Motherhood Reflections with Holliea: Sacred, Loving, Messy
Bringing a baby into the world changes everything. And while every postpartum is different, one thing remains the same: the mother needs care, too.
In our TH Motherhood Reflections series, we sit down with mothers to hear honest stories about postpartum, the highs, the challenges, and the things they wish they had known before welcoming their babies.
Today, we're sharing Holliea's story.
A third-time mama, holistic healer and founder of Womb Healing, Holliea has experienced three very different postpartums. From staying home for 40 days with her first, to navigating the beautiful chaos of a toddler and school-aged child with her third, she has learnt the importance of resting where possible, accepting help and keeping herself nourished even when life doesn't stop.
This time, The Herborium's 28 Day Postpartum Package became part of her daily rhythm, giving her simple ways to nourish herself through warm broths, teas and desserts.
Meet Holliea
Postpartum looks different every time.
For Holliea, a third-time mama with three beautiful homebirths, her first postpartum was challenging, with little family or nutritional support. Her second was more protected, two weeks in bed and another two at home. With her third, a toddler and school-aged child meant life couldn't simply stop.
So she rested as much as she could, stayed home where possible and accepted help. Her family took her two-year-old during those first weeks, giving her space to recover.
"I did my best to be at home and rest for the first forty days."
Her first 40 days was intentional. The reality is that, mothering the mother doesn't mean 40 days in bed for many in modern times. It could look more like letting someone take your toddler out, accepting a meal, staying home instead of going out, or having something warm waiting for you.
Nourishment, made simple
The Herborium's 28 Day Postpartum Package became part of Holliea's daily rhythm.
She was drawn to our philosophy that the first 40 days set a foundation for the next 40 years, but what she loved most was how easy the package made daily nourishment for both mothers and their support people.
“Such a straightforward kit for daily nourishment, easy to use and easy directions for support people to put on a broth or tea in the early days.”
Her routine was simple: keep something warm on the stove or in the slow cooker, and prepare herbs the night before.
Her favourite was the Red Date Tea slow-cooked into chicken broth (yes you can use our red dates tea for soup too!), followed by the Glow Dessert with tapioca pearls, cinnamon, ginger and coconut cream.
“I just ensured that there was a warm something on the stove… I made sure there was always something soaking the night before.”
Making Chinese herbs approachable
For those new to Chinese herbs, the idea of postpartum herbal soups can feel unfamiliar and sometimes brings memories of bitter, medicinal-tasting brews.
Holliea, an Ayurvedic Herbalist who had previously used Chinese herbs and acupuncture, appreciated that The Herborium blends were both traditional and approachable.
“You have formulated them with sweet nourishing berries and herbs that keeps the taste balanced.”
Her experience across three postpartums also gave her an interesting perspective. Even with considerably less rest this time, she prioritised nourishment and accepted help, and at 10 weeks postpartum, she reflected:
“Still now 10 weeks on I've only had two day naps, which is crazy that my energy is so great.”
Of course, every postpartum is different. But her story is a reminder that rest, nourishment and support matter, even when life doesn't stop.
"If I could go back I would gently remind myself that day 2-3 is a huge hormone dump and to make time to rest more to be able to handle the chaos of having 3 children."
Her three words for postpartum?
Sacred. Loving. Messy.
Read Holliea's full Q&A below for her honest reflection on motherhood, recovery and incorporating The Herborium into her postpartum days.
1. Can you tell us a little about yourself - what season of motherhood are you in and how has motherhood been like for you so far?
I am recently a third time mama. Three beautiful homebirths. My newest son was born 10 weeks ago. Motherhood for my first was challenging- can anything ever prepare you for motherhood? I felt so ready and prepared but my life was turned upside down with a needy baby and no family support while living on the other side of the country. My second was born 6.5 years later after a much needed break. My second I had come across your herbs and they supported me for my first 40 days. I was also aware of how sacred and important the first 40 days were with my first but I lacked a lot of nutritional support. I am currently working from home with my own online holistic healing business focusing on fertility, pregnancy and birth - Womb Healing. I am also a UGC content creator and love instagram as a way to connect with other aligned people and businesses.
2. How did your postpartum experience compare to what you expected? Did anything surprise you?
I expected my third postpartum to be abit messier and not as contained in the sense that I had two other children to care for during the school holidays. Family stepped up and took my two year old a lot in the first two weeks, but really life had to go on. I rested as much as I could and had beautiful herbarium herbs to nourish myself daily and I stayed at home as much as I could. It just went so fast and was such a blur- it felt extra messy compared to my first two births where I didn't leave the house at all with my first for the first for 40 days , my second I was in bed for two weeks and managed to stay home for 4 weeks. This time I had doctors apps and was out a few times at only one week. I was surprised at how grounded and nourished I still felt even with such chaos in my early postpartum.
3. What made you decide to try The Herborium’s 28 Day Postpartum Package, and which package did you choose?
I believe I first found herborium on an instagram add while pregnant with my second. The philosophy of the first forty days sets a foundation for the next 40 years really resonates with me. I love that you offer such a straightforward kit for daily nourishment, easy to use and easy directions for support people to put on a broth or tea in the early days.
4. Chinese herbs can be so foreign to many but we know that there are so many benefits behind this ancient wisdom. Have you used Traditional Chinese Medicine or Chinese herbs before using The Herborium postpartum package? Did your perspective on Chinese herbs or postpartum care change after this experience?
I have previously used some Chinese herbs along with Accupuncure in the past. I am also an Ayurvedic Herbalist so I understand the potency in the herbs even though I am not trained in Chinese. What I love about the herbarium blends is that you have formulated them with sweet nourishing berries and herbs that keeps the taste balanced and not terrible tasting which I think is important to share with some people who might be resistant because of a Bitter Chinese herbal tea experience they might have had with their acupuncturist in the past.
5. We truly believe in the importance of rest, warmth, nourishment and mothering the mother as the pillars of postpartum care. Did you follow any traditional postpartum confinement or recovery practices and why do you think these were important when our bodies are vulnerable and has been through so many fluctuations?
Yes as mentioned I have this wisdom from Ayurveda. My first I stayed at home for 40 days and didn't even go outside My second I stayed in bed for 14 days and another 14 at home. My third I have been busier with a toddler and a school aged child so I was about to stay in bed for a week and then life went on. I did my best to be at home and rest for the first forty days but I also did feel a lot more grounded, stronger and more vitality for this postpartum. Still now 10 weeks on ive only had two day naps which is crazy that my energy is so great.
6. The postpartum chaos is real. How did you incorporate the package into your routine? What did you notice most while using the package?
(E.g. ease of use, preparation, whether you had help or did it yourself, how it supported your day-to-day rhythm, feeling nourished, supported, grounded, creating routine, moments of care — feel free to share any favourite blends or highlights)
I love the red date tea in as a chicken broth cooked for 24 hours, it's my favourite. The Glow desert with tapioca pearls, cinnamon, ginger and coconut cream. I just ensured that there was a warm something on the stove on low or in the slow cooker at all times. I made sure there was always something Soaking the night before.
7. Looking back, what would you tell yourself just before entering postpartum?
I feel like I managed to have perfect postpartums each time really. Day two was very messy and overwhelming with my third and a toddler, I had a dred feeling like "what have I done, I can't do this" I hadn't slept for days and my toddler was hectic with the newbaby. but once I got some proper sleep that all settled. so I guess looking back, people always mention how crazy day 2-3 is with the hormones but I never had experienced it before in my previous postpartum because I was so rested and nourished on day 3. If I could go back I would gently remind myself that day 2-3 is a huge hormone dump and to make time to rest more to be able to handle the chaos of having 3 children.
8. If you had to describe your postpartum experience in 3 words, what would they be?
sacred, loving, messy
Postpartum asks so much of women.
These stories are a reminder that recovery deserves care too.
Thank you to the mothers who shared a small piece of their experience with us, and with the women who may need these words most.
Learn more about our 28 Day Postpartum Packages here.
Limited weekly availability - many mothers choose to prepare early and to take advantage of our early bird discount.