.
- Focus on the neck gua sha flow. This helps avoid delicate, inflamed skin while restoring lymph flow for detox, fresh blood flow, + circulation. (You can also use a facial roller for a less involved practice and as a lymphatic tool to prevent clogged ducts.)
These supportive tips help balance oil production, keep your body’s detox processes going, and work to restore your skin to a calmer, more balanced state.
Oily Scalp
Oil production changes all over your body with hormonal fluctuations – even your scalp. If you suddenly find yourself more greasy after skipping a hair wash, you’re not alone!
Postpartum support for an oily scalp:
- Keep a dry shampoo on hand. Our natural dry shampoo is your best friend when you don’t have the time or energy for a hair wash but want to avoid toxic chemicals in dry shampoo sprays. Oh, and you can also use our talc-free baby powder in a pinch.
- Try an apple cider vinegar rinse instead of shampoo to balance oil production + minimize buildup on your scalp. Swapping your hair cleansing products or adding a scalp-specific product (like this pre-wash treatment) might also be helpful.
These tips should help keep oil production in check. And we promise you’ll eventually find the time to shower again. ;) In the meantime, don’t be afraid to lean on these postpartum support ideas.
Postpartum Hair Loss
Hair loss is a widespread experience for postpartum mommas. For some, this can be one of the hardest changes to accept. That said, here are a few ways to hopefully improve postpartum hair loss and support healthy growth:
Postpartum support for hair loss:
- Add trace minerals. (We love this brand with lots of benefits cosmetically and holistically.) Your body can be depleted of many minerals + nutrients after giving birth. This gentle postpartum support is good for your entire body but also has the potential to support healthy hair growth + scalp health.
- Consume well-raised animal protein. Protein is one of the most essential building blocks for your entire body but specifically provides critical amino acids for healthy skin, hair, and nail growth (and general healing!).
- Avoid putting your hair in a high pony or bun. Wearing your hair low creates less pressure on your hair follicles and is thought to produce less breakage/loss.
It can feel cruel to also lose hair with everything else you’re experiencing, but don’t worry it WILL regrow. Give it time + remind yourself that physical features don’t define your worth. :)
Loose Skin/Stretch Marks
Despite your best efforts, you might still have stretch marks or loose skin. (Let’s not forget it’s from carrying + growing a whole beautiful human! What a miracle.) You’re beautiful as you are, momma – even if it feels unfamiliar and scary. Here are a few ways to gently support healing in your skin.
Postpartum support for loose skin:
- Regular exfoliation with dry brushing or body polish can help renew skin + promote circulation, fresh blood flow, and lymphatic flow. It can also increase microcirculation to promote healing in scars, stretch marks, and other conditions.
- Invest in a traditional belly bind. In cultures worldwide, a belly bind is used to help new mothers adjust to the feeling of “emptiness” in their womb. It also provides structure + support to help the uterus return to its original size post-birth. While it may not directly impact stretch marks or loose skin, it’s a comforting + supportive tool.
- Red light therapy can help lessen the color of scars over time + promote elasticity and healing in your skin.
- Use our Baby Balm, which contains nourishing, potent, and soothing ingredients like tallow, emu oil, marshmallow root, and calendula. It can help support your delicate new skin that’s healing + regenerating.
Everyone has a different genetic makeup – some are more prone to stretch marks and loose skin. You’re not less than if you experience any of these symptoms. You deserve to feel beautiful, too, because you ARE!
Melasma (Pigmentation)
Melasma is a natural result of hormones from pregnancy that pigments your skin a darker color. It can sometimes last into postpartum. Over time, it can be minimized, but here are a few methods you can try.
- Try alternating clarifying and plumping serums. Our holistic esthetician often recommends this routine for spa guests hoping to resolve melasma naturally.
- Avoid direct + extended sunlight, which affects melanin production.
- Try to avoid overheating, which can make melasma appear darker.
- Support your hormonal levels through stress and diet management. Rebalancing hormones (the root cause) can help resolve the appearance of melasma.
Like many aspects of postpartum recovery, it may take time to resolve this pigmentation in your skin. While it can be difficult to be patient, try to embrace the changes that brought your little one and focus on the positives.
Other Supportive Practices + Tips
Beyond these targeted remedies for specific skin-related postpartum support, there are other ways to tangibly support + encourage skin health.
Postpartum skin issues can be frustrating, but they don’t have to run your life. Try incorporating these postpartum support tips a few at a time and see how they help your skin. You’re on the right track – your body just needs time to find balance + heal.
Postpartum Health: Healing + Feeling Your Best
Though it might feel tempting, don’t rush the healing process. Try your best to soak up the goodness and give your body time to heal. Rest assured, there are plenty of ways to kickstart healing + feel your best.
These are our best tips for postpartum support to prioritize your overall health.
Upgrade Your Diet
What you put in your body matters – especially if you’re breastfeeding as well. Find postpartum support through nourishing, warming, and flavor-packed foods full of vitamins and minerals. Your diet largely influences your postpartum health (good or bad).
Postpartum support through consuming organic, whole, nutrient-dense foods contributes to better gut health. Better gut health affects skin, energy levels, immune defense, and even mental health (more on that in a minute). Here are a few specific tips for your diet to support postpartum health.
- Add more high-quality, animal-based protein. Protein is foundational for healing, hormone health/balance, and energy levels.
- Refrain from sugar, gluten, and alcohol, which all increase inflammation. Reducing inflammation supports quicker healing.
- If you can, eat regeneratively. Regenerative produce and meat contain a significantly higher amount of nutrients – even compared to organic.
- Avoid seed oils, which contribute to inflammation and oxidative stress in your body.
- Keep a healthy snack basket with a few options whenever you need a bite. It’s much easier to avoid junk food when you have healthy, enjoyable options ready.
Eating healthy can take some work, but it’s worth the benefits for postpartum health.
Increase Hydration
Hydration is a key pillar of health in any phase of life but is especially important in postpartum health. If you’re breastfeeding, it’s even more critical to replenish your body regularly – more than you think you need to! Here are a few ways to prioritize hydration as postpartum support.
- Try LMNT electrolytes + a huuuge cup (you know the kind ;)) to keep with you at all times. It’s much easier to stay hydrated when it’s always there and doesn’t run out as fast.
- Try these hydrating drink recipes for something different if you struggle to drink water or want to change things up.
- Sip on bone broth to hydrate AND provide healing nutrients for your gut.
- Get your water through fruits and other foods that contain gel water. Gel water is a highly potent form of hydration that’s more readily used by your body’s cells.
Hydration makes you feel better + provides internal and external benefits to help you stay prepared for long (but rewarding) days with your new babe.
Incorporate Stillness
Stillness is so crucial for postpartum health when you’ve just carried life into this world! Regardless of your delivery method, you have a wound inside your body the size of a plate. (Woah!) It takes time and patience to heal.
Soak up those newborn snuggles – they don’t last long enough. :)
Incorporate Movement
Stillness and movement are both critical in their own way! Once you’ve made it past the initial resting period, gentle movements like short walks and stretching can be really therapeutic. This form of postpartum support can release tension and help you start feeling like yourself again. (But, of course, consult your healthcare provider on when the time is right for you specifically.)
Support Healthy Sleep
Though it’s admittedly very challenging to get solid sleep, any chance you have, get that rest, momma! Even short naps or rests are an incredible form of postpartum support for your physical health. Here are a few tips to get the best sleep possible:
- Reduce blue light exposure before bed
- Wind down with a relaxing bath and tea
- Keep the bedroom cold (within reason, for your babe) to sleep more deeply
- Try mouth-taping to breathe through your nose + get more oxygen
- Try meditation or a white noise machine to go to sleep more easily
The bottom line? Do what you can to set your environment up for the best night of sleep possible – despite those cute (and exhausting) wake-up calls every few hours. ;)
Reduce Toxins
This form of postpartum support should go without saying, but we have to mention it. :) Reducing toxic load is better for everyone, but it’s especially important in postpartum health. Remember, you’re recovering from a major life event that has pushed you to your limits!
Beyond skincare, eliminating common household toxins is a paramount since you’ll spend a lot of time (read: most of your time) at home for the next few months.
Postpartum challenges our patience. But don’t forget that you just went through an insanely taxing + physically exhausting event. Health will come. In the meantime, do what you can to support your body with gentleness and intention.
Postpartum Support for Mental Well-Being
Though it’s gaining more traction, mental health, postpartum depression, and baby blues need a spotlight! 1 in 7 women experience some form of postpartum depression, and it’s believed that some 50% of women don’t tell anyone.
Mental health is a critical component of a healthy, happy human. Giving birth is a transformative experience in every way, especially from a psychological perspective.
Birth changes your entire outlook on life. And that can have far-reaching effects on your life, feelings, and opinions.
Postpartum Depression After Giving Birth
A few days after the adrenaline rush experienced immediately after giving birth, you’ll experience a steep drop in hormones. This can affect your mental well-being. It can cause a condition called “baby blues.” Baby blues can cause weepiness, fatigue, sadness, insomnia, anxiety, and mood swings.
This “baby blues” period is common and happens to many mommas. But if it lasts longer than two weeks, you could be experiencing a more severe form of postpartum depression.
Postpartum depression symptoms are usually more severe like:
- Inability to enjoy life
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Extreme loss of appetite
- Panic attacks
- Extreme fatigue
- Intense irritability
- Guilt that you’re not a good mother
- Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
It can be confusing to experience feelings like this when it seems like you should be ecstatic. It’s okay, momma. And you should know there are many forms of postpartum depression. Knowing this might help you identify what you’re feeling + find the postpartum support you need.
- Postpartum rage – can cause intense anger, aggression, and agitation.
- Postpartum anxiety – some women’s mental health challenges in postpartum present as debilitating anxiety over every aspect of you + your baby’s life.
- Postpartum psychosis – affecting a small percentage of women, this can be an experience of extreme psychosis. You may have thoughts of obsession, hallucinations, feel paranoid, have an excess amount of energy, and other mental + behavioral concerns.
At the end of the day, these diagnoses are only a name. Whether it’s baby blues or a more severe condition like postpartum depression or rage, it can feel foreign, embarrassing, and overwhelming. And quite frankly, you may be scared and feel “crazy.” (You’re NOT!)
This can make it difficult to talk to people, even your loved ones. Thankfully, there are plenty of practices and actions you can take to support your mental well-being postpartum. Remember, you are not alone.
Postpartum support for various forms of depression, anxiety, and baby blues:
- Stress-relieving practices – Stress levels can have a significant impact on mental health. Try to find a few minutes daily to practice things like nose breathing or vagus nerve exercises. You can also reconnect with nature through activities like grounding or forest bathing.
- Ask for help from your loved ones – Everyone has a different experience around birth and postpartum. Your family and friends may not know if you want space or postpartum support. It’s okay to ask for help, but set boundaries for privacy and space.
Communicate clearly and tell them what you’d like help with. Whether it’s help with logistical/physical tasks or a listening ear, you may be surprised how glad they are you asked.
- Hire professional postpartum support – Though it’s an added expense, sometimes it’s the best option, and that’s okay! Many counseling services are done through video chats and are easy to set up from the comfort of your home or bed. Or maybe you need to hire a postpartum doula to help share some of the responsibilities and give you extra time to sleep. (This is totally okay and does NOT make you selfish!)
- Embrace your community – Meal trains are an excellent way to let friends and family cook nourishing foods for you and be the “village,” so to speak. Or maybe instead of food, you simply want to ask for prayer. Postpartum support from friends and family can be comforting + lift your spirits to feel wrapped in love.
- Get out on your own/self-health – When you’re able, a walk by yourself or even a short outing to run an errand can feel life-giving. Make time for self-health in whatever form fits your lifestyle, and remember – you’re worth it!
If there’s one thing we can say about mental well-being in the postpartum season of life? Don’t suffer alone. You deserve help, community, prayer, and love. Things will get better.
A New Season of Life: Postpartum Hope
As a holistic company, we believe every aspect of your being deserves attention, especially after a drastic event like giving birth. Don’t be afraid to prioritize yourself in this season of life – sometimes, we have to prioritize ourselves to show up for the ones we love.
This is especially true after the life-altering experience of giving birth.
So embrace postpartum support in all its facets + forms.
Our goal is to bring a message of hope. Hope for healing, rejuvenation, and peace – in body, mind, and soul.
You’ve got this, momma.
We’re proud of you – truly,
XO
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