We recently shared our community space in Paddington with Postpartum Doula, infant massage instructor and all round beautiful spirited human - Mazz Napier. As well as taking a quiet morning out to share some precious knowledge and guidance around baby massage among the backdrop of our Sydney store to our grateful community, she also shared some advice with us around the fourth trimester, how to incorporate massage into your little ones routine and being a new parent... 

Tell us who you are and what you do 

I'm Mazz, a Postpartum Doula, Infant Massage Instructor and Mum of two. I passionately support Mums and their families to prepare for and experience a time of rest, recovery and deep bonding with their newborn baby.  Part of this includes providing parents with the space and the tools to nurture their growing bond with their babies. Baby Massage is a beautiful way to connect with your baby and get to know them on an even deeper level, not to mention the health and wellbeing benefits for you both. I experience so much joy in sharing the art of baby massage knowing that it's a ritual families will cherish for years to come. 

Can you share your top 3 tips for nurturing and supporting yourself (if you are a mum) in the postpartum phase? 

1. It sounds basic but know where your food will be coming from ahead of time. Postpartum is the most nutritionally expensive stage in a woman's whole life but you won't have the energy to cook for yourself at the start. You can organise a meal train, make sure your partner is confident cooking a range of dishes you'll enjoy, batch cook and fill your freezer during your third trimester, purchase a meal delivery or hire a postpartum doula who will cook for you. You won't regret preplanning your food!

2. Be willing to ask for and receive support in this season of your life. Even though many try we really weren't designed to do early parenthood alone. Tap into your network and community of people around you to build your modern-day village. Friends and family are often so willing to help and if you can be clear and communicate what you need help with it will actually make their life easier. As Brené Brown says, 'clear is kind'.

3. During the fourth trimester prioritise rest, recovery and bonding with your baby and let all other expectations fall away for now. I like the saying ' Be a parent-being, not a parent-doing'. You may not feel productive like you would in normal day-to-day life but know the invisible work you are doing healing your body and nurturing your baby is incredibly productive for the ongoing wellbeing of your whole family. The dishes can wait or can be done by someone else for now. 

What can a baby massage practice offer new parents and baby? 

Baby massage is such a beautiful way to cultivate your growing bond with your baby. When I look back it's a highlight of my early days with both of my babies. It offers so much for you as the parent and your baby as you engage in this ritual of nurturing touch together.

Some of these benefits include:
- Stimulation of all the major body systems that impact brain development, balance and coordination and digestion.
- It promotes the release of calming hormones in both parent and baby. In your baby this can have a positive impact on sleep, settling and nervous system development.
- Specific strokes can also provide relief from the discomfort associated with things like digestion and teething 

Here at Nature Baby we ground ourselves strongly in our ethos of following a sustainable and natural journey – why do you think those elements are key for parents to consider? 

Parenting isn't a sprint, it's a long-distance marathon. The intensity is always there, it just changes over time as does your resilience. The way you parent needs to be sustainable over the long term otherwise you'll burn out. You can do this by prioritising self-care and working as a team with your partner or support network to make sure your needs can be met as well as your baby's.

Feel empowered to embrace a parenting style that comes naturally to you. You can do this by tuning into what feels right and intuitive for you and your family and tuning out to the noise out there in the form of advice, expert opinions and comparison especially when things start to feel overwhelming. I believe the beauty of parenting lies in finding your own unique style so you can remain present for the moments of joy and grow from the challenges. 

 What advice would you give to a new parent? 

Being a little person's whole world is incredibly rewarding but it's also really hard. Go easy on yourself and practice self-compassion on a daily basis. Rather than being your own worst critic in the inevitable tough times, could you talk to yourself kindly and provide the reassurance you would naturally offer a dear friend? A little self-compassion can go a long way when it comes to changing our mindset and overall outlook on life and the research is there to back it up. This has certainly been the case for me!  

 And... how can people connect with you and what you do? 

You can follow along on Instagram @thebondwellbeing for tips, resources and reflections on postpartum or head to my website thebondwellbeing.com to find out more about my postpartum doula support packages and baby massage courses. I'd love to connect with you and support you in this incredibly transformative season of your life. 

Are there any rituals or traditions you’ve carried through to the way you parent your children? 

Growing up we didn't observe any rituals or traditions, but that's given us a wonderfully free base to what rituals we want to create for our own family. It also means there aren't really any cultural expectations on us to continue something with a long legacy and J and I have enjoyed a lot of trial and error over the last 5 years as we find our feet on what traditions are most important to us.  

What are your favourite ways to spend time in nature as a family? 

My husband and I are really big believers in encouraging free play. So, we like to be "prepared" for all eventualities (rarely pack light) but then for us, the best days out in nature are when we let the children dictate their own play. That could be going on a search and retrieve "mission" for logs/shells/treasures... A favourite that tires them out, gives them freedom and allows them to be intrigued... and later as a family we will come together to build/discuss what it is the girls have found and prompt a new game with our findings. 

 Image credits: 

Styling: Africa Daley-Clarke @thevitamindproject 

Photography: Kasia Fiszer @kfiszerfoto