Many women are often surprised to learn that after having a baby, you can become pregnant again without actually menstruating first. This is because about 60% of women will ovulate before their first period postpartum. However, only about half of these women will have a long enough luteal phase to sustain a pregnancy after this first ovulation.

Before going through the transition herself, I don’t think a woman can ever fully prepare for how transformative the journey from maiden to mother truly is. Almost every aspect of your life changes as you adapt to the requirements of your new role, but prior to having kids most women rarely consider how becoming a mother will redefine their sexuality. Probably because the concept is not often talked about openly.

It’s not uncommon for babies to seem less interested in breastfeeding as they become increasingly aware of the outside world around them. My busy-body nursling has trouble sitting still for milk, especially when we’re out in public. She constantly pulls off (leaving me hanging) and often only 'sips', rarely taking in a full feed.

Many women focus on assembling a support team during birth, but new mothers need early postpartum support as well. Have friends and family help with household chores, make you food, or take older siblings while you rest, heal and establish breastfeeding with your baby. Being skin-to-skin with your little one will increase your levels of prolactin, a hormone responsible for helping initiate and maintain breast milk production.

The last few months of pregnancy are usually spent feverishly running around making sure you have everything you need for your new baby to arrive, but don’t forget about yourself! Being prepared for your recovery after birth can help you heal faster, which will provide you with more strength and energy to care for your new bundle. With my ‘fourth trimester’ nearing an end, these are a few of the things that I’ve found essential for assisting my recovery during this postpartum period.

Breastfeeding, in all its natural glory, isn't always something that happens easily. The choice to breastfeed is a dedication that some mothers have to work very hard for, and others are not able to breastfeed at all due to a medical condition, either with themselves or their baby. When mothers are seeking alternatives to breastfeeding, they are often quite overwhelmed.