You've probably heard people say, take it easy after birth, but what does that even mean?

When you're bleeding, your booty hurts.

You're leaking, and you're trying to keep.

An actual, factual, tiny little human alive.

Today I am breaking down the 5, 5, 5 rule.

This rule is life changing and it's the single most overlooked recovery secret that can save you from months of exhaustion and tons of complications.

By the end of this episode, you'll know exactly how to heal faster, protect your pelvic floor.

And set realistic expectations of those who are in your world for the first few weeks at home.

Hey mama.

I'm Trish Ware, or you may know me as a labor nurse Mama.

And this is postpartum unpacked where we are getting real about the messy, the beautiful.

And the totally raw side of life after birth.

So if you're craving calm and confidence, knowledge, and clarity in your recovery, you are in the right place.

Make sure you hit follow or subscribe so you don't miss what's coming next in the series.

So what is the 5, 5, 5 rule?

And it's super simple.

Five days in the bed, five days on the bed, and five days near your bed.

That is 15 days of being super intentional and slowing down, and it's based on the understanding that your body.

Your beautiful, powerful body just completed a stinking marathon and performed major tissue repair.

Whether you had a vaginal birth or a cesarean, your uterus is literally shrinking back to its normal size.

Remember, it was like a watermelon.

It is coming back.

Your hormones are shifting faster than a stinking rollercoaster drop.

In fact, that's a whole nother episode.

In your pelvic floor, it's begging you to chill.

When we ignore that, we set ourselves up for heavy bleeding, delayed healing, so many emotional crashes that will tear you up out of nowhere.

So let's get a little nerdy for a second.

Is that okay with you guys?

Are you all right with that?

Because this part blows my minds at birth.

Your uterus weighs about two pounds, two pounds by two weeks postpartum.

It's down to about eight ounces.

Really let that land, that is a huge amount of cellular healing that is happening inside of you.

Resting allows the blood flow to focus on repairing tissue instead of fighting gravity when you push yourself too soon.

Stink laundry, long walks, stairs, you are increasing downward pressure on your pelvic floor, which can lead to prolapse hemorrhoids.

Or you are stitches reopening.

So when I tell moms, lay down guilt-free, it's not like you're being pampered 'cause you're spoiled.

This is biology and this is the best way to heal.

Now, here's where most of you will struggle because the world doesn't pause just because you gave birth to a baby.

So here's how to make it work.

One plan ahead before your baby arrives.

Prep with freezer meals, delegate house chores.

In fact, one of my.

Favorite things to recommend to someone who's having a baby is ask people when they come to your baby shower, or if they come to visit, you're letting them, we're gonna do a boundaries.

Episode two, tell them to bring a frozen meal, so diapers and a frozen meal gift, and a frozen meal visit, and a frozen meal.

The next thing you wanna do is communicate.

Tell your partner and your family about this rule.

Tell them this is like an absolute, and help them enforce it for you.

Next, create a recovery station.

I love those.

Ikea or Amazon three level carts that have wheels.

Keep one downstairs and upstairs, but keep one by your bed.

Have your pads, have your per bottles, have your snacks, have your phone charger, and we are doing an episode on exactly what you need to recover.

I want it all near your bed.

Here's another one.

That I'm gonna say, and I'm gonna also refine it.

I want you to learn how to accept help.

If someone offers to fold your laundry or bring you food, say yes, but I'm gonna go deeper.

Accept imperfect help.

I want you to accept imperfect help.

We did an episode on this years ago.

Hopefully my team can link it to the show notes, but what this means is.

Even if they don't do it the way you want it done, even if they don't fold your laundry the right way or your husband puts the diaper on backwards, or your mom is a little annoying, or your mother-in-law is driving you crazy, if she offers to do help.

For you, even if it's not perfect, be okay with it.

In fact, that is super duper important, especially for your partner.

Okay?

The next thing is mentally reframe.

Rest.

Do not see rest as you not.

Performing or not doing enough or not being enough rest is your workout right now.

It is your doctor's orders, it's your nurse's orders, labor nurse.

Mama is writing you a prescription for 5, 5, 5 rest period.

This is your healing protocol.

If you have a C-section, this is even.

As important.

In fact, you should add an extra five because you just had major abdominal surgery.

Your only job.

In these first 15 days is to heal and bond.

Some cultures do it for 40 days.

So girl, you do you.

If you wanna do 10, 10, 10, I don't care.

You can tell your partner labor nurse Mama said 20, 20 20.

Whatever you want.

I want you to rest.

Now we're gonna talk about something that.

All women struggle with, and especially new moms, and a lot of people don't talk about it, but slowing down can trigger your guilt button.

You got one girl.

I promise you, if you didn't know about it before, now that you had a baby, you're gonna know about it now.

Mom, guilt is.

For reels, you're gonna feel pressure to bounce back, which, who the hell knows what that means?

Post pictures prove you're doing fine.

Well, Sally down the street did it and my friend, you know, Tara did it fine, but rest is resistance in a culture that glorifies doing.

I want you to reframe how you look at this rest.

This rest is doing.

It's doing what's best for your body, for your baby, for your future babies, for you as a mom and a partner and a friend, the 5, 5 5 rule isn't just physical, it's emotional permission to recover.

Fully to mother yourself while you mother your baby.

And what a great example you're setting for other women, for your daughters.

So if you catch yourself thinking, I need to do more, I want you to repeat after me.

My body is healing.

My only job is recovery.

Now, if your partner's listening, hey, hey partner, I'm so glad you're here.

This one's for you.

Your job is to protect her environment and let her.

Rest.

Do the darn dishes gate, keep the visitors, handle the text and remind her, this is not lazy.

This is.

Purposeful.

This is a short-term rest for a long-term goal.

So mama, here's your permission slip.

Stay in the bed.

Stay on the bed.

Stay near the bed.

Your body will thank you.

Your baby will do so.

Amazingly, you are gonna adjust so well to one another and you're gonna step into your motherhood journey stronger than ever.

If this episode helped you, please hit subscribe.

Please hit follow, leave a quick review, leave a comment, and tell me what you want unpacked.

Next, you can find resources for postpartum recovery, breastfeeding.

For all the things on labor nurse mama.com or in the show notes.

Until next time, take care of your body, protect your peace, and remember, you are doing an incredible job.

I am so proud of you.

I love you to pieces, and I can't wait to see you again next week.

Bye for now.