Should you make a post partum plan?
It is very popular to plan for birth with a birth plan. You may have it in the notes on your phone or you may have it written out in your birth bag ready for labour. It is something that is highly suggested when you are preparing for birth.
But one thing that I personally think needs to be suggested more is...
A postpartum plan
A postpartum plan can be an outline of your preferences regarding how you see your fourth trimester looking. This can include healing time, how you want your environment to look, and what the setup can be like too. It can be as simple or as detailed as you want, but it can be a great way to have a clear understanding with you and your partner so you can be on the same wavelength and reduce some of the overwhelming feelings that come with newborns.
Here are 4 main areas to look at:
Physical recovery-
This area covers your healing from birth, what rest you may need and what that could look like. Thoughts on the nutrition you may need and support around the house as you recover.
Questions to prompt thoughts:
Why can help with cleaning?
What snacks and drinks do I need?
What items will I need to help with recovery? (heat packs, loose clothing, pads ect)
Emotional well-being-
Here you can focus on what needs you and your partner may need mentally. What could self care look like and what type of support system are you both expecting.
Questions to prompt thoughts:
Who do you have physically you can rely on?
Do you need to look at doulas, cleaners or a meal service to help in the early days?
Who is there to talk to honestly if things get rough?
Who does your partner have to talk to if they need it?
Infant care and feeding
Focusing on the baby, this is where looking and thinking about how you want to feed the baby looks like and how you can be supported through this time. Also, looking at how your setup would be for sleep and what you would feel comfortable with when the baby meets family, etc.
Questions to think about:
What support is out there if you need it when it comes to breastfeeding?
How would you like to feed your baby?
Would you co-sleep? What sleep surface do you need?
Who are you happy to come and see the baby in the first week after birth? And who in the second week after birth, etc.
Practical considerations:
Some areas of after the baby aren’t always discussed, such as looking at financial planning for emergencies, like needing treatments or support for the baby (tongue tie specialists or chiropractors, etc., can add up). This can be something you could prepare in advance. Other things, such as visitor management and making sure to put time in for you and Dad, are important.
Questions to think about:
Do we need an emergency fund?
How will we look after additional siblings after baby is born?
What 1:1 support do we need as a couple?
If visitors come round do we need them to bring anything or support in anyway?
Hopefully these points have been helpful to help you create a plan that can be supportive for your post partum plan.
If you would like to explore how a post partum doula can benefit you, or you want to explore how to support new born sleep then click on the links below.
Thank you for taking time to read this and allowing me to be apart of your village.
