Practitioner Profile | Sophie Jeffries

"She deserves love and care too. Seek out the support you need. It’s ok to ask for help. It’s smart to ask for help."

What drew you to do this work?

My own experience of becoming a mother for the first time left me feeling lost. Confused. Overwhelmed. Exhausted. Wondering why no one had told me what birth, postpartum and motherhood were really like. And so I started caring for new mums because I want the women who are having babies now, to feel supported, cared for and nurtured. So then they feel resourced enough to be able to raise children who are kind, loving, curious, and courageous.

What do you enjoy the most about your work?

I love building relationships with women over a period of time. I love getting to know them and allowing space during our postpartum appointments for conversations to unfold around topics that don't really get discussed very much in our everyday life. I love helping women care for their bodies. Helping them learn how a really simple bodycare practice can both support preparation for birth AND recovery afterwards. I love providing mothers with bodywork and movement strategies to help them feel more relaxed and comfortable and at home in their body. Mothering asks such a lot of us. And I find that tending to the physical body is a really practical way to prevent or recover from injuries related to pregnancy, birth and motherhood whilst also supporting mental and emotional health. I don't think mothers are supported enough to care for their basic physical needs. Rest. Nutrition. Bodywork. Movement. And these are the areas I have a particular interest and skill set in.

What is the most memorable thing you can tell someone about your job?

Supporting each mother on her journey towards deeper self care and self responsibility so that she can be the most comfortable and integrated version of herself in this moment is a privilege, an honour, and a little bit of magic.

Based on your area of expertise, what can you share with our followers around postpartum care?

That you absolutely can prepare for postpartum. That mothers need to rest abundantly in those first six weeks after having a baby to support healing. They need to eat deeply nutritious food to replenish their bodies from pregnancy, childbirth and whilst breastfeeding. They will absolutely need help. There is no one right way of mothering. There’s only what's right for each individual mama, in relation to her baby, her partner, and her particular set of life circumstances. Bouncing back is a myth. Postpartum is forever.

Consider: actionable tips / practices, educational pieces, insights into your area of expertise.

Care for your body. Prepare your body to give birth. Learn how to release tension from your pelvis and pelvic floor. Rest and recuperate in the early weeks following birth. Then rehabilitate your body from the inside out in the months and years ahead. You are not failing. You are not broken. You are living in a culture in which the concept of Mothercare is nearly entirely absent. Your body does an incredible job of growing,birthing and caring for your children. She deserves love and care too. Seek out the support you need. It’s ok to ask for help. It’s smart to ask for help.

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