Following growing attention to maternal health and the support available to women after childbirth, founder of A3 Botanical World, Osunlolu Abimbola, has called for a broader approach to women’s wellbeing that extends beyond pregnancy and delivery.

Abimbola, a labour and postpartum doula practitioner, said discussions on women’s health should also address the physical, emotional and social changes that accompany motherhood.

“Women’s wellness must go beyond the physical body. It should include emotional wellbeing, identity, the environment, culture and the indigenous knowledge that shapes how many women understand and experience their wellbeing,” she said.

According to her, the postpartum period can bring significant changes to a woman’s emotional state, identity, relationships and daily life, making continued support important beyond the immediate demands of childbirth.

She said women should have access to safe spaces where they can understand these changes and seek appropriate support rather than being expected to adjust to motherhood without adequate guidance.

Abimbola also called for greater attention to the needs of women living with disabilities, noting that barriers to healthcare, mobility, communication and social participation could affect their wellbeing and access to support.

“For women living with disabilities, wellness must include every woman. We have to consider barriers around healthcare access, mobility, communication and social participation, because these can affect a woman’s wellbeing and her ability to receive the support she needs,” she said.

She also advocated a more informed approach to indigenous knowledge and wellness practices, saying traditional knowledge remained an important part of how many communities understood health and wellbeing.

Abimbola noted that digital platforms had created opportunities for women to access information and connect with practitioners, but urged caution over the reliability of health information shared online.

“The digital space is becoming an important part of how people understand spirituality, self-awareness, nature and holistic wellbeing, but we also need to be conscious of the information women are consuming and the sources they are relying on,” she said.

She urged women to assess the credibility of information and its sources, particularly when it could influence health decisions.