A dear friend of mine is pregnant and was sharing how anxious the registry is making her. Do you remember those days? Funny how not stressful it seems when you’re on the other side but nesting is a thing y’all. We worry about what we will and won’t have for baby and about what baby will need or not need.
The Registry Alternative
I told her not to stress about the things she should buy and acquire but instead focus on supportive services. The truth is there is very little that you NEED after baby comes though there are lots of nice to haves. Baby needs you, a food source, and a warm blanket and that’s pretty much the essentials. What you NEED are services that will help you heal physically, emotionally, and mentally. We used babylist for our registry, which I loved because it didn’t limit us to one store. Another great company I’ve since learned about is Babycito, where you can request those services as gifts.
We don’t have the benefit of having a nurse check on us for a year after baby comes like they do in Canada or covered physical therapy to help our pelvic floor recover like they do in France. We also don’t have the luxury of having mom and baby massaged and bathed for months after birth like they do in India or a Golden Sitting month like they do in China, where you recover. After baby arrives, we’re on our own to figure it out or suffer.
There is so much time, money, and energy spent on things you’ll need as opposed to what services you’ll need to have success for you and your baby. An entire billion-dollar industry was built around it.
My Dream Team
My dream team is who I call upon to help maintain health for me and my family to this day. It includes an acupuncturist, a reiki master, essential oils experts, a sleep coach, and a postpartum nutrition and fitness expert. For a new mom, I would add a lactation consultant, a chiropractor, a postpartum Douala, belly binding practitioner, and, of course, an infant massage instructor. These folks will help realign your body, set you up for breastfeeding success, and help you address the sleep, gas/colic, congestion, needs of your baby without unnecessary medication, doctor visits or hospitalizations. This will save you time, money, heartache, and even future surgeries.
Mama, start putting together your dream team. Think of it as insurance for your family.
I interviewed these experts in the baby massage digital course, and they have great gems to share for every family. It’s what makes this course truly one of a kind!
Update: Your dream team can change as the needs of your family evolve and your babies get older. We now add chiropractors, craniosacral specialists, and energy healer/medical intuitive to this list.
