Welcoming A Baby in Spring; a Slow Unfolding

Spring is here—the days are getting longer, the flowers are blooming, and there's a gentle nudge in the air to move, do, bloom.
And yet… you're in the newborn bubble.

Tender. Tired. Raw. Deep in the sacred cocoon of postpartum.

If you're feeling pulled between the outward energy of the season and the inward need for healing and bonding, you're not alone. This season of your life doesn’t have to fight against spring's energy—it can blend with it, if you approach it with care, intention, and grace.

Let’s talk about how to honor your body and bond with your baby, while gently attuning to the light and life that spring brings.

🌱 1. Redefine What “Movement” Means

It's natural to crave movement as the sun stretches higher in the sky. But movement in postpartum doesn’t have to mean long walks, workouts, or productivity. As your body is still healing and all of your energy is going towards sustaining your newborn, you should think: gentle, nourishing and life giving.

• Slow stretches in bed or yoga mat with baby nearby

• A barefoot step onto the porch to feel the sun on your face and the grounding earth beneath you

• Swaying with your baby in your arms, dancing slowly to your favorite song

• Breathing deeply as you open the windows and invite in fresh air

Let your movement support your healing—not rush it.

🕊️ 2. Practice “Soft Productivity”

There’s a difference between getting things done and getting things right for this season. Your brain might be stirring with ideas, projects, or home organization dreams—thanks, spring energy! But postpartum is about rhythms, not checklists. It’s a sacred time that should be cherished and honored as a slow transition.

Try this:

• Write down the ideas or tasks that are bubbling up. Give them a home on paper so you don’t feel pressure to act now.

• Choose one soft thing to focus on each day—like learning to baby-wear, nourishing your newborn, preparing a healing tea, reading a book to your toddler or folding baby’s clothes with intention.

• Celebrate rest as a form of productivity. You're healing, your sustaining life and your navigating a whole new relationship.

• Outsource help from a friend, family member or postpartum doula to ease the need for productivity and checklists to be completed. 

🌸 3. Create a Seasonal Nest

Even as the earth wakes up, your space can remain womb-like. You don’t need to be out in the world to enjoy spring—you can bring the outside in.

• Open the windows for a breeze and birdsong

• Place fresh flowers or budding branches by your nursing station or bedside

• Use light, floral essential oils (lavender, rose, neroli) or herbal tinctures to uplift your mood

• Cocoon yourself with comforting belly binding using a soft, lightweight muslin fabric

It’s amazing how a few seasonal shifts can refresh your spirit without overexerting your body.

🌼 4. Make Nourishment Your Rhythm

Postpartum bodies need grounding, warm, nutrient-dense foods—but spring often makes us crave lighter meals. You can honor both!

• Sip on seasonal broths infused with spring greens

• Eat a nourishing, but light meal such as creamy spring salmon

• Enjoy warm teas with hints of lemon balm, chamomile, or nettles for energy and calm

• Have your doula batch-prep soothing snacks like oat bites, chia pudding with stewed fruit, or soft boiled eggs with herbs

Eating slowly, mindfully, and with deep gratitude is a beautiful form of springtime nourishment in itself.

🌞 5. Soak in the Sun—on Your Terms

That sun? She’s calling you. And you can answer without overextending yourself. Sunlight can support mood, hormone balance, and even milk supply—so it’s a postpartum superpower.

• Sit in the sunshine by a window while you feed your baby

• Lie on a blanket in the backyard for 10 minutes with your feet on the earth

• Step outside with your baby wrapped close in a woven wrap and breathe in the spring air

You don’t have to go far to feel refreshed and renewed. Presence is everything.

🌙 6. Honor Your Inner Season

While spring is blossoming outside, postpartum is still your winter. Your body, heart, and hormones are still moving slowly. Still integrating. Still bleeding, shifting, weeping, becoming.

It’s okay to feel at odds with the world’s pace. It’s okay to go slow, even when everything is blooming fast.
Let others bloom. You? You're rooting.

Let your roots get strong and deep. The blossoming will come.

You Are Exactly Where You Need to Be

So give yourself permission to nest a little longer.
To sip your tea slowly.
To watch the cherry blossoms from the warmth of your window.
To be with your baby in all the sacred stillness this season offers.

You are not behind. You are exactly on time.

Looking for ways to design your own slow postpartum plan? Let’s chat about simple routines, rituals, or seasonal support ideas that match where you are. You're not meant to do this alone. 💛

Questions to Ask Your Placenta Specialist

So you're on the fence about placenta encapsulation. To help get your questions answered, we've compiled a list of our most common questions about placenta preparation and consumption as well as offered our recommendations on what to look for when hiring a placenta specialist or encapsulator.

1. What methods of preparation do you offer?

Many placenta specialists not only offer placenta benefits in pill form, but in the form of tinctures and salves, smoothies, as well as keepsakes if desired. Encapsulation is the most popular request and involves placing dried placenta powder in gelatin or vegan capsules. Tinctures offer a longer term use of your placenta in liquid form. Salves include dried placenta powder mixed with the healing properties of beeswax and oil to use for skin conditions for mom & baby. 

The basis of most placenta preparation methods is TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) inspired, which involves steaming and dehydrating the placenta prior to consumption. You can also opt for the raw method which eliminates the steaming and goes straight from rinsing/cleaning the placenta to dehydrating. It is believed by some that steaming discourages bacteria growth, while others believe that steaming destroys nutrients. We recommend researching and speaking with a certified placenta professional to find the best option for you.

2. What are the benefits I can expect?

Our clients attest to the many benefits of using their placenta capsules and tincture to support their body and mind during postpartum recovery. Clients report mood & hormone balancing, help with boosting their milk supply, decrease in the amount of postpartum bleeding they experience, and increased energy. As every body and every person is different, each experience may vary, but these are the most common. 

3. Where did you complete your training and what does your training entail?

In our experience, in-person trainings offer the most comprehensive option available while effectively teaching the highest safety standards. In addition to having a professional training, it is recommended that all placenta specialists or encapsulators are fully certified to uphold blood borne pathogen standards as set forth by OSHA as well as certified Food Handlers. All trainings and certifications should be kept up-to-date to ensure the safest handling and preparation of your placenta. 

4. What are your sanitation and safety protocols?

The safest placenta encapsulation includes up-to-date Bloodborne Pathogens Certification which as we already mentioned.

When it comes to sanitization the only acceptable method is soaking in bleach solution or commercial sanitizer. All other methods are inferior. Equipment should be monitored for normal wear and tear and replaced as needed. Following processing each placenta, your specialist should soak all re-useable equipment in a bleach solution as set forth by OSHA to adequately kill all bacteria and prevent cross contamination. We recommend that all placenta specialists wear personal protective equipment including a mask, plastic apron, gloves, and a hair covering. 

5. How do you ensure that I'm receiving my placenta and not someone elses?

This is the beauty of opting for in-home encapsulation. By transporting your own placenta and witnessing the process in your own home, there will be no doubt. For those that choose to have their placentas processed in their specialists home, rest assured that we only process one placenta at time. Your specialist confirms that your placenta is properly labeled prior to receiving your it from the hospital and keeps everything labeled throughout the entire process. 

6. Do you have a contract?

This is essential for any professional placenta encapsulator. At Doulas of Orange County, our services are always contracted. A contract should state your responsibilities as the client (such as ensuring proper storage at the hospital) as well as the encapsulator’s responsibilities. Reviewing the contract prior to hiring is always an option!

Your placenta and postpartum deserve the best support offered. We encourage you to take the time to discuss relevant policies with placenta encapsulators and asking the hard questions. If you would like our personal recommendations for placenta professionals in the Orange County and Long Beach areas, please reach out to us!