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Meet the Mama: Elaine Leung from Antioch, California

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Meet Elaine Leung

Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, meet first time mom, Elaine Leung. Elaine is a Senior Revenue Accounting Manager, managing a team of 6 staff members; and at home, she's managing an adorable 10 month old son. In our Meet The Mamas Series, Elaine gives us a glimpse into her postpartum journey and shares what she experienced and what she would have done differently. 

Elaine and 10 months old Son
Elaine Leung and 10 months old son

How long was your recovery after giving birth? Did you run into any challenges? What helped your recovery the most?

I would say I'm still recovering after giving birth. I don't think there is ever returning to how I used to be prior to giving birth. So many things within the body change after giving birth. The biggest challenge for me after giving birth was the constant tiredness and lack of sleep. I would choose to sleep over many things during the first three months such as brushing my teeth, showering, combing my hair and even eating.

What are some products or support you wish you had when you got home that first week after giving birth? What was really helpful in making your life easier as a new mom?

I would have loved preset meals like what Ritual Meals is offering. During the first three months I was shoveling food into my mouth without enjoying the food and also finding quick meals which oftentimes were muffins, croissants, cereal, etc. One of things that helped me a lot were my in-laws; I temporarily moved in with them because I dealt with some postpartum blues. They were supportive of me and would remind me to eat even when I didn't want to.

What are some of your favorite self care rituals to do postpartum?

One of things that I did was take a hot shower. I used to take it for granted but just standing in a hot shower helped with my body aches and helped relieve some of the stress I was feeling because of dealing with a newborn but also some of the postpartum blues I was feeling.

I would love to hear your thoughts/experiences with getting help from family or friends.

I temporarily moved in with my in-laws because my husband went back to work after taking 2 weeks off. He would drive 70 miles one way to work and it would take him 1.5-2 hours each way. So the thought of being alone with a baby while he was gone for that many hours made my anxiety go up. My son had his day and night time switched, and then there were moments where I couldn't figure out why he was crying and what he needed. I also wasn't producing much milk and when I pumped, it felt like not much was coming out.

One of the things that I wished I would have done differently was researched more about how to care for a newborn prior to giving birth. I had a fantasy about babies just drinking and sleeping.

Did you experience any baby blues or postpartum anxiety or depression? Do you have any advice for new mothers struggling with postpartum anxiety or depression?

Yes, I experienced postpartum blues and with COVID-19 happening soon after I gave birth, it didn't help my anxiety at all. There were doctor appointments that only one parent could go to. My son was also losing weight and I saw a lactation consultant a few times.

What's the worst advice you've gotten for postpartum & early motherhood?

The worst advice I got was trying to keep my son awake more during the day so that he would sleep better at night. This caused my son to cry so much because he was constantly overtired. I should have listened to my mama gut and also listened to my baby. He was telling me things and instead I listened to those who had children a long time ago.

What's the best advice you've gotten for postpartum & early motherhood?

The best advice I have received is to never compare your baby to other babies. It's very easy to compare babies and get concerned about milestones, but I came to terms with it when he was 6 months old. He will do things on his own time. All I can do is offer him a caring and safe environment.

Any closing advice for someone who's just about to be a new mom?

I would advise a parent, not necessarily just a mom, to look into books on how to care for a newborn. What to Expect When You're Expecting was a great pregnancy book and I wished I would have read in advance prior to giving birth What to Expect the First Year book. Within the first chapter it mentions the things I was experiencing.

What I also advise is to seek out support groups online. There are parenting groups on Facebook for the month and year your baby is born. I am in two Facebook groups for parents who have January 2020 babies. The groups are helpful, because it allowed me to see what other parents were going through and in essence it made me feel comfortable with my situation because other parents were experiencing the same thing.

 

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Interested in being featured in our Meet the Mamas Series? Contact us at info@ritualmeals.com.

Meet the Mamas postpartum journey

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FAQs

Have more questions about Ritual Meals? View our frequently asked questions below.

  • What is Ritual Meals?

    Ritual Meals is a postpartum meal delivery service. Our signature postpartum meal delivery product is The Postpartum Program, which includes meals, snacks, and teas shipped weekly to your doorstep. Customers receive orders with all the fresh meals, snacks, and teas you need to enjoy nourishing postpartum food prepared by our chefs. We save you the time and energy of going to the grocery store, finding new recipes, meal planning, and portioning.

    Our talented chefs work with our Wellness Team to create new menus each week for you, based on what’s seasonally available from our community of local farms and ranches. We use the highest quality ingredients which are organic or pesticide free produce and grass-fed or pasture-raised animals.

  • What are the benefits of postpartum food and Ritual Meals?

    We understand that, as a new mom, you've got one of the hardest jobs in the world—so we created The Postpartum Program to help you heal and feel your best after giving birth. Our postpartum meals are nutritionally designed to support your physical recovery, energy levels, hormonal balance, milk supply and quality, and mood. At Ritual Meals, we are serious about supporting your postpartum nourishment and postpartum wellness journey. Everything we cook is made with the highest quality, whole food ingredients, good for you and your baby, whether or not you are breastfeeding.

    Our postpartum nutrition philosophy is focused on food as medicine.

    Our postpartum meals include both plated food and soups and stews which are more easily digestible and improve absorption of essential minerals and vitamins that the body needs to repair, restore, and fortify after birth or surgery. Grass-fed and pasture-raised animal stock are the base of all of our soups and stews, supplying essential nutrients, lean protein, and collagen to boost energy, support and heal connective tissues, and support healthy metabolism.

    If you are breastfeeding, our postpartum meals can provide measurable benefits for your milk supply and quality. Our postpartum meals often include galactagogues (ingredients which support milk supply and quality), including flax seeds, oats, tahini, brewer’s yeast, and more. We also avoid ingredients that could be associated with colic or sensitivities for breastfed babies, including cruciferous vegetables, garlic, and hot peppers.

    * This program is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. We recommend that you consult with your doctor prior to starting this program if you have a medical condition or are taking any prescription medication or nutritional supplements.

  • How much does Ritual Meals Cost?

    The Postpartum Program at Ritual Meals is priced starting at $176 per week. Meal frequency per week can be customized, which changes the cost of the program. As well, if you opted into our Subscription option, you can save up to 10% each week and receive free delivery with promo code FREESHIPPING.  Customize your postpartum plan to view prices.

  • What kinds of ingredients does Ritual Meals use?

    All meals are made to order and made from scratch with the highest quality ingredients. We prioritize local and organic produce and use only meat sourced from local farms that sustainably and humanely raise their animals. Our animals are always grass-fed or pasture-raised. Our produce is plant rich, organic or pesticide-free, low gluten, no refined sugars, and non-GMO.

    Organic or pesticide-free, whole, unprocessed foods are both more nutritive and more flavorful. We thoughtfully pair ingredients based on complementary benefits. For example, these pairings—lentils and red bell pepper, sesame and salmon, pasture-raised eggs and leafy greens, and chicken and quinoa—allow you to absorb more nutrients and experience their healing benefits.

  • What if I have allergy or dietary needs?

    Due to the small size of our culinary team, we are currently unable to offer substitutions in our menus, which are set weekly. To receive weekly email notifications about our upcoming menus which lists our full ingredients, please subscribe to our newsletter below.

    Please note: our Postpartum Program is not intended for severe allergies. If you have any questions about how we can support your dietary needs, please reach out to our Wellness Team at info@ritualmeals.com

  • How do you keep food fresh in transit? What if I am not home?

    We pack the postpartum meals fresh with care using 100% recyclable, insulated boxes and drain safe gel packs designed to keep your food refrigerated on the way to your doorstep.

    We understand that when it comes to birth, timing may not always happen according to plan. We highly recommend recruiting the help of a friend, neighbor, or family member so that if you aren’t able to get to your food when it arrives at your doorstep, they can help you store it in the fridge until you're ready to enjoy them.

    The delivery driver should leave the package for you at your door with no signature required. We package our postpartum meals in 100% recyclable insulated liners with drain-safe gel packs, so that your food stays refrigerated in transit. If you have any concerns with the temperature or condition of your meals once delivered, please contact our Wellness Team at info@ritualmeals.com.

  • Where does Ritual Meals deliver?

    We ship across the continental US to your doorstep! If you have any additional questions, you can contact our Wellness Team at info@ritualmeals.com.

  • How do I get started with Ritual Meals?

    You can get started by selecting your program options on the Postpartum Program page. 

    If you would like any help choosing a program that works best for you, please email our Wellness Team at info@ritualmeals.com and we’d be happy to help!

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Women-owned Business
Women-Owned

Founded and created by two women of color, our goal is to create more opportunities to other women.

Locally Sourced
Locally Sourced

We source as locally as possible from our community of local farms and ranches.

Whole Foods
Whole Foods

We commit to using organic or pesticide-free, 100% whole food ingredients in all our products.

Sustainably Made
Sustainably Made

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Gives Back

We donate 2% of our sales to organizations that support and empower women or work to reduce food insecurity.

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