Postpartum wellbeing is deeply influenced by physical recovery, including factors like blood loss and iron levels. Yet most preparation focuses on birth, not recovery. This article explores what women need to know to better understand and navigate the early postpartum period.
Author: Kirsten Fisch
Kirsten Fisch, MSN, RNC-MNN, IBCLC, LCCE
Kirsten is a women's health nurse who specializes in high-risk pregnancy and postpartum care. She is certified in Maternal Newborn Nursing, a board-certified lactation consultant (IBCLC), and a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator. She works with women from conception through the postpartum period. Passionate about empowering women throughout their reproductive journeys, Kirsten combines evidence-based care with compassionate support to promote the health and well-being of mothers and babies.
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Should You Pump Right Away? Understanding the “Wait to Pump” Advice
If pumping can help build supply, why are so many parents told to wait? Here’s what’s really happening in those early days, and how to approach feeding in a way that supports both you and your baby.
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Why the “Golden Hour” After Birth Doesn’t Always Go as Planned
The “golden hour” after birth is known for its powerful benefits, but in real hospital settings, it doesn’t always go as planned. Here’s why that happens, what it means for you, and how to advocate for the experience you want.
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Beyond ‘Breast Is Best’: How Breastfeeding Guidance Can Empower Instead of Pressure
Infant feeding is a deeply personal decision shaped by biology, mental health, work realities, cultural context, relationship dynamics, and lived experience. No two situations are the same.
When we treat breastfeeding as the only acceptable outcome rather than one well-supported option among several, we stop practicing patient-centered care. We start practicing a kind of soft coercion dressed up in clinical language, and the people on the receiving end know the difference, even when they can’t name it.
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Why Many Moms Think They Don’t Make Enough Milk
The first few days after birth play a huge role in establishing milk supply. In this article, a postpartum nurse explains why many breastfeeding challenges begin early—and how understanding newborn feeding patterns can help parents feel more confident starting their breastfeeding journey.
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Navigating the New Hepatitis B Vaccine Recommendations: What Parents Should Know
Recent updates to hepatitis B vaccine recommendations for newborns have sparked confusion for many parents. This article breaks down what has and hasn’t changed, explains how hepatitis B is transmitted, and offers practical guidance to help families prepare for informed conversations with their pediatrician before and after birth.
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Formula, Breast Milk, and the Truth Parents Deserve: A Judgment-Free Guide
Formula plays an important and sometimes essential role in infant feeding, but parents also deserve clear, unbiased information, especially as formula marketing becomes more sophisticated. The recent ByHeart recall highlighted why families must understand both the strengths and limitations of all formulas on the market. In this article, we explore the unique biological benefits of breast milk, the realities of formula feeding, and how parents can make informed, confident decisions.
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Your Choices Matter: Using the BRAIN Tool to Advocate for Yourself in Pregnancy and Birth
You always have a voice in your pregnancy and birth. Shared decision-making means your provider brings the medical expertise, and you bring your values, preferences, and lived experience. Using the simple BRAIN tool: Benefits, Risks, Alternatives, Intuition, and Nothing, you can confidently advocate for yourself during critical moments and make informed choices for you and your baby.
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“Unusual” Doesn’t Mean “Unimportant”: Trusting Your Body After Birth
Most postpartum recovery is normal, until it’s not. Here’s why paying attention to your body and advocating for unusual symptoms can make all the difference in your recovery after birth.
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Not Just Titles: The Real Value of Each Provider in Pregnancy and Postpartum Care
When you’re pregnant or navigating postpartum care, you’ll meet many healthcare professionals—OBs, midwives, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, lactation consultants, and pediatricians. Each plays a unique role in keeping you and your baby safe. This post breaks down who’s who on your perinatal care team, what they do, and why teamwork matters more than titles.