How can you establish good habits right from the start, as soon as you become pregnant and/or when your baby is born?

During pregnancy, we're closely monitored medically, but when it comes to our emotions and feelings, we're left with nothing. And yet we need to feel supported and accompanied, by a caring presence who asks us "and if not, how are you? A good habit to adopt would be to put into words what you're feeling, and to identify what resources you have, what you don't want to let go of, and what deserves time spent on it, such as walking, sleeping, painting or going for a run, or setting aside time for the two of you to continue talking as a couple... It's up to each of us, but it's essential because our identity is called into question when a child arrives. We always need to refocus, to know who we are. Once again, this is what we want to offer women in the My Louves experience: a caring place, a "safe place" where moms can exchange ideas in talking circles and Live with people trained to listen to expectant and new mothers.

 

Why is it important not to forget yourself when you become a mother?

Whether it's the first or the third time, the arrival of a child demands so much of our time and energy, and we're so eager to do well, that we naturally put ourselves in the background. It's obvious that we forget ourselves a little when we become mothers, but it's always better to keep a place for ourselves. Our well-being is reflected in the way we welcome our child and deal with the more complicated moments: fatigue, crying, the body after childbirth... For us, it's a state of mind to have right from the moment of pregnancy: finding pleasure, listening to ourselves, communicating as a couple about what we're experiencing, staying in tune with what we're feeling, preparing without losing ourselves. It's this concern for women's well-being that has guided the entire My Louves project: a program that encourages women to listen to themselves during pregnancy and the post-partum period.

How do you think about yourself when you're alone or have no help?

This is all too often the case in the post-partum period, because the second parent's leave, even if extended, only lasts 25 days, and all the more so if you're a single mother. And yet, when you become a mother, you ask yourself a thousand questions about yourself and your baby, and you need to be surrounded. We asked psychologists about this, and they were reassuring: if you're a single parent, you can find the resources to cope, to be listened to and supported, in someone you trust. A midwife, a friend, a sister, a brother, a PMI carer - you can also turn to competent people. In the My Louvesprogram, we put our members in touch with psychologists specialized in maternology, consultants with degrees in perinatal psychology, nursery nurses or breastfeeding consultants, and even coaches to provide concrete tools for personal development and organization. All these fairy godmothers are invaluable in enabling young mothers to trust each other and find their own way of doing things, without forgetting themselves...

Find out more about My Louvespregnancy and post-partum, 12-month or 6-month subscription.

Thanks to Marine for these valuable tips!

The Charlie Crane team