Breath + Broth was founded by Ali Hartman after an unexpectedly challenged and troubling start to her motherhood. Believing that all moms deserve the best possible support in this special and fragile time, she set out to become a Doula. Believing that all new mom's need real nourishment whether from a cup of kindness or bowl of broth, she decided to learn everything she could about postpartum nutrition. Here is her story...
Breath
The birth of my son challenged and changed me in more ways than I could have ever imagined. Through the process of late pregnancy, birth, and postpartum recovery, I had an incredible medical team and a truly amazing partner. But there was a gap - a major gap - in my overall care.
I was induced at 41w 6d. My birth experience resulted in an uncomplicated vaginal delivery and healthy baby. I was told I should be grateful, but I felt angry and disempowered. My immediate postpartum period was fraught with milk supply issues that would never resolve and ultimately would result in dark days and extreme feelings of failure, loneliness, and frustration.
The entire process was scarring. I had no physical scars, but the trauma that ensued in my head and heart was serious. And I wasn't alone. As I shared my story, I realized that far too many women have significant unmet emotional and psychological needs during their journeys into motherhood.
I decided that this needed to change. I decided that I wanted to be a small part of that change in whatever way I could. Being a Doula would allow me to focus on the very areas my birth and postpartum experience was missing. Finding the Doula role has been an incredible gift for me and by extension my family and circle of friends. Through fellowship, study, training and experience, I have blossomed into a Doula. A role that has allowed me to reclaim my own story, while managing to contribute to happier endings - or better yet beginnings! - for women in my community. Thank you for being a part of my journey and for in turn allowing me to be part of yours. It is one of the greatest privileges of my life.
Broth
I love to eat. And I believe that what we eat, how much, with whom, where, why, why not are decisions unique to each of us. And as such, they make food one of the most personal parts of our lives.
We share food with those we love most. We have deep and distinct memories attached to the smells, textures, and taste of what's on our plates. We physically consume products, which in turn impacts our abilities to move and think and breathe.
At no time is the food we eat as women more critical than during our pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period. After an awareness of optimal pregnancy nutrition, I was completely lost postpartum. I ate UTZ party mix (found in my Mom's purse) and an apple juice (brought in by the nurse). In the hospital, I was given a tray of cold cereal for breakfast and no vegetarian options for lunch. A 40+ hour labor with nothing of substance to eat, my body deserved more than. After getting home, things didn't drastically improve. I was eating whatever was there (rosemary ciabatta with nutella at 2 a.m. anyone? eek!), ordering in random - often unhealthy - delivery and fixing quick dinners like pasta.
I wasn't nourishing myself. I wasn't helping my healing. I wasn't honoring my connection to food and food's connection to my body - a body that was attempting to do more than it had ever done with less than it had ever had. In my postpartum struggles I began researching foods and traditions that nourish and address challenges specific to new moms. I realized that we had lost our way when it comes to food and postpartum needs. I realized that we deserved so much more. Pull up a chair, grab a spoon, rest at our table, and let us do the work.