Postpartum Reflections with Kira West: Support, Recovery, and the Reality of Early Motherhood
Introduction
The postpartum period is often described as a blur — a stretch of days and nights that bend together as you learn your baby, your body, and a new version of yourself. For some, it is a chapter full of softness and discovery; for others, it’s marked by exhaustion, identity shifts, or unexpected challenges.
For most parents, however, postpartum is all of these things at once.
In this final chapter of our series with Kira West, she opens up about early motherhood with honesty, humour, and grace — sharing what surprised her, what helped her, and how she’s redefining wellness in this season of life.
What surprised you most about the postpartum period?
For Kira, the greatest surprises came from places she didn’t expect.
Support — especially from her husband — became a defining part of her early weeks.
“My husband snapped into action the moment our son was born — who knew he could cook?”
She discovered the importance of her postpartum plan, even more than her birth plan. Having people lined up to help and knowing her own preferences made everything feel more manageable.
She also found unexpected pride and softness about her postpartum body:
“I look super different — fluffier, even — but I’m so proud that I made a human.”
Small rituals became anchors:
- a daily shower as the only moment her body felt entirely her own,
- the realisation that she could do more than she expected with one free hand,
- and the sheer emotional comfort of friends who had already walked this path.
And one of the biggest lessons?
“What’s hard isn’t the baby — it’s the scheduling, the sleep deprivation, and how quickly everything changes.”
Adjusting to life with a newborn
The transition into parenthood is beautifully complex — a mixture of instinct and learning curve.
Kira describes the early weeks as a time when days feel long, but weeks fly by.
Clear communication with her partner set the tone for shared responsibility, and being upfront about her needs made the experience feel more supported.
The first two weeks were particularly intense:
“I was exhausted from birth and everything was new. It’s so easy for everyone to feel overwhelmed.”
Breastfeeding required patience — a skill that is hard to summon on almost no sleep — but each week brought new rhythms and new confidence:
The support systems that made a difference
Some support showed up in expected places; some she intentionally invested in.
A lactation consultant — Geraldine Miskin — made an enormous difference early on.
“Everything is so individual. I did a 1:1 session on day 3 and it was worth every penny.”
She also worked with a private midwife when needed, and found community through The Bump Class, alongside friends who were already parents.
And then there’s the reality so many new mothers face:
“Everyone wants a village — and sometimes you have to pay for it.”
Advice she’d give early-pregnancy self
The message is simple:
Slow down. Don’t rush the process.
There is no finish line in pregnancy or postpartum — only a series of transitions.
Redefining wellness in the postpartum phase
In this season, wellness becomes softer, smaller, more personal.
Instead of grand plans or elaborate routines, Kira has learned to focus on micro-moments:
- a shower,
- a short dog walk,
- a face mask,
- a few minutes of quiet.
These tiny moments aren’t trivial — they’re foundational.
Birth: what preparation helped — and what surprised her
Although her birth didn’t follow the exact plan she imagined, preparation still mattered:
“It’s important to be educated and have an idea of how you want things to go.”
Her birth at St Thomas’ included an epidural, an episiotomy, and a two-day stay — but she describes it as a deeply positive experience, filled with power and emotion.
Her doula’s support was invaluable on the day, even though Kira and her husband ultimately chose to navigate the early postpartum days just as a family of three.
Watch Kira's birth story reels on Instagam:
My Birth Story: Part One - Early Labour
Part Two - Active Labour: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQ9KKoKjUVM/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Part Three - Welcoming Baby & the wild aftermath: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRAHg3kjYKS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Rest, recovery, and why she isn’t trying to “bounce back”
This phase is full of tension: adjusting to round-the-clock care while physically healing.
Kira is choosing rest first:
“I don’t want to bounce back — I want to bounce forward and embrace this new version of myself.”
Movement, when she feels ready, comes through gentle walks and baby-wearing — never pushing, just allowing.
Messages for new mothers about wellness, body image, and identity
Kira hopes to hold space for the emotional transitions of new motherhood:
- “This is a new season — expect change.”
- “You’ll never be the old version of yourself, and that’s a beautiful thing.”
- “Make time for whatever helps you feel like you — for me, that’s my nails, a facial, and walks with my dog.”
There is an invitation to soften here: to let identity bend, expand, and unfurl naturally.
How motherhood looks now
Motherhood, she says, is harder and more beautiful than she imagined.
It has deepened her appreciation for the honesty in other women’s stories — and her understanding that motherhood is not a universal calling.
“It’s not for everyone, and I respect that more now.”
And yet, for her, it has become something extraordinary: messy, transformative, demanding, and full of love.
Closing
Postpartum is not a single chapter — it’s a season of growth, discovery, and gentle recalibration. Through her reflections, Kira reminds us that this period is as complex as it is precious, and that support, softness, and honest connection make all the difference.
Click here to read the full Pregnancy Diary blog series.
