Postpartum Book Review: Golden Month

Postpartum Book Review

Julia Neale • February 1, 2024

Golden Month: Caring for the World's Mothers After Childbirth

"Golden month outlines a holistic approach towards postnatal care that amalgamates the best practices from different cultures throughout the world."

If you're a parent looking for a holistic approach to the postpartum, this is a great resource for you. In this compact book, Jenny Allison shares her wealth of knowledge and research into traditional Chinese medicine and holistic postpartum practices in traditional cultures all over the world. We are taken on a journey around the world, learning how rich and holistic cultures mother the mother, the baby and the family in the postpartum period. Healing practices, warming recipes and rituals are beautifully outlined in this book. The book is not long, it's lovely to hold, and it is compact enough to fit in a handbag; so it's easy to read and access in the pregnancy period. After reading, the reader is left with questions about how we got it so wrong in the West and how we could mother the mother and honour the family more in our societies.

A negative aspect of this book is that we learn a lot about traditional cultures, and not so much about how we can apply them to a world where we are perhaps removed from our home culture, family and long term friends, like many of us are here in Switzerland. If you come to a Happy Day: Bumps, Babes and Beyond course, class or a WAC playgroup, you will join a thriving community of parents and families which help to mitigate this challenge. Through our courses, classes and playgroups, we have organized meal trains, nesting parties (see the blog post on this topic too!), emergency childcare, and we often spend our time talking about the challenges of finding our community and village, and in the process, we create it.

Overall, I would give this book a buy, especially if you want some traditional, delicious, warming recipes for the postpartum period.

You can buy the book online, for example, here direct from the publisher

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recalls switzerland, recall swiss, recall baby items switzerland

How to Find Recall Information in Switzerland

By Julia • February 27, 2025

Recently, a recall of widely used Vitamin D drops due to the risk of glass pieces in the liquid caused quite an (understandable) outpouring of concern and anger in parent groups. There is a lot about this recall to talk about, I want to specifically make sure that parents are aware of Recall Swiss , a government-run website and app which is easy to use and to receive updates from them. This is where you can find information on the recalls on consumer goods and food in the country. There is also an app. I recommend that all parents sign up for emails from Recall Swiss, as then you know right away if there is a recall due to safety, hygiene or other concerns. When there is a recall, you can print out the recall from the website and return the item to where you bought it or directly with the manufacturer. You do not necessarily need a receipt, but do check on the details before you go in-person. I have personally had a toy, a baby monitor and one item of food (my favourite granola bars, sigh) recalled since I started getting Recall Swiss updates and I've returned the items each time either in shop or directly with the manufacturer and got my money back or a new product. Want to know more about navigating the Swiss system during your pregnancy and postpartum? Looking for empowering, balanced and informative birth, prenatal and postnatal education? Check out what I offer for parents in Switzerland here

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An Environmentally and Budget Friendly Way To Buy Baby and Child Items in Switzerland

By Julia • February 25, 2025

Babies and toddlers grow FAST. It's a fact that we all know, but some children grow so quickly, it catches their parents off guard. The sad thing is, that so many new items are purchased for these fast growing little humans and especially before they are even up and walking, they hardly get used. I remember getting a lot of hand-me-downs and second hand items for my eldest son and especially the items under size 98 (see here for a handy size converter) were pristine and hardly looked ever used. In a time when we want to limit our environmental impact, and keep an eye on expenses, it's important that all parents and parent-to-be know about this website and what it shows you: https://www.kindex.ch/ This website is a link to a map of Switzerland, where you can choose your desired area and learn about when there will be a second hand clothes and toy sale/market in your area. These markets are usually held in the spring and fall and are full of thrifted gems for your family. These Kinderkleiderbörse, as they are known in the German speaking part of the country are the secret to high-quality, lightly or never worn used children's toys (there are also books and toys too!). These markets are especially useful for items like baby/toddler snow suits, rain boots, and items like sleds- which have a high price to buy new, and hardly get used before the child outgrows them. Want to know more about navigating the Swiss system during your pregnancy and postpartum? Looking for empowering, balanced and informative birth, prenatal and postnatal education? Check out what I offer for parents in Switzerland here

Empower Your Planned C-Section Birth with Hypnobirthing

By Julia • December 23, 2024

A planned cesarean birth can be a calm, connected, and empowering experience when approached with intention and preparation. At Happy Day Hypnobirthing, we believe every birth is unique and deserves to be celebrated—and that includes cesarean births. Our Hypnobirthing for Planned Cesarean Birth course is thoughtfully designed to help you create a positive, family-centered birth experience. This bespoke course goes beyond traditional hypnobirthing techniques to focus on comfort, connection, communication, and empowerment, ensuring you feel confident and supported every step of the way. You’ll gain practical tools to approach your cesarean birth with intention, learning how to: • Communicate effectively with your medical team and advocate for personalized care. • Explore your options to create a more gentle and meaningful cesarean experience. • Train your mind for calmness and empowerment throughout the process. • Support your birth partner in their role as an active participant. • Understand the emotional, mental, and physical aspects of cesarean birth for both you and your baby. This course is not just about the procedure—it’s about nurturing a sense of empowerment and connection that can positively shape your journey into parenthood. Whether you’re looking for a private in-person session near Zurich or prefer the flexibility of an online course, this experience is tailored to fit your needs. Your birth story is yours to create. Let us help you make it a beautiful and unforgettable one. Learn more and book your session here.