Interview with a Thriving Postpartum Mom

Here at the Center for Sacred Window Studies, we share voices from many perspectives and backgrounds. We believe that the sacred weeks post birth, and the experience of humanity is experienced in countless ways. We learn by listening to one another and honoring our stories. The views and opinions of our writers do not necessarily reflect the mission, viewpoints or opinions of the Center for Sacred Window Studies.

by Christine Eck | Conscious Postpartum Caregiving, Mama Stories, Postpartum Planning & Self-Care

Ashlee did some wise planning before her baby was born and learned some valuable lessons from her beautiful cesarean birth.  This postpartum interview with her can teach us about some key factors in her strong recovery.

Clearly, moms and families need more support after a baby is born than is provided as a standard professionally and socially in our culture.  But ancient cultures from every continent include well rounded support traditions for new moms and babies. Today there is a grassroots traditional movement growing to help instill some simple yet powerful aspects of support for new mothers including:  

-Family and community support and organization

-Nutrition specific to mothers needs

-Massage and body therapies to support postpartum healing

-Recognition that this is a vulnerable and significant time

Women are often well prepared for childbirth, and ill prepared for postpartum.  As a modern day society we are beginning to understand this in a clearer way and to problem solve.  Ancient cultures around the globe have long standing traditions that covered the above support structures.  Some of these traditions live on to the benefit of daughters and granddaughters who receive the care. In many places traditions have gone by the wayside as modern medicine has taken over as the dominant model of care.  

There are countless stories of hardship postpartum, and statistics remind us that women and families struggle from little support, limitations in modern medical structures, lack of knowledge and ill planning.  However, there are a growing number of stories out there of postpartum women thriving, and receiving family and community support in a way that is truly beneficial.

This is one of those stories.  

My name is Christine Eck, and I have the privilege of working with Ashlee Wilkin as part of The Center for Sacred Window Studies.  Ashlee has served mothers for several years as an Ayurvedic Practitioner, a birth and postpartum doula and a massage therapist. When she became pregnant with her own baby, she knew a thing or two about how to plan for postpartum.  

Ashlee’s planned home birth was unable to happen.  She had a beautiful cesarean birth in the hospital, and shares her story of birth and postpartum in this interview with me.  I was particularly interested in how she gathered her community around her to help out in a truly supportive way during her postpartum window.  I also asked her to talk about her cesarean birth recovery, and how this is different, and needs extra specific supports different from a vaginal birth.  

Ashlee’s story is truly beautiful.  Listening to it can help us learn what effective support and recovery can be.  

Thank you Ashlee for your time and your wisdom!  

Video Interview with Ashlee Wilkin by Christine Devlin Eck

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