What Is Somatic Support—and Why It Matters in Postpartum Healing
Written by Julia Cavanaugh
After birth, your body may feel like a stranger—tender, tired, and transformed. And yet, our culture often jumps straight to “mindset shifts” or quick fixes for postpartum recovery, bypassing the one place where trauma, stress, and healing actually live: the body.
That’s where somatic support comes in.
What Is Somatic Support?
“Somatic” comes from the Greek word soma, meaning body. Somatic support is a body-based approach to emotional and nervous system healing. It’s about gently helping your body release stress, process emotion, and return to safety—especially after a major experience like childbirth.
Unlike talk therapy, which focuses mostly on the mind and thoughts, somatic practices bring awareness to what’s happening in your body—where trauma is stored, where tension lives, and where healing begins.
Why Postpartum Needs Somatic Care
The postpartum period is one of the most vulnerable and transformational times in a woman’s life.
Your body has undergone something monumental—physically, hormonally, emotionally—and your nervous system is often left raw, overstimulated, or stuck in “survival mode.”
You might feel:
Jumpy or on edge
Numb or disconnected from your body
Overwhelmed by crying, noise, or being touched
Easily triggered by things that didn’t use to bother you
Like your body is holding tension you can’t explain
These aren’t just “in your head”—they’re signals from your nervous system. And somatic work helps you respond to them with compassion and care.
What Somatic Support Looks Like in Coaching
In my postpartum coaching container, I weave somatic tools into our sessions and in-between support. Some of the gentle practices I might guide you through include:
Grounding exercises to bring you back into your body when you feel “spaced out” or dissociated
Breathwork for calming anxiety and creating inner spaciousness
Touch-based techniques like self-holding or vagus nerve stimulation
Movement to gently discharge stress (this can be as simple as a sway, stretch, or guided shake)
Body scanning to build awareness of where you’re holding emotion or tension
Nervous system education to help you understand what your body is doing and why
These aren’t intense or performative. They’re small, intentional acts of support—often just a few minutes long—that help you feel more present, regulated, and whole.
Healing Happens in the Body First
Your body is wise. It remembers what your mind forgets. And in postpartum, when so much feels out of control, reconnecting with your body is one of the most powerful ways to feel safe again—in your home, in your relationships, and within yourself.
Somatic support is not a luxury—it’s a necessity for real, lasting healing.
Ready to feel grounded, supported, and seen—in your body and in your motherhood?
Let’s explore how somatic-based postpartum coaching can help.
👉 Schedule a free consultation here.