Nourishing your body after giving birth can be a challenge.  Asking for what you need to recover and heal is a skill and process.  Today I’m connecting with Stephanie Gleason who is a postpartum doula  from Au Petit Jour and she shares some tips and ways you can make nourishing meals a priority for your family and how this can aid in your postpartum recovery in the fourth trimester. 

It's crucial to understand that nourishing your body after giving birth plays a vital role in your overall recovery and well-being. Proper nutrition helps replenish the vital nutrients lost during childbirth, supports your body's healing process, and boosts your energy levels.

Additionally, a well-nourished body produces higher-quality breast milk, which is essential for your baby's growth and development. Consuming a balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants will not only enhance your postpartum recovery but also ensure that your baby receives the necessary nutrients for a healthy start in life.  

The Dawn of New Parenthood

Becoming a new parent signifies many different things for everyone, embodying a blend of excitement, challenges, and profound joy. Stephanie shares that "Au petit jour" means dawn, symbolizing the beginning of a new day, a new journey, and the promise of wonderful things to come. 

It can be difficult to view it this way in the early stages with a newborn, but it's important to take it one day at a time. Having support and dedicating time to get to know your little one is part of the process. Embracing this mindset helps new parents navigate the early days with resilience and optimism, laying a strong foundation for the beautiful journey ahead.

Ask friends and Family

When it comes to getting support during the postpartum period, asking for help is essential. Friends and family are often eager to assist, so sharing your favorite recipes or meal preferences can be a wonderful way for them to provide love and comfort as you recover. Allowing others to help can be a blessing for both you and your family. Remember, there's no need for mom guilt—you'll have the opportunity  to return the favor in the future at the perfect time.

Support from Postpartum Doulas 

Postpartum doulas provide invaluable emotional, physical, and mental support during the recovery process. They offer reassurance, practical help, and a compassionate presence, empowering new parents to navigate the postpartum period with confidence. From assisting with newborn care to offering guidance on self-care, their holistic support significantly enhances the well-being of both the parent and the baby.  Stephanie Gleason shares, "It only takes one person to tell you that you are doing a great job!"

Stephanie shares a few favorite recipes to get you started.  When you eat well, you’ll sleep well too.  Keep reading to get all the delicious details as you think about how you are nourishing your body in that fourth trimester with these delicious recipes. 

Key Loving Lessons Learned in this episode: 

🟣 Gaining insights into the early days with your newborn and learning to prioritize daily needs.

🟣 Developing an intimate relationship with your postpartum doula.

🟣 Exploring the various specialties of postpartum doula support.

🟣 Understanding the importance of nourishment for your body and how it aids in postpartum recovery.

🟣 Navigating the early days with a newborn and adjusting your expectations.

🟣 Remembering that social media doesn’t portray reality; nobody is juggling everything perfectly.

🟣 Deciding what is truly important to you.

🟣 Key questions to ask when hiring a postpartum doula.

🟣 Stephanie's readiness to mentor aspiring postpartum doulas.

Resources mentioned to help you keep learning & growing: 

⭐Learn more about Stephanie Gleason with Au Petit Jour 

⭐The First Forty Days by Heng Ou

⭐ The Snoo

Breakfast-Recipe

Method

1. In a small saucepan, combine steel cut oats with 2 cups of water and salt. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat, then reduce to low and give it a gentler stir and cook for about 20 minutes or until tender. Once cooked, add the grass fed butter and stir. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, whisk the milk, vanilla and oil with yogurt, then add the eggs and whisk until incorporated. Stir in flour and baking powder. Add the oat mixture and gently fold in the blueberries, bananas. Consistency should be thick.
3. Melt some butter and when the pan is hot, scoop or spoon batter into the pan. Cook for 3 or 4 minutes on each side. 
4. Serve with maple syrup.

Lunch Recipe 

Method

1. Wash peppers, dry and cover with oil.
2. Broil pepper on high until blacked on all sides, let them cool down in the oven turned off.
3. Once cooled, remove seeds, and core, peel the skin off.
4. Slice finely and arrange slices in a flat dish.
5. Mix olive oil and garlic and drizzle over the sliced pepper.
6. Quarter eggs and arrange on top of the peppers, sprinkle the dish with

Dinner Recipe  

Method

1. Preheat oven at 375
2. Prepare the tomatoes: cut the hats of tomatoes (top) and carve the inside with a spoon. Keep the flesh in a saucepan along with the juice of the tomatoes. 
3. Chop up the removed tomato flesh coarsely and add olive oil, garlic, thyme, some salt and pepper, and a splash of wine.  Slowly cook covered on the small burner on low. Check regularly that it doesn’t dry out. 
4. In a bowl, mix sausage meat, 2 garlic cloves, fresh parsley finely chopped, egg, some thyme and milk soak bread. 
5. Spoon the stuffing into the hollowed tomatoes making sure they’re well packed. Place the “hats” back on top and place the tomatoes up right in a baking dish. Drizzle some olive oil on top, salt and pepper.  
6. Bake for at least an hour or until the top of the tomatoes are wilted and brown. 
7. Once tomatoes are cooked, sieve the flesh and juice of the tomatoes in a bowl and return to the saucepan. Adjust seasoning and about a tsp of the thickener of your choice (corn starch etc…) to thicken the tomato gravy to serve alongside the stuffed tomatoes. 

Remember- When you eat well, you'll sleep well too!  

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