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credit: social media graphic created by @dortheafondren

Dorthea Thomas's picture

After recently giving birth to my second baby, I’ve learned that is important to focus on postpartum care in an environmentally conscious way. Not only does this benefit the health of both you and your child, but it also helps to preserve the environment for future generations. It can be difficult to be mindful of our environmental impact when caring for a newborn, but there are many ways that mothers and their visitors can do so.

Firstly, during postpartum care mothers need to be extra vigilant about who visits them in the home. The risk of infection or illness increases with visitors, so limiting visitors is key - but this doesn’t mean you can’t still get support! We started taking advantage of phone calls and video calls to ensure we don't miss out on connecting with our friends and family while keeping environmental risks down.

Postpartum Care
Postpartum care is an important part of ensuring a mother and her child's health and well-being. However, it doesn't have to come at the expense of the environment. With a few simple tips, I’ve learned that I can now keep my children safe and healthy while still being environmentally conscious. 

Eco-friendly Diapering: Cloth vs Disposable
Cloth diapers are reusable and made from natural materials such as cotton or bamboo. As they are reused, they reduce the amount of waste in landfills while saving money over time. However, cloth diapers require thorough washing with safe detergents to ensure the safety of your child’s skin and health. Visitors must also be aware of how to properly handle dirty cloth diapers in order to avoid any contamination.

Natural Cleaning Products: Benefits and Options
Using natural cleaning products can protect a family’s health, both in terms of physical well-being and environmental sustainability. They typically contain fewer harsh chemicals than conventional cleaning solutions, making them a safer choice for not only children but adults too. Furthermore, natural cleaners are biodegradable which reduces strain on the environment when they are disposed of properly.

Reusable Nursing Pads & Clothing
It’s important that we encourage breastfeeding over formula feeding as breast milk is an all-natural product that contains vital nutrients beneficial for both mother and baby. When it comes to postpartum care, breastfeeding is one of the most important aspects for both mother and child. For mothers, breastfeeding can provide a wide range of benefits including helping to return the uterus back to its pre-pregnancy size, reducing stress levels, and promoting a healthy bond with their newborn. It’s also an ideal method for providing nutrition to the baby as breast milk is packed with antibodies that help build up immunity. 

To ensure optimal comfort while breastfeeding, many mothers opt for using reusable nursing pads and clothing. Reusable nursing pads are designed to absorb any leakage from the breast and provide superior protection against dampness or chafing that may occur from wearing wet clothing throughout the day. In addition to providing great comfort for moms, these pads are also environmentally friendly as they’re made from recycled cotton materials; hence eliminating waste from disposable products.

Nontoxic Baby Care Items
Nontoxic baby care items can be found in many forms, from skincare products to laundry detergents, bedding materials, and even toys. When shopping for items to use in a postpartum setting, parents should look for labels indicating that they are non-toxic or chemical-free. Additionally, visitors should consider bringing gifts that are naturally made or organic when visiting new moms and their babies; this will help keep toxins out of the home environment while still providing a meaningful gift.

Organic Meal Choices for Breastfeeding Mothers
When a new mother begins the journey of breastfeeding, she faces many challenges. From physically adapting to her body’s new needs to learning how to successfully nurse her child, it can be a daunting task. To help support mothers in their endeavors, postpartum care includes meal choices that will not only improve the health of both mother and child but also positively benefit the environment. 

Organic meals have become increasingly popular for those looking to improve their health and well-being. Offering organic meals to mothers who are breastfeeding is especially important as it provides essential nutrition for both the mother and infant while minimizing any potential toxins that could be passed through breast milk. Organic food eliminates exposure to synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides which are known pollutants that can harm both humans and animals alike.

Sustainability for Moms & Babies
In conclusion, postpartum care is a critical component of maternal and infant health. It is essential to prioritize the physical and mental well-being of mothers, as well as their babies, after childbirth. The resources available provide invaluable support and guidance during this vulnerable time in their lives. As a society, it is essential that we continue to invest in sustainable postpartum care initiatives, so that all moms and babies can have access to quality healthcare during the postpartum period in an environmentally conscious way. 


The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of MomsRising.org.

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