FIRST THOUGHT: The Things No One Tells You about Postpartum

So, you’re pregnant. Surprise! What’s next? Well, a Pinterest board full of nursery inspiration, of course. Any parent knows that the real stuff that’s important isn’t the stuff you want to handle. Budgeting for the vague hospital bills you’re about to incur, determining how you and your partner (if you have one) divvy up baby duties, deciding if you want to do genetic testing. Yeah, it’s easier to add that Baby Bjorn to the registry but, like childbirth itself, you’ve got to figure it out. Tackle that preggo to-do list right when you get them. Dread feels terrible, especially when you’re carrying around extra weight anyway.

WOMEN IN NUMBERS: 40 percent

I don’t know if you know this, but the American medical system is broken. Postpartum visits? Those are very necessary but also very underwhelming. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says that as many as 40 percent of women don’t attend the postpartum visit in the first place. This could be due to costs or transportation to get to the appointment, or heck, maybe it’s that you really don’t want to see your OB’s face again.

WOMAN TO WATCH: Eden Laurin, Aubrey Howard, Mia Clarke, founders of Nyssa

Every pregnancy and child is different, even if those pregnancies and children happen to the same woman. Baby #1 might be smooth sailing while baby #2 gives you a run for your money. So while your neighbor Cassie said she needed the jaws of life, you might slide your way into motherhood with a simple sneeze. Three women—Eden Laurin, Aubrey Howard and Mia Clarke—know this all too well.

Eden, Aubrey and Mia are the founders of Nyssa. While their stories differ, one thing remains the same for them and any woman who just gave birth: it’s bloody. Your baby isn’t the only one wearing diapers. They’ve created the patent-pending product called Fourthwear.

Fourthwear is the postpartum underwear you need. It’s able to hold ice packs, is super stretchy to adjust to your lumps and bumps and most of all, it makes you feel like a real person sooner rather than later. The packaging for Fourthwear even doubles as a bag to carry diapers or champagne, your pick.

Eden comes from the nonprofit and food industry world, while Aubrey has a knack for IT and literature. Mia Clarke traveled the world in a British rock band but now, all three work together to support other women in their most vulnerable time.

Eden, Aubrey and Mia give insight into the taboo and the gross in their podcast called The Unmentionables. From interviews with parenting authors to discussions about what the heck a pelvic floor is, the trio has carved a lovely spot in the world.

QUITE THE QUOTE

Mia Clarke said:

“The only way we can take the stigma out of topics that were once considered taboo, is to openly talk about them in a safe, supportive environment with experts working in the field.”