Julia Quinn

Originally from Australia, now in Essex I am a registered nurse and nutritional consultant for postpartum and baby nutrition. Very passionate about supporting mothers and holistic wellness.

Find Julia: @Jqplus

HOW WAS YOUR POSTPARTUM EXPERIENCE?

After a very quick second birth (we’re talking one hour unplanned free birth at home), I endured tail bone pain which kept me horizontal for about 4 weeks. I had to surrender to true rest and fill my days and nights to breast feeding and getting to bond with my second daughter. My husband and mother in law helped with taking my toddler out during the day and cooking me nourishing healing foods like soft meat stews and delicious seasonal crumbles.

WHAT DID YOU FIND MOST CHALLENGING?

I found surrendering to rest and sitting back letting the housework be left to my husband most challenging. I also was overwhelmed now being a mother of two and juggling this with healing from my swift birth.

HOW DID YOU PREPARE FOR YOUR POSTPARTUM?

I made some nourishing foods ahead of the birth including stews and easily digestible soups. I also booked in a consultation with a pelvic floor physio at about six weeks but also visited her two weeks postpartum due to my lower back pain and fast birth.

IF YOU WERE TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN IS THERE ANYTHIN YOU WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY, WHAT LESSONS DID YO UTAKE AWAY FROM YOUR PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE?

I would be more prepared to acknowledge the challenges of mothering two rather than ignore this. Perhaps talking to more second time mothers and learn from their experiences and how to deal with the overwhelm.

“FEELING OVERWHELMED”

Talk to your support network like your partner, mother, other mother friends about your overwhelm. A problem shared is a problem halved and it can feel much lighter when you get it out of your mind and either voiced to people you trust or brain dumped onto pen and paper. Also getting out of your mind through gentle movement and connecting to your body can be so uplifting and provide clarity”.”
— Julia Quinn

WHAT ARE YOUR TOP TIPS THAT YOU WOULD PASS ON TO MOTHERS SOON TO BE POSTPARTUM?

  1. Invest in a pelvic floor physio- they can teach us so much and really help to connect us to our bodies.

  2. Advocate for yourself at your GP 6 week appointment to have bloods that can identify any deficiencies in important nutrients and minerals such as iron, vitamin D and hormones like thyroid which play a crucial part in our healing and vitality.