Postpartum is messy, cuddly, sore, beautiful, intense, and all of the things. One thing it doesn't have to be is wasteful. If you are eco-minded like me, you might feel a sense of guilt going through garbage bags of disposable products during those first few weeks. I want to give you some options to take care of yourself during this time in a sustainable way.

You may feel like throwing in the towel with living eco during postpartum because you feel like crap and the planet can wait but with a little bit of preparation postpartum waste is totally avoidable.

Making a list of everything you need to make your postpartum experience comfortable and acquiring sustainable solutions create a low waste postpartum kit.

Cloth Pads and or Menstrual Underwear

You will have an open wound in your womb where your placenta detached from and will probably bleed heavier than any of your menstrual periods and the bleeding may last for 2-8 weeks. Substitute disposable postpartum pads with cloth...

Each person's lifestyle can either have a beneficial or detrimental impact on the environment. The environmental impact most babies have, before they are even at an age where they can consent to their lifestyle, is enormous. I started 'Sort it Out Sustainably' to empower, encourage and guide new mothers to live in a home that is simple and joyful, while being as sustainable as she can so the next generation can grow up in a better world. So let's bust some ideas around what we should be using for our babies and talk about some less wasteful substitutes to use instead.

1. Nappies

Let's get the elephant in the room out of the way. 3.7 billion nappies go into landfill each year within Australia and New Zealand alone. This makes up about 5% of the total landfill mass... Even though we only wear nappies for 2 years of our lives! Traditional disposable nappies are made from plastics and synthetic materials that take HUNDREDS of years to break down.

The Alternative to disposables is ...

Pregnancy brings on the urge to 'nest' and get your space in order for the arrival of a new family member. When decluttering you should do one category or section of your home and do it completely. When I declutter my wardrobe during pregnancy I was able to know exactly what I could wear while my belly was big and then after I had my baby had all an easily viable and assessable wardrobe curated to my life as a breastfeeding mum. You will be able to do this all in one day. Depending on how much clothes you have and how quick you are at decision making it will take between 1 and 6 hours.

Step 1: Before you start, get clear and have a plan

What is your reason for wanting to do this? It is surely more than because this blog post is telling you to. Really reflect on (or even write it down) your 'why'. It might be because you want to simplify choosing outfits & doing laundry and become intentional with what you own so you can enjoy the new chapter in your life with a wardrobe...