How To Plan For Postpartum

Preparing for birth without planning for postpartum is like planning a wedding without considering the marriage. It should be the forethought, not an afterthought. Here are some things you may want to consider planning and discussing with your partner, or other support person, BEFORE the baby arrives:

🍲 Meal plan: freezer meals, meals provided by family, or meal kit delivery services

🧹 Define roles & expectations. Who will do cooking, cleaning, laundry? Who will run the errands?

👨‍👧‍👦 Who is taking care of other children or pets while you're giving birth?

👩🏻‍⚕️ What does your postpartum care team look like? Lactation consultant, pelvic floor PT, chiro, postpartum doula, family/friends

🏠 What boundaries will you put in place for visitors? Do you want visitors at the hospital? When do you want to start receiving visitors at home? How can you enlist your visitors to help? Who will communicate/arrange visits with family and friends?

These are just a few examples of ways you can prepare for the fourth trimester. All of my prenatal appointments include an in-depth postpartum planning session. Want to go even more in-depth? Check out my Postpartum Planning & Nesting Support Package!

Remember to honour this time - your body is recovering from what is equal to a major sports injury. You don't need to be doing the dishes or mopping the floor. Your only job after birth is to bond & give your body time and space to heal. It's everyone else's job to feed you & tell you that you're killing it - because you are.