About postpartum coaching
Who is postpartum coaching for?
Postpartum coaching is for new mothers navigating the emotional, physical, and identity shifts of early motherhood — whether that is a first birth or a fourth. It is also for partners who want to understand postpartum recovery and provide genuinely useful support rather than well-meaning but unhelpful responses. You do not have to be struggling significantly to be feel good.
What is postpartum coaching, and how is it different from therapy?
Postpartum coaching is one-to-one support focused on the practical, emotional, and relational challenges of the fourth trimester and early parenthood. It is not therapy — it does not diagnose, treat, or work through clinical mental health conditions. A postpartum coach provides a steady, judgment-free space to talk, a different perspective on what you are living through, and practical guidance for daily life. If at any point clinical support is needed, I will always be honest about that and help you find it.
Why is postpartum coaching important — isn't this what family and friends are for?
Family and friends care deeply, but they are rarely neutral. They have their own fears about you, their own opinions about how things should be done, and their own emotional needs in this period. A postpartum coach has no stake in the outcome — no parenting preferences, no family dynamics, no history with you. That neutrality makes it possible to be completely honest in a way that is genuinely difficult with people who love you. Many mothers describe their coaching sessions as the only place where they say what they actually think.
What does a postpartum coaching session actually look like?
Sessions take place online over video call, typically last 50 minutes, and are built entirely around what you need that day. There is no fixed structure or curriculum — the session goes where you need it to go. Some sessions are mostly talking and being heard. Others are more practical: working through a specific challenge, understanding what is happening in your body or mind, or making a decision. At the end of each session, we identify one or two things to carry forward into the week.
How soon after birth can I start sessions?
Whenever you feel ready — there is no minimum or maximum. Some mothers reach out in the first days after birth; others come months or even a year later when they realise they have been white-knuckling it. Postpartum does not end at six weeks. Many of the changes — hormonal, relational, identity-based — continue well into the first year and beyond. You are not too early, and you are not too late.
for mothers
What can postpartum coaching help me with as a new mother?
Postpartum coaching can help with a wide range of experiences that are common but rarely talked about honestly: the feeling of having lost your sense of self; the exhaustion that goes beyond tired; the complexity of loving your baby intensely while also grieving your previous life; the difficulty of asking for help; the relationship strain that almost every couple experiences after a birth; the anxiety that something is wrong even when everything is technically fine. Beyond the emotional, coaching also helps with very practical things: structuring the day, managing feeding and sleep challenges, navigating advice from every direction, and finding small sustainable rhythms in a completely disrupted life.
What is the difference between baby blues and postpartum depression?
Baby blues are a normal hormonal response that typically begins two to four days after birth and resolves within two weeks. They involve crying, emotional sensitivity, mood swings, and exhaustion — directly tied to the dramatic postpartum hormonal shift. Postpartum depression (PPD) is different: it is more persistent, more intense, and involves feelings of hopelessness, disconnection from the baby, inability to function, or intrusive thoughts. PPD affects approximately 1 in 7 new mothers and is a clinical condition requiring professional support. Postpartum coaching is not a treatment for PPD — but it can be a supportive complement to clinical care, and I will always refer you to appropriate professional support if I am concerned.
I feel like I should be happier. Is there something wrong with me?
No. This is one of the most common, and one of the most important to address. The cultural narrative around new motherhood is overwhelmingly positive — and that narrative leaves little room for the reality, which is complicated, exhausting, disorienting, and genuinely hard, even when it is also beautiful. Feeling ambivalent, overwhelmed, or not immediately joyful does not mean you love your baby less, that you are failing, or that something is clinically wrong. It means you are human, and that you are in one of the most significant transitions a person can go through. You are allowed to find it hard.
for partners
Why is it important for partners to understand the female body after birth?
Because without that understanding, a partner is essentially trying to navigate a completely changed person with none of the tools they need. After birth, a woman's body undergoes one of the most dramatic physiological shifts possible — oestrogen and progesterone crash, prolactin rises, cortisol stays high, oxytocin surges during feeding. These hormones directly affect mood, emotional reactivity, physical pain, libido, memory, and the capacity to feel connected. A partner who does not understand this will almost inevitably interpret these changes personally — as distance, rejection, or a changed relationship. A partner who does understand them can respond with patience, practical action, and empathy instead of confusion and hurt.
I want to help but I don't know what to do. Is that what these sessions are for?
Exactly that. Most partners want to help — genuinely. But wanting to help and knowing how to help are not the same thing, and the gap between them causes a great deal of frustration on both sides. Partner sessions are practical and specific: we talk about what she needs right now, why she might struggle to ask for it, how to protect her rest and physical recovery, how to handle feeding challenges, how to communicate when both of you are operating on fragmented sleep, and how to divide the responsibilities of early parenthood in a way that feels equitable rather than resentful.
What if I am also struggling with the transition to parenthood?
Then that is exactly what we should talk about. Partner sessions are not only about understanding her — they are also about your experience of becoming a parent. The sleeplessness, the identity shift, the changed relationship, the pressure to be strong while also being overwhelmed — these are real, and they deserve space too. You are not required to be fine in order to be helpful. In fact, acknowledging your own experience honestly tends to make you a more present and connected partner.
She doesn't know I'm booking a session. Is that okay?
Yes, completely. Partner sessions are your own — confidential, separate from any sessions she may or may not have, and focused entirely on your experience, your questions, and your growth as a partner and new parent. Many partners book privately because they want to show up differently without it feeling like a managed process. That is a healthy instinct. You are taking responsibility for your own learning.
Other details
What languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are currently available in English and Italian. German-language sessions will be added in the near future — if you would like to be notified when German becomes available, please reach out by email and I will add you to the list.
How long are sessions and how often should I come?
Sessions are 50 minutes, held online via video call. Frequency is entirely your choice — weekly, fortnightly, monthly, or as a single session when you need it. There are no required packages. Many people find that weekly sessions feel most supportive in the early postpartum weeks, and move to monthly check-ins as things stabilise. We discuss what rhythm makes sense for you on the free intro call.
Do I need to prepare anything before a session?
Nothing. You do not need to have thought things through or know what you want to say. You can arrive with a very specific question or a vague feeling that something needs to be talked about — both are fine starting points. The session will find its direction.