Don't let postpartum catch you off guard. As a labor and delivery nurse, founder of Mommy Labor Nurse, and mama of 2, I know just how important preparing for birth is. What isn’t talked about enough, however, is preparing for postpartum.
Preparing for birth must extend beyond the delivery room. Postpartum is a huge transition. While there will still be difficult days and sleepless nights, even with preparation, preparing for postpartum before you give birth can make all the difference.
I’m going to unpack what you can do during pregnancy to prepare for postpartum. This includes education, supplies, mindset tips, and much more. Getting educated for birth is so, so important, but truly, I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t make sure you were ready for postpartum too!
Without further ado, here are my top 5 top tips for preparing for postpartum during pregnancy!
1. Freezer meals
This might not seem like a big thing but trust me, it is! Those first few weeks and months after having a baby are filled with a lot of things and one of those things is sleepless nights. I’m going to go ahead and speak for you but I’m guessing the last thing you want to do when you are delirious from sleep deprivation is plan, prepare, and cook a meal.
Do yourself the favor of stocking your freezer with meals before you give birth. There are a couple of ways you can make this easy and fun. Start early and double batch whatever you are making for dinner 1-2 times a week. Before you know it you’ll have a full freezer!
Another recommendation is to host a freezer stocking “party”. Invite friends, neighbors, family members over to help batch a bunch of meals. Work is always more fun with a group. To thank them? Order pizza and provide some beverages for the party.
Last tip, don’t forget about breakfast and lunch! Most people focus on dinners but it’s also important to make a few easy things you can grab for breakfast and lunch too.
2. Stock up on postpartum supplies
Another thing that can make the postpartum period significantly easier for you is stocking up on supplies. Here are the things I would make sure you have on hand:
-
Peri pads or depends
-
Dermoplast (topical antiseptic spray)
-
A peri spray bottle
-
OTC stool softener (like Colace)
-
Ibuprofen
-
Padsicles (can DIY or buy premade)
-
Tucks pads
-
Hemorrhoid balm
To learn more about the above postpartum essentials and read about others you might want to have on hand for both you and baby feel free to check out this article.
Bonus tip! Get a cheap plastic basket from the dollar store, fill it with these essentials, and keep it in your bathroom. It makes it so much easier to find things when you need them when they are all in one place.
3. Identify and build your village
Begin building your postpartum support system now. Maybe you have your village identified and maybe you don’t. Either way, I encourage you to give this some thought as postpartum isn’t a journey to be taken alone.
Identify trusted family members, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and any others you can call on if and when you need them. It might be a good idea to discuss your expectations and needs with your partner or your closest support person so you are on the same page regarding postpartum needs and support.
If it’s in the budget, a postpartum doula can be a total game changer. Postpartum doulas bring expertise and evidence-based advice to support new mamas. Some of the many things postpartum doulas can help with are:
-
Light housework and chores
-
Feeding support
-
Meal prep
-
Emotional support
-
Spot postpartum mood disorders like depression and anxiety
4. Take a breastfeeding class
If you plan on breastfeeding I cannot stress this enough! This was one area that I really, really struggled in during postpartum because I didn’t do anything to prepare. Unfortunately, my breastfeeding journey set the stage for my entire postpartum journey, and I ended up experiencing some pretty significant postpartum anxiety.
Am I saying you will experience postpartum anxiety if you don’t take a breastfeeding course? No. Am I saying you can’t be successful breastfeeding if you don’t take a course? Also no. What I am saying is that breastfeeding didn’t come as natural to me as I was expecting it to and I really wish I would have taken a class or done some kind of preparation beforehand.
5. Educate yourself on postpartum mood disorders
Another important area that all too often gets overlooked when thinking about postpartum is familiarizing yourself with postpartum mood disorders. The most common postpartum mood disorders are the postpartum “baby” blues, postpartum depression, and postpartum anxiety, but there are others.
What’s more, bring your partner or support person / people along on this educational journey. This is not to scare you about what can happen but rather to educate you so that you and your partner or postpartum village can quickly and easily recognize any possible signs or symptoms and offer the appropriate support.
Postpartum mood disorders are far more common than you might think. Not only do you go through a significant physical transformation during and after birth but you also go through a huge mental and emotional one as well.
If you currently see a therapist, maybe schedule an extra session or two leading up to your due date. If you don’t have a therapist, consider doing a little research. There are therapists that specialize in the prenatal and postpartum period. If you can find one of those, great, if not, a more general therapist should be able to help you as well.
By proactively preparing for postpartum before birth, you can create a more manageable and enjoyable transition into motherhood. Focusing on support, education, practicalities, and your wellbeing will empower you to embrace this special time with confidence. I have all the confidence in the world that you will not only rock your birth but the postpartum period as well, mama.
Liesel Teen, BSN, RN is a labor and delivery nurse, mom of 2, and the founder of Mommy Labor Nurse, where pregnant women receive the tools, knowledge, and confidence they need to have an even better birth - no matter how they deliver!
