Toups & Co was founded by Emilie Toups, a mom of five, and our team is made up of mothers in every season of life — from brand-new moms to seasoned mothers raising big families.
When we say, "We've been there," we truly mean it.
We're here to soothe your skin, yes. But we're also here to ease your mind during one of the most physically, emotionally, and spiritually transformative seasons you'll ever experience.
To us, peace of mind extends beyond non-toxic ingredients.
It means helping you feel more confident in the decisions you make for yourself and your family.
So, we asked the moms of Toups for honest postpartum advice. From recovery and breastfeeding to body image, rest, and postpartum essentials, here's the wisdom every new mom should take to heart.
Q: What products can you not live without in postpartum, Toups or other?
Emilie: Glow Serum for feeling refreshed and my Honest Cotton Robe. There’s not much a good long bath topped off with Glow Serum and a comfy robe can’t fix. A large glass of postpartum iced tea is always at hand!
Sophie: Tallow Balm and Glow Serum! I usually have drier skin postpartum and these are my go to after I get out of the shower or epsom salt bath.
Caroline: Our Magnesium Balm and this Young Living Spray. Magnesium is something so many of us are depleted in, especially postpartum, and absorbing it through the skin is one of the easiest ways to get it in when you're too exhausted to think about supplements. And the Claraderm Spray, if you've had any perineal soreness or healing down there, it's a lifesaver. Cooling and soothing.
Hannah: Glow Serum (for face and tummy) were very helpful for me! I had no stretch marks and those products often gave me a quick moment of self care each day. The other one is my large stainless steel water bottle — I took this eeeeeeverywhere! Hydration is so important for health in general, but especially during postpartum and breastfeeding.
Miah: Ice cold water in a GIANT insulated cup. Breastfeeding made me so thirsty. If I sat down to breastfeed and did not have my water I would start calling for the closest family member to bring it to me. Cloth diapers, mostly Bumgenius and FuzziBunz.
Q: Are there any specific resources (podcasts, books, etc.) that helped you in postpartum?
Emilie: My mom had 9 children and is a wealth of knowledge. Me and my five sisters help each other through every season. I also loved and highly recommend the book First 40 Days. It’s a radically different perspective than western ideals.
Caroline: Honestly, my sisters and my mom. No podcast or book has ever given me what they have. There's something irreplaceable about being in the trenches with women who have actually done it.
Sophie: My family! Especially my mom, who has 9 kids and has seen almost everything. Having sisters in the same season as you is incredibly valuable to me, nothing can replace having them to talk through things with.
Miah: 100% recommend Le Leche League meetings. Start going to meetings towards the end of your pregnancy to meet people and learn about breastfeeding. It is a great resource and support system for all things breastfeeding but naturally the women support each other through postpartum and newborn struggles. It's a great way to build your mom community and support system if you are a first time mom, don’t know many moms your age, and if you newly moved to an area.
Books:
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Bradley Method child birth classes
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And an assortment of fun fiction books to read during night time feedings!
Q: Are there any postpartum complications you resolved through natural/holistic methods? If so, how?
Caroline: Mastitis!! It was absolutely the worst and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. But I got through it naturally with a combination of warm compresses, cabbage leaves wrapped around my breast (yes, really… it sounds crazy but it works), and two supplements: Melia (neem leaf) and sunflower lecithin. The lecithin essentially makes your milk less sticky so fat doesn't clog your ducts. The neem works on the infection and inflammation. It was HARD, but I got rid of it without antibiotics.
Emilie: I’m a big believer in nourishing the body naturally and restoring lost minerals postpartum. I love a good red raspberry and nettle tea and the Milk Moon postpartum tonics.
Hannah: The biggest one was hormonal acne (I had this as a teenager too). Toups products truly saved my postpartum skin — specifically Seabuckthorn Cleansing Oil, Frankincense Face Balm, and Glow Serum. Little Nate also had really rough baby acne, and the Baby Balm cleared it up quickly. Healthy eating was a huge factor as well — I was breastfeeding and hungry a LOT, so having healthy, convenient snacks was so important.
Miah: I have a couple go-to's!
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Diaper rash: Homemade spray made from water, apple cider vinegar, lavender and tea tree oils. After spraying on the baby, fan it dry and then apply Unscented Tallow Balm.
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Sore or cracked nipples: Lanisoh Lanolin Cream or Motherlove Nipple Cream.
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Clogged duct: Massage, heat, pumping, taking sunflower lecithin supplements
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Gassy baby: Chiropractic care and made weak herbal teas to aid digestion and break up gas, gave baby sips from a spoon
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Teething pain: Naturopathic teething gel and pellets
Q: What helped you find a new rhythm in postpartum?
Emilie: Staying home for the first two weeks to establish a bond and nursing relationship was crucial for me. I wish I had known that with my first.
Caroline: Honestly, I'm still figuring this one out (5 months postpartum). But what I've noticed is that I always feel more like myself when I get outside. Daily sun exposure, even just for a few minutes, makes a real difference. And even just getting out of the house once a week, like a quick errand, grocery store run — anything that reminds me that the world still exists and I'm still a person in it!
Sophie: I am a big believer in staying home with your baby. It allows you and baby to establish your nursing relationship and for the baby to get secure in their surroundings. I always have a happy baby when I have made this a priority in the beginning.
Hannah: My faith was the most prominent factor, followed by my husband’s support as well as support from family. Hearing from other moms was huge too — knowing that I wasn’t alone and that so many others had gone through this beautiful, but also challenging, season before me. Their advice for how to adjust to the new and exciting chapter that I stepped into was something that made the season enjoyable.
Miah: The first baby was a huge adjustment and change that I did not expect. She was gassy and never slept well, which made it more challenging. I eventually surrendered to the chaos of meeting what felt like the unpredictable needs of a newborn and went with my daughter's rhythm during the early months. By about 4 or 5 months postpartum I knew her needs and cues well and she was more adjusted to life outside the womb so I began to add in little bits of structure that slowly turned into habits and predictable behavior from her. This transformed into our rhythm that benefited us both well.
Q: Did your mom share any motherly advice that helped you?
Emilie: Postpartum isn't something to bounce back from, it's something to sink into. The world will still be there in a few weeks. My mom preaches not to sweat the small stuff but even more than that, rest.
Caroline: Yes and I think about it all the time! There are SO many do’s and don'ts out there. And it can make you spiral if you let it. My mom has given me so much advice but what really stuck with me is when she told me: “If it doesn't feel right, don't do it. You know your baby, and you have instincts to protect them.” That was so freeing. It gave me permission to trust myself.
Sophie: Yes, TONS! The days are long and the years are oh so incredibly short. I remember it being so hard when they were little. Now I would give anything to hold that crying baby, kiss that booboo, or hear that giggle.
Hannah: My mom was such a huge part of my postpartum journey! She often reassured me that what I was experiencing was normal and that I was doing a great job. It’s easy to feel like you aren’t doing a good job when you’re sleep deprived, haven’t answered anyone’s messages for weeks, are physically and mentally recovering, etc. The biggest piece of advice my mom showed me was through her actions — for as long as I can remember she always very clearly LOVED being a mom. She wanted my siblings and I around, we were never treated as “burdens” growing up. I knew she genuinely wanted to spend time with us. That’s a gift that I hope to share with my children as they grow up. They’re a wonderful part of my life, and a joy to have around — not a burden. I want them to clearly see that I love being their mom.
Miah: She always told me to trust my gut about any health concerns I had for my baby.
Q: What helps you maintain a healthy body image in postpartum?
Emilie: I love the postpartum stage so much. I’m fully immersed in all things baby. Studying every inch of this miracle in my arms. I don’t think much about my body as I know it will come back in time.
Caroline: Reminding myself that this is what my body was made for. It created life and brought my children into the world. It's okay if it looks like I've had kids, because I have. I think we've been sold this idea that we're supposed to “bounce back” but bounce back to what? I'm not the same person I was before. My body isn’t either.
Sophie: Oof, this is hard for me. I don’t typically do well with this.
Q: In what ways can a spouse be supportive during postpartum?
Emilie: My husband is such a champ in this department. He makes sure I’m fed and well nourished. Takes the baby outside for some sunlight while I get in a bath and takes great care of our other kids so all I have to worry about is myself and the baby. (This is making me want to have a 6th!)
Caroline: Cooking nourishing meals without being asked. And honestly, just being emotionally present! Early postpartum weeks are a season where I needed to feel held.
Sophie: Just having him there is huge for me. Knowing I am not alone and having him there just to dote over me is the best. HAHA! Oh, and food! Feed me all the time after the baby is here please!
Hannah: Seeing what needs to be done and then doing it! During postpartum, you often don’t know how to articulate what you need, so having a spouse that took initiative to help was huge.
Miah: They should be ready at a moment's notice to give you ice cold water and a high protein snack, lol. Moms tend to forget about their needs while caring for a newborn until they are crashing from lack of food or sleep. Sometimes motherhood can feel lonely when caring for a newborn. I have 3 brothers, no sisters, and I’m the oldest girl cousin by 8 years. I did not have a mom network yet. I believe it is important for the dad to learn just as much about pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and caring for a newborn as the mom does. That way he can have an understanding of the mother's experience and the baby's needs. He will already have a grasp on how to support her and care for his baby.
Q: What’s the biggest challenge about postpartum no one told you about?
Emilie: I struggle greatly with breastfeeding. It does not come easily to me at all and the first two months are such a struggle until I finally find my groove. I wish someone would have told me that those struggles are normal and shown me how to successfully “push through.” My best tip ever was when you feel like you just don't have “enough,” do a nurse-in. Two days on the couch doing nothing but feeding the baby every 10-15-25 minutes. It will get your supply back to where you need it!
Caroline: The hormone drop. Nobody prepared me for how intense it is. The mood swings, the emotions, the moments of feeling completely unlike yourself. And underneath all of that, just how hard it is to be a mom sometimes. The love is overwhelming, but so is the weight of it. It's a sacrificial love that requires everything from you.
Sophie: Not being available to my other kids. Especially if you have a toddler who needs you, but you can't do for them like you normally would, so it's hard on the Mama heart.
Hannah: The anxiety that you feel about your baby! It’s like “mama bear mode” and you’re on high alert all the time. For me, it took awhile before I was able to get any deep sleep because my body was constantly listening for and in tune with my little one’s needs.
Miah: Even though I acknowledged the transformation and wanted motherhood, it was a challenge for me to reconcile with my new identity. The messaging of “getting back to your old self again” gave me the idea that having a baby was an interruption to a woman's life. I slowly began to accept that I am not the person I was before. I wouldn’t want to be anyway. I “can do it all,” but the “all” is decided by me. Motherhood is one of the most transformative gifts a woman can experience.
Q: How do you manage caring for a newborn with other young kids in the house?
Emilie: Lots of grace and activities. My husband and mom are great with this. I involve the kids in a lot of the things with the baby and they love it. It was a little more of a struggle in the early days when I had 3 under 4. But I don't wish those days away – they pass quickly!
Caroline: I don't!! Haha. But in all seriousness, a baby carrier has been my saving grace. My hands are free, the baby is happy, and I can actually show up for my toddler. We also prepare meals ahead of time, keep easy leftovers on hand for lunch, and my older son loves helping with the baby. We call him “our baby” and I think that has helped him feel included instead of pushed aside.
Sophie: You accept that the house will be messy and nothing will be perfect. This small sweet season won't last long so just soak it in and accept help when it is offered.
Q: What’s something you wish you had known was normal in postpartum?
Emilie: Hard days are normal. Get a trusted midwife or doula on speed dial. They will help ease those worries.
Caroline: Everyone's normal looks different. There's no universal timeline for when you should feel like yourself again, when your body should bounce back, or when things should feel manageable. Comparison in postpartum is a trap. Give yourself the grace you'd give your best friend or sister.
Miah: How your hormones fluctuate and affect you. I would not have been so hard on myself.
Q: What’s the hardest lesson postpartum has taught you?
Emilie: To slow down, to stop. I naturally want to get things done, cross things off the list, but postpartum isn't the time for that. It’s a sacred time of rest and restoration.
Caroline: Again, sacrificial love. Truly loving someone more than yourself. More than your sleep, your comfort, your plans. It stretches you in ways nothing else does. And it's the most beautiful, hard, refining thing I've ever experienced.
Miah: Acceptance
Q: If you’ve dealt with postpartum depression, what helped?
Emilie: Mineral depletion, and lack of nourishment can lead to mental distress. Sunlight is also incredibly important in mental health. Meals from Restorative Roots, good help from family, or a postpartum doula can make all the difference in postpartum recovery. My mom’s tried and true advice is horizontal for 2 WEEKS. The first two weeks need to be all about rest and recovery. Skip lunch out and stay home. If the fog doesn't lift, consider working with a holistic practitioner like Katie Braswell who specializes in pre and postpartum recovery.
Caroline: Jesus! There were moments where that was the only thing holding me together. A quiet surrender and a prayer when I had nothing left.
Miah: Supplements, great chiropractic care, nutrient dense foods, regular time outside walking while pushing the baby in the stroller around the neighborhood, emotional support from family members. I will say though that I was not diagnosed and very possible still within the normal range of temporary postpartum hormone imbalance.
Recovery Is More Than Skin Deep
One of the beautiful things about this conversation was noticing how often healing extended far beyond skincare.
The moms talked about:
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Restoring minerals.
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Eating nutrient-dense foods.
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Drinking enough water.
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Taking baths.
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Spending time outdoors.
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Accepting help.
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Giving their bodies time.
No one talked about diets. No one talked about “earning” rest.
Instead, they talked about the things their bodies needed to rebuild and rebalance.
That's a philosophy we believe in at Toups.
Our products are designed to support your body’s natural processes — because it knows what to do with ingredients it recognizes.
Whether that's helping soothe dry postpartum skin with nutrient-dense tallow or creating small daily habits that remind you to slow down, we believe healing happens best when we work with the body, not against it.
And perhaps that's one of the greatest gifts postpartum can offer.
It teaches us that sometimes the strongest thing we can do isn't push harder — it's to listen to our bodies and do what makes sense in our minds and hearts.
Because it’s in our nature to live intuitively.