New motherhood has introduced an entirely new rhythm into Hailee Steinfeld’s life — and she’s opening up about what the experience has actually looked like behind the scenes.
About a month after welcoming her first child with husband Josh Allen, the Oscar-nominated actress and singer offered followers a candid update through her Beau Society Substack page, sharing the realities of navigating postpartum recovery.
While celebrity motherhood stories often become filtered through perfect photos and polished snapshots, Steinfeld’s latest reflections focused on something much more grounded: healing.
The True Grit actress explained that she’s been relying heavily on support systems around her, particularly an “amazing doula” who has helped guide her through postpartum nutrition and recovery practices.
“In general, she advised me to stick to warm foods during my postpartum recovery to help digestion and boost nutrient absorption, a philosophy that stems from Ayurveda,” she shared.
That advice has already found its way into daily life.
“Knowing this, my mom made me this amazing albondigas soup the other day. It’s one of those rare soups that looks as good as it tastes,” she continued.
The update gives a glimpse into a quieter side of Steinfeld’s life — one centered around family routines and recovery rather than movie premieres or red carpets.
She also revealed that she’s been turning to author Heng Ou’s postpartum cookbook The First 40 Days, which she says has become an important resource during this period.
“Every word has resonated. There’s a paragraph early on that talks about how even forty days after giving birth, you’re still in such a vulnerable state,” she said.
“People understand that about your new baby, but they don’t understand that about you, the mom.”
The observation struck a particularly emotional note because postpartum conversations have increasingly expanded beyond newborn care to include maternal well-being as well.
Steinfeld emphasized that she still considers herself in a very early stage of recovery and isn’t rushing the process.
She explained that she needs to “be super gentle” with herself in every area — spiritually, mentally, physically, and nutritionally.
That approach also extends to the kitchen.
“This book has some fantastic recipes. I’m currently planning to make [lactation] cookies and this chocolate mousse.”
