preparing for your postpartum journey

Preparing for your postpartum before it begins is like someone giving you a warm hug and a cup of tea on a crappy day. During pregnancy we get so caught up thinking about the birth and the baby things that we need to buy, when what we really should be doing is learning how to cope when we are sleep deprived, emotional, and feel as though we are going to be stuck to the couch nursing for the rest of our lives. Here are a few easy steps to prepare yourself for the postpartum journey that awaits you.

Create a contacts list

What kind of support might you need in your postpartum? You may not want to book them now, but it’s good to know who is available to lend a helping hand if you feel like you need the extra support. In an ideal world you might be able to call upon family, friends and neighbours to help you with some of these things, but hiring a professional might make you feel better about getting the support you actually need.

It’s important to remember that your loved ones want to help you throughout this journey, but they just don’t know how. Asking them to help with specific tasks will make you both feel better because they will feel like are actually helping and you will receive what you actually need. I urge you to be honest and utilise this support, but when you feel uncomfortable or feel like you are asking too much, it’s nice to have paid professionals to step in. Create a contact list of professionals that can support you in your postpartum period so that the task of finding someone when you really need it is not overwhelming. Keep the list pinned to the fridge as a reminder that there is help available!

Cleaners, dog walkers, meal deliveries, babysitters, lactation consultants, women’s health physios, GPs, postpartum midwifery care, doulas, mental health support, family support. Anyone who you think might be of help to you! You may also want to check out my Directory for online and local south west services.

MEAL preparation

Meal preparation is more than baking six lasagnas to pop in the freezer. Of course, lasagna is fantastic, but preparing a range of food to support y0u in your postpartum recovery is even better. Postpartum nutrition helps to replenish lost nutrient stores, cope with sleep deprivation, provide the essential nutrients to support breastfeeding without depleting the mother, and to support your body to repair and recover post birth. It is recommended that you eat warm foods and plenty of liquids, such as broths, soups, stews and herbal teas (ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, for example).

Food preparation should also include the making of snacks. Don’t feel as though you need to stick to your typical three main meals in a day is that’s what you normally do. Snacking throughout the day and night is very much needed if you are breastfeeding and the hunger you will experience is like no other. Bake muffins, freeze bliss balls, oat slices, etc. so that you will always have snacks on hand. If you’re not keen on baking and freezing your snacks, store bought nut bars and yoghurt cups are fine (I actually really love those collagen health bars - bonus points for additional collagen in your diet which helps heal your yoni after birth!)

Asking someone close to you to set up a meal train is one of the BEST things that you can do to prepare for your postpartum. Yes, pulling out a frozen meal prepared in pregnancy is a lifesaver, but what’s even better is having homemade warm meals dropped on your doorstep during those first few months. With even just a few people involved, a meal train can make a huge difference to your postpartum journey.

You can also create an online grocery list for the essential ingredients you need in the home. Set up ongoing deliveries for these items so that you can feel confident that there will always be milk in the fridge and a spare loaf of bread in the pantry.

set up NURSING stations

I’m a big fan of setting up stations around the home in the postpartum period, and breastfeeding stations are my favourite (probably because they contain snacks). I tend to use multiple spots in the home to breastfeed rather than just the one rocking chair, and so having essential items on hand at each spot has been so helpful. A few must haves in my baskets include burp cloths, bibs, hair ties, nipple cream/lip balm (this salve can be used as both, plus it can help your yoni heal after birth!) reusable breast pads, frank green water bottle and allllll of the snacks (muesli bars, trail mix, bliss balls, prunes, bananas). I also like to keep a book, kindle, and extra long phone charger handy.

SET BOUNDARIES WITH VISITORS

Before baby arrives, it is important to talk to your family and friends about your expectations around visitors. In your heart of hearts, you know who you really want around during your postpartum period. The people that are truly there for you and not just there to cuddle the baby. The ones that will clean up dishes without asking, offer to hold the baby while you shower or rest, bring meals, walk the dog. The people asking when they can visit the baby, although they mean well, can cause you unnecessary stress because you feel the need to tidy up before they visit, to make them a cup of tea, or to make sure you have dressed before they arrive. Setting boundaries doesn’t need to be awkward! Writing up a note to send out to all of your loved ones before baby arrives is a good idea so that you aren’t making anyone in particular feel targeted or attacked. Discuss your requests around vaccinations, wearing perfume/cigarette smoke on clothing, limiting the length of time that people visit, suggest supportive tasks that you would appreciate (emptying dishwasher, bringing morning tea, etc.) and request that no one kiss your baby. Whatever you want/don’t want from your visitors should be discussed before the baby arrives so that you don’t feel as though you are being confrontational.

Prebook your Women’s Health Physio check up

In the midst of your postpartum journey the last thing you will want to do is organise appointments! This one’s important. Prebook your appointment and set an alert on your phone calendar. Your future self will thank you for it.

gather your postpartum supplies

Witch hazel pads in the freezer, soft toilet paper in the bathroom, linen loungewear pyjamas that make you feel soft and cozy, soothing perineal sprays, hydrogel pads, hot/cold breast compresses, period undies, belly band, yoni steam herbs, cozy socks, nipple balm, heat pack, stool softener, herbal teas, and anything else that will make you feel better! Gathering these items and having them ready for when you return home from hospital will make the transition much easier.

ALL OF THE ABOVE

Cue, hire a postpartum doula! We have so many wonderful doulas in the south west who you can hire to support you throughout the postpartum journey. From making delicious Ayurvedic meals to recommending local lactation consultants, these beautiful women are there for you for whatever you need during this time. Baby wearing, running errands, debriefing your birth, the list goes on. Check out our south west doulas here.