The roommate phase of partnership during postpartum

Let’s shift the narrative of it being bad to healthy!

You know what’s not healthy? Feeling forced to do something if you’re not physically, mentally, or emotionally ready.

What is healthy is recognizing this is a phase. Your partner putting your needs ahead of their own to make sure you feel comfortable and supported during a sensitive time supports getting back to intimacy when everyone is ready (and there’s no timeline for that)!

I would choose the roommate phase over and over again vs feeling like I had to do something my body or emotional spirit wasn’t ready for yet. To me, the roommate phase during postpartum signals a healthy relationship that honors deep healing. I’m so grateful for my husband — just two best friends, supporting each other, doing their best, smiling as we pass each other taking shifts with our baby, and knowing how temporary this all is in the large scheme of things.

It may be hard at first and can feel lonely, but maybe it’s because we’ve been taught to fear it? We’ve been conditioned to think there might be something wrong. Heck, we even have the 6-week postnatal appointment to essentially clear women for intimacy and working out. As if that’s the type of support women need from our healthcare system. So much rooted in bounce back culture.

Here’s to the roommate phase being beautiful and intimate in different ways. Trust in the timing of your own needs and let’s rebrand the roommate phase from being feared to cherished.