Chloe Dorlikar
Chloé is mother of Arte, founder of @energyenergyclub, a Trainer, Yoga Teacher and Fashion Consultant who helps women recalibrate through movement, meditation and creativity.
“MY PERSPECTIVE ON SHARING YOUR TRUTH:
This was something that made me feel less alone. My mental health was very poor at this time and it was some great friends who’d gone through it that helped me, made me feel less crazy and provided some much needed reassurance”
HOW WAS YOUR POSTPARTUM EXPERIENCE?
Right now that time feels like such a blur. Before I had my son I was so nervous about knowing what to do. I’d never even held a newborn so even that was a challenge. Surprisingly though, the ‘not knowing’ feeling wasn’t really there. It’s so strange because I’ve never been into kids really, so hadn’t had much experience with them but something just took over. At that time, I can’t label how I felt as such but I just knew what to do, I could read him. However, there was lots of googling, tears, exhaustion and feelings of depletion. I remember when my husband had my son and I went for a walk on my own and ended up sitting on a bench in the middle of a common, crying and having a terrible panic attack. I couldn’t place how I felt but I honestly thought, what is my life now, as everything felt so alien. It’s such a huge life transition and everything I knew felt so distant. I was 2 weeks early too, so I’d finished work on the Thursday and my waters released on the Friday so it all felt like a shock to the system! When they say ‘nothing can prepare you’ they are definitely not wrong! A game changer for me was making sure I went for a walk everyday. I have a dog and it was so refreshing to get out.
WHAT DID YOU FIND MOST CHALLENGING?
The most challenging thing for me was accepting this new life that felt really tough and unfamiliar. Having a baby is a monumental change. It’s like you’ve started life at square one which is freeing in a way but also, all of your life pre- baby is like a door that has been closed. I didn’t realise how exhausting it would be and how much you’d need to give yourself to something so small. It can feel relentless at times and I’d wish everyday I could just get out at the time I wanted and not feel so awful, like I was constantly jet lagged or something.
HOW DID YOU PREPARE FOR YOUR POSTPARTUM?
If I’m honest, I didn’t really. The preparation was packing my hospital bag and making sure I had what I needed for the baby. I was the healthiest I’d been when I was pregnant and we had 1-1 hypnobirthing which was amazing. However, no one had ever told me what it’s like postpartum so I didn’t know what to expect and therefore didn’t prepare anything.
IF YOU WERE TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY, WHAT LESSONS DID YOU TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE?
If I was to do it all again, the main thing I’d prioritise is food and drink. I’d cook food to freeze or get some healthy food delivered. I barely ate anything because I didn’t have time (never thought I’d say this!) but it’s hard to prep food when the baby is so young and reliant on you. My body gave so much (and still does) it had just been through a huuuuge physical process yet I didn’t nourish myself enough.
WHAT ARE YOUR 3 TOP TIPS THAT YOU WOULD PASS ON TO MOSTERS SOON TO BE POSTPARTUM?
trust yourself
eat lots of nourishing food and drink
get outside even for 5 mins for fresh air