Today, we meet Alice and Bérengère, the co-founders of Equilibrist, a brand dedicated to women's hormonal balance. Drawing on their experience in pharmacy, they are breaking the taboos surrounding hormonal and emotional challenges that women face throughout their lives. In this interview, they shed light on sensitive topics, such as baby blues and postpartum depression, and share their advice on how to navigate this intense period in the best way possible.
Could you introduce yourselves briefly?
We are Alice & Bérengère, pharmacists and phytotherapists, co-founders of Equilibrist, and also mothers.
Since 2018, we have specialized in supporting women at the pharmacy counter. Talking about women’s health issues, breaking taboos, and finding solutions to help women regain comfort and well-being throughout their lives seemed to us an urgent need that was still too rarely addressed.
When we became aware of the interest from women, as well as from midwives around us, in our expertise on hormonal balance and women’s health, we decided to take things further and create Equilibrist, a brand dedicated to women’s hormonal balance—from puberty to menopause, including maternity.
Could you explain the difference between baby blues and postpartum depression?
The "baby blues" and postpartum depression are two distinct phenomena, although they both occur after childbirth and can seem similar at first glance.
Baby blues is a temporary episode that affects the majority of women in the first few days after birth. It generally manifests as transient sadness, irritability, mood swings, and frequent crying. Baby blues is mainly related to hormonal changes, fatigue, and emotional adjustments after delivery. It usually resolves spontaneously within a few days to a few weeks.
Postpartum depression, which affects 10-20% of new mothers, typically occurs 2-3 months after childbirth, unlike baby blues, which appears very soon after delivery. It is characterized by intense sadness, anxiety, feelings of worthlessness (the feeling of being a "bad mother"), and lack of interest in the baby, requiring medical and psychological care.
What impact can the postpartum period have on women’s lives?
Postpartum is an important phase during which a woman’s body undergoes many changes. It can have an impact both physically (stretch marks, weight gain, scars…) and emotionally (sometimes due to lack of sleep, lifestyle changes…).
What exactly happens in our body during this period?
After childbirth, levels of hormones like estrogen and progesterone drop rapidly, which can affect mood and energy levels. Cortisol (the stress hormone) and dopamine (a neurotransmitter for mood and motivation) can also be impacted after childbirth, leading to additional emotional challenges.
Your top 3 tips for getting through this period well?
Let go and don’t feel guilty: nobody’s perfect!
Speak up when you’re struggling.
Take care of yourself: rest when your baby sleeps, eat a good, varied, and balanced diet.
And, of course, the NO BLUES supplement, which will provide energy, vitality, and remineralization (breastfeeding-compatible).
Any words or phrases you'd like to share with a new mom?
Trust yourself and listen to your instincts 😊
