Support during pregnancy and postpartum

Support during pregnancy and the postpartum period, therapy for your well-being, is at the heart of our mission at Hello Soins. As a doula, I support young and expectant parents through conscious childbirth, whatever their background or sexual orientation.

Our premium platform notably offers comprehensive birth support, covering all stages of perinatal care, from preconception until the child is two years old. Indeed, this crucial period requires appropriate follow-up, as evidenced by the mandatory postnatal consultation between 6 and 8 weeks after delivery, fully covered by Health Insurance. In the months following birth, hormones can significantly affect a mother’s mood, alternating between laughter and tears, hence the importance of compassionate support.

Through this article, we explore the different dimensions of support during pregnancy and the postpartum period, as well as the gentle therapies that promote your well-being during this profound transformation.

Understanding needs during pregnancy and the postpartum period

The pregnancy and postpartum period represents a transformative journey that upheaves both body and mind. This metamorphosis requires special attention and appropriate support to calmly get through these intense moments.

Physical and emotional changes

During pregnancy, a woman’s body undergoes considerable changes. The uterus gradually enlarges, reaching the level of the navel at 20 weeks and the lower edge of the rib cage at 36 weeks. Blood volume increases by nearly 50%, and cardiac output rises by 30 to 50%. These physiological changes are often accompanied by fatigue, particularly pronounced during the first 14 weeks.

On an emotional level, hormonal fluctuations cause mood changes that can be surprising. Expectant mothers oscillate between joy, worry, denial, excitement, and sometimes sadness. These emotions are normal and part of the adjustment process. However, around one in ten women will suffer from depression during pregnancy, requiring professional support.

The specific needs of each trimester

In the first trimester, morning sickness affects many women, to varying degrees of intensity and at any time of day. Fatigue is also predominant, requiring more rest than usual. Frequent urination becomes common due to hormonal changes.

The second trimester generally brings relief from nausea for 85% of women, but other challenges arise: nasal congestion, constipation, back pain, and sometimes stretch marks. It is also a period when the bond with the baby strengthens.

The third trimester is marked by increased fatigue and more pronounced discomfort: skin itching, heartburn, and Braxton Hicks contractions. The latter prepare the uterus for childbirth by softening and thinning the cervix.

The role of the fourth trimester

The "fourth trimester" refers to the 12 weeks following birth, a critical period for both mother and baby. Traditionally overlooked, this phase is nonetheless fundamental to long-term health. The mother’s body continues to recover while the woman adapts to hormonal changes and learns to care for her newborn.

This period presents unique challenges: lack of sleep, fatigue, pain, breastfeeding difficulties, stress, and sometimes mental health issues. "Baby blues" affect the majority of new mothers within the first 2 to 3 days, but generally disappear within a few weeks. By contrast, postpartum depression, which affects one in eight women, is more severe and persistent.

At Hello Soins, our alternative medicine practitioners offer personalized support throughout these four trimesters, addressing the specific needs of each stage with gentle therapies tailored to your well-being.

The different types of support available

To move through the perinatal period with peace of mind, it is essential to surround yourself with the right support people. Each type of support responds to specific needs and complements the other forms of care to ensure your overall well-being.

Medical follow-up: midwife, gynecologist

Medical follow-up forms the basis of pregnancy support. The midwife plays a central role, providing monthly consultations, childbirth preparation, and postnatal follow-up. She can prescribe tests, perform ultrasounds, and even deliver babies in physiologic pregnancies.

The obstetrician-gynecologist is particularly involved in pathological or high-risk pregnancies. These two professionals often work in complementarity to ensure optimal monitoring of your health and that of your baby.

Birth support by a doula

The doula provides non-medical but essential support during pregnancy and childbirth. Unlike medical professionals, she focuses exclusively on the emotional well-being of the mother-to-be and the couple. Her main role is to provide a reassuring presence, inform about available options, and facilitate communication with the medical team.

At Hello Soins, we connect expectant parents with experienced doulas who support them throughout their journey, especially during childbirth. Our premium platform makes booking appointments easier and allows personalized follow-up through our exclusive chat service.

Psychological support and gentle therapies

Beyond standard medical follow-up, gentle therapies provide a valuable complement. Sophrology helps manage anxieties related to pregnancy and childbirth through adapted relaxation techniques. Naturopathy offers natural approaches to relieve pregnancy discomforts and promote postpartum recovery.

Other practices such as perinatal hypnosis, reflexology, or acupuncture can also contribute to your balance during this period of transformation. Our alternative medicine practitioners are available on our platform to support you with privileged time slots and personalized follow-up.

These different support approaches are not mutually exclusive — quite the opposite. A holistic approach, combining rigorous medical follow-up and caring complementary methods, offers the best conditions for fully experiencing this transformative journey.

Care and therapies for the mother’s well-being

During the perinatal period, several therapeutic treatments can considerably improve your experience. At Hello Soins, we make access to these essential practices easier.

Prenatal and postnatal massage

Postnatal massage is an effective holistic approach to adapting to motherhood. It regulates hormones, reduces swelling, and improves sleep. Studies show that it lowers cortisol while increasing prolactin, thereby promoting lactation. Some women prefer a light massage while others opt for deeper techniques.

Sensorial bath ritual for baby

This ritual offers valuable multisensory stimulation through skin-to-skin contact, direct eye contact, and recognition of familiar scents. Research shows that babies who receive a scented bath cry less and sleep more deeply. This privileged moment also strengthens the parent-child bond.

Rebozo care and pelvic tightening

Originating in Mexico, the Rebozo uses a woven shawl to massage the pelvis. This ancestral technique encourages fetal rotation, optimizes positioning, and provides comfort. It relaxes the uterine ligaments and relieves tension, particularly beneficial during the postpartum period for pelvic "tightening."

Sophrology or naturopathy sessions

Sophrology, through specific breathing and visualization exercises, helps release negative emotions and pain. It prepares you for a peaceful birth. Naturopathy, for its part, offers natural approaches to relieve pregnancy discomforts and promote postpartum recovery.

In addition, our premium practitioners support you with privileged time slots and personalized follow-up via our exclusive chat service.

Involving the partner and those around you

The success of pregnancy and postpartum support also depends on the involvement of your close circle. Those around you play a complementary role to professional care for comprehensive support.

The role of the co-parent in emotional support

The co-parent is an essential pillar during this transformative period. Their active presence at medical appointments and childbirth preparation sessions reinforces the expectant mother’s sense of security. In practice, this means:

• Listening actively without trying to solve every problem

• Recognizing and validating expressed emotions

• Sharing practical tasks fairly

• Learning about the stages of pregnancy and postpartum

Moreover, co-parents who get involved from pregnancy onward generally develop a stronger bond with their baby.

Creating a peaceful environment at home

Domestic harmony directly influences your well-being during pregnancy and after childbirth. This involves arranging a space adapted to your changing needs. Reduce sources of stress by organizing your home before the baby arrives.

Indeed, planning dedicated areas for rest and newborn care makes postpartum daily life much easier. Also consider preparing meals in advance and simplifying your daily routines.

When and how to ask for help

Asking for support is not a sign of weakness but of wisdom. Learn to recognize warning signs: extreme fatigue, persistent irritability, or feelings of isolation.

To ask for help effectively, make specific rather than general requests. For example, "could you prepare dinner on Thursday?" will be more effective than "I need help."

Finally, at Hello Soins, our premium practitioners can direct you to appropriate community resources and offer specific sessions to help you manage this new family dynamic.

Conclusion

The pregnancy and postpartum period is undoubtedly one of the deepest transformations in a woman’s life and that of her family. Thus, we see the crucial importance of holistic support that meets physical, emotional, and psychological needs during these intense moments. The different forms of support — medical, emotional, and therapeutic — work together to create a complete safety net around the mother-to-be.

Certainly, gentle therapies such as sophrology, naturopathy, or prenatal and postnatal massages offer valuable complements to traditional medical follow-up. These approaches not only relieve physical discomfort but also make it possible to move calmly through the emotional upheavals specific to this period.

Moreover, the active involvement of the partner and those around you proves fundamental in creating an environment conducive to the well-being of the mother and newborn. Emotional support, practical help, and a caring presence are essential elements of this shared adventure.

At Hello Soins, our mission is precisely to facilitate this comprehensive care. Our premium platform connects expectant and new parents with qualified alternative medicine practitioners who support them throughout their perinatal journey. Thanks to our services, practitioners benefit from greater visibility and effective tools for managing their appointments, while patients enjoy privileged time slots and personalized follow-up via our exclusive chat.

Ultimately, fully experiencing motherhood requires surrounding yourself with the right people and taking care of yourself. The complementary approaches we offer adapt to each stage of your journey, from the desire to have a child to your baby’s first steps. Your well-being and that of your family remain at the heart of our concerns, because we deeply believe that every birth deserves to be experienced in the best possible conditions.