15 Reasons Why I Swear I Had Amazing & Stable Postpartum Experiences
Postpartum
15 Reasons Why I Swear I Had Amazing & Stable Postpartum Experiences
here’s what worked for Carly twice!
Carly here!! (the middle Beyar sister) Before I get into this, a very real and very important disclaimer: By no means am I perfect, and postpartum is not all sunshine and rainbows. It has its struggles, body image wobbles, tired tears, and emotional ups and downs. Every postpartum experience is bio-individual and shaped by so many things: circumstances, resources, health, support systems, access to care, and genetics. This is simply my experience, and what supported me. It’s shaped by years of prioritizing body literacy, menstrual and hormone health, and living an 80/20 lifestyle. Take what resonates. Leave what doesn’t.
Here we go!!
1. I trained for postpartum before I was ever postpartum
Four months before TTC with my first, and throughout pregnancy, I intentionally worked on my foundations of health so I could feel steady, nourished, and strong through every phase. Starting pregnancy depleted can make postpartum feel even more depleting and much harder to recover from. Prepping ahead of time made my transition feel steadier and more supported. And this is so common, especially if you’re having consecutive babies who don’t sleep, and your body never gets a real chance to replenish. You’re constantly playing catch-up. I wanted to break that cycle as much as I could.
2. My cycle was predictable and supported before pregnancy
Before getting pregnant, my periods were steady, ovulatory, and PMS-free. That was my biggest sign that my body felt safe and nourished going into pregnancy. Research shows that a history of PMS before pregnancy is associated with higher odds of depressive symptoms during pregnancy and postpartum. That matters. This is why we will never shut up about cycle health. Getting your menstrual cycle supported before conceiving is one of the most underrated ways to reduce risk factors for postpartum anxiety and depression.
Ten out of ten recommend. Truly.
(And yes, our Cycle Strategy Phase Guide™ is coming soon.)
3. I continued taking my prenatal postpartum
It dawned on me recently that I never stopped taking my core supplements: a prenatal, omega-3s, and magnesium. I took them through TTC, pregnancy, and postpartum. Replenishment didn’t magically stop once the baby arrived. I swear this supported my recovery, nutrient stores, mood, and overall stability in a huge way. Postpartum is not the time to pull support away from your body.
4. I did the inner work before becoming a mom (and still do)
I worked with an energy healer and therapist before starting a family, and I continue to do that work now. All three of us sisters do. Untangling old patterns, grief, expectations, and identity shifts around motherhood mattered just as much as supplements or workouts. Doing the shadow work helped ensure I wasn’t unconsciously passing my baggage onto my kids. It didn’t just benefit my nervous system or my body. It completely changed how I see life.
5. I wore the crap out of my baby
Baby carriers were non-negotiable for me. That closeness and skin-to-skin time matters so much. My heartbeat, smell, and warmth helped regulate both of our nervous systems, breathing, and stress responses, while boosting oxytocin for both of us.
And selfishly it gave me my hands back.
6. I stayed active with the golden combo: strength training & walking
I focused on strength training and walking, with intentional attention to pelvic floor health, both relaxing and strengthening. Movement kept me grounded in my body without pushing it into depletion. It reminded me that I was still strong, capable, and connected to myself, not just existing in survival mode.
7. Breastfeeding supported my mental and emotional health
Breastfeeding has many layers, and everyone’s experience is different. For me, it boosts oxytocin, makes me feel genuinely happy, and creates a deep sense of connection with my baby. I also hired a lactation consultant before my baby was born and had follow-up support as I settled in. That confidence and access to help made a massive difference.
8. My breastfed baby takes a bottle
This changed everything logistically. My first baby didn’t take a bottle, so I know the mental load of feeling stuck at home, constantly watching the clock, and carrying that anxiety everywhere. This time, my younger daughter takes a bottle. And honestly? LFGGG. That freedom alone supported my mental health more than I expected.
9. I didn’t have to live on a pump schedule
I didn’t have to excessively pump, clean bottles nonstop, or maintain a massive freezer stash. From what I’ve heard, that can feel like a full-time job for both parents, and my heart goes out to anyone navigating that. Since I work from home, I keep about two to three bottles’ worth of milk frozen for flexibility. Not needing to manage all of that removed an enormous layer of stress, planning, and pressure from my days.
10. I have a real hype team (and venting team)
I’m surrounded by support: my husband, my mom, my mother-in-law, my sisters, our nanny, and a hired care team including pelvic floor PT, chiropractic care, lactation support, and doulas. I never feel like I’m doing this alone. I also have sisters and friends in the same season of life who let me vent, laugh, cry, spiral, and process out loud. Voice notes, memes, advice, shared stories. Being able to say “this is hard” without fixing it immediately is everything.
11. I trust my motherly intuition
Becoming a mom reconnected me to my intuition in ways I didn’t expect. I didn’t need an app timer to know if my baby had enough to eat. I knew co-sleeping was the right choice for us. I felt clear hard yeses and hard nos around sleep, childcare, and decision-making almost instantly. Motherhood sharpened my inner knowing instead of dulling it. I’m currently taking the same medical intuitive certification Alaina took a few years ago so we can intentionally weave intuition into our upcoming Phase Guides™ and give women real tools to strengthen their own inner voice in 2026. I’m very excited about this.
12. I co-sleep with my baby
Despite the fear-mongering, co-sleeping has felt incredibly right for our family with both of my girls. It’s not for everyone, and that’s okay. For my babies’ temperaments and needs, closeness meant more sleep, easier feeds, and calmer nervous systems for everyone involved. I’ve genuinely slept more this way, and the oxytocin from snuggling is unmatched. At 10 months postpartum, I’m starting to feel ready to slowly transition away from co-sleeping as I wean from breastfeeding. Phases change, and we adjust with them.
13. I’m team floor bed
As a co-sleeping family, floor beds supported my postpartum experience in ways I didn’t expect. Once my baby was rolling and crawling, a floor bed with railings meant better sleep, less anxiety, and more freedom for me. No stressful crib transitions. One less thing for my postpartum brain to carry. It created ease where I didn’t even know I needed it.
14. I don’t stress about milestones or timelines
Second-child energy is real. I don’t obsess over milestones or compare my kids to others. Maybe I’m too busy to spiral, but truly, they move at their own pace. I guide, set boundaries, and support while staying flexible. When I honor readiness instead of forcing timelines, everything flows better. And I’m way less stressed. My toddler potty trained quickly because I waited until she was clearly ready. She dropped the pacifier almost overnight after I was convinced it would never happen. Kids will surprise you when they feel safe and supported.
15. I brought creativity back into my life
Drawing. Music. Pinterest dreaming. Cooking and baking from scratch. Reading one page at a time. Flipping through interior design books and turning inspiration into DIY projects. Learning new things. Making things with my hands. Letting ideas wander. Creativity regulated my nervous system, reminded me who I am beyond “mom,” and brought real joy back into my days. One of my favorite parts of having kids is how they pull me back into wonder. Imaginary play, arts and crafts, holiday magic, making cookies just because. Seeing the world through their eyes feels like a daily invitation to stay curious, playful, and present.
It’s deeply healing.
— Carly
Final Thoughts
No one’s life is perfect. But I will stand on this hill and say my postpartum experience has been stable, grounded, and overall amazing because of these choices!!! It didn’t all happen effortlessly. It required intentional planning, communication, inner work, physical effort, habit changes, and investment. But by the beard of Zeus, it was worth it.
It’s all just a phase. And we’re in it together.
What has helped you thrive in your postpartum phase, or what are you navigating right now?
(And yes… GET EXCITED because we are creating the ultimate Postpartum Phase Guide for you this year!!)
pick your phase
