The Importance of Planning for Your Postpartum Journey

Mar 19

Written By Ash .

Bringing a baby into the world is a life-changing experience, but the journey doesn’t end with birth. The postpartum period is a crucial time for healing, bonding, and adjusting to a new rhythm of life. Unfortunately, much of the focus during pregnancy tends to be on preparing for labor and delivery, while postpartum planning often takes a backseat. Setting yourself up for a smoother recovery and transition into parenthood can make a world of difference in your physical, emotional, and mental well-being.

Here’s why postpartum planning matters and what you can do to ensure a more supportive and healing experience.

Prioritize Your Healing: Essential Products for Postpartum Recovery

Your body has just gone through an incredible transformation, and proper recovery is essential. Having the right products on hand can help ease discomfort and promote healing. Some must-haves include:

Perineal care essentials: A peri bottle, witch hazel pads, and cooling perineal sprays can soothe soreness after a vaginal birth.
Supportive underwear and pads: High-waisted postpartum underwear and absorbent pads help manage bleeding in the first few weeks.
A sitz bath or herbal bath soaks: These can provide relief for perineal discomfort and help speed up healing.
C-section recovery items: A belly support band and silicone scar strips can aid in comfort and healing after a cesarean birth.
Nipple care products: If breastfeeding, lanolin cream or nipple balms, cooling gel pads, and breast shells can help with soreness and cracked skin.
Stool softeners and hydration: Keeping digestion smooth is key, especially after labor and pain medications. Staying hydrated and eating fiber-rich foods can also help.

Stocking up on these items ahead of time means you won’t have to scramble to get them when you’re already exhausted and healing.

Set Boundaries and Create a Visitor Plan

The excitement of a new baby often brings a flood of well-meaning visitors, but constant company can be overwhelming when you’re recovering and bonding as a family. Before the baby arrives, talk with your partner about what you’re comfortable with regarding visitors. Some things to consider include:

When and how long visitors can stay.
Who will be invited in the first few weeks and who will need to wait.
Expectations for visitors—should they bring food? Wash their hands before holding the baby? Help with chores?
How to handle unexpected drop-ins or those who may overstay their welcome.

It’s okay to say no or ask people to wait until you’re ready. Your healing and bonding time come first.

Consider Hosting a Nesting Party

A nesting party is a fun and practical way to prepare for postpartum life. Instead of a traditional baby shower, where the focus is on gifts for the baby, a nesting party is about setting up the home for postpartum recovery. Friends and family can help by:

Meal prepping and freezing easy-to-reheat meals.
Setting up a comfortable postpartum recovery space.
Organizing baby clothes, diapers, and essentials.
Stocking up on household supplies to minimize errands.

This kind of support can be invaluable in those early weeks when you’re too exhausted to think about cooking or tidying up.

Research Infant Feeding Options

Deciding how you’ll feed your baby is an important part of postpartum planning. Whether you plan to breastfeed, formula-feed, or do a combination of both, learning about your options ahead of time can make the transition easier.

If breastfeeding, consider:

Taking a breastfeeding class before birth.
Connecting with a lactation consultant for early support.
Learning about common challenges like latch issues and milk supply concerns.

If formula-feeding, you may want to:

Research different types of formula and choose one that fits your baby’s needs.
Learn how to properly prepare and store formula.
Have bottles, sterilizers, and bottle warmers ready to go.

No matter what you choose, feeding your baby should be a stress-free experience that supports both your baby’s growth and your own well-being.

Hire a Postpartum Doula for Extra Support

A postpartum doula can be an invaluable resource in the weeks after birth. Unlike a medical professional, a doula provides emotional and practical support to help you navigate postpartum life with more ease. They can:

Assist with newborn care, including feeding support.
Help you process your birth experience.
Offer guidance on healing and self-care.
Provide household support like meal prep and light cleaning.
Ensure you get rest while they care for the baby.

Hiring a doula in advance means you’ll have someone ready to support you when you need it most.

Postpartum Planning is Self-Care

The postpartum period is a time of change, and planning ahead can make all the difference. By ensuring you have the right recovery products, setting visitor boundaries, preparing your home, researching feeding options, and considering extra support like a postpartum doula, you’re prioritizing your health and well-being.

Remember, you don’t have to do it all alone. Accept help, set up systems that make life easier, and most importantly, give yourself grace as you adjust to this new chapter.