You’ve kept all your appointments, followed your doctor’s orders with militant discipline, installed the car seat, and triple-checked the contents of your hospital bag – you’re officially ready to give birth. But how much thought have you put into what follows? Just as you would write a birth plan to feel more confident and prepared for the day of delivery, having a postpartum care plan helps ensure those same feelings. In the grand scheme of things, you’re in the parent phase much longer than the parent-to-be phase, so it makes sense to set yourself up for long-term success. So what is a postpartum care plan? And what should you include in yours? We have gathered some information and suggestions for you here.
What is a postpartum care plan?
A postpartum care plan picks up where you left off with your birth plan – it’s your goal and focus once you bring your baby home. The transition to parenthood can be difficult to navigate if you feel unprepared, outlining a postpartum care plan with your partner can help you parent as a united front. It is important to note that this should be a framework and address the big issues so you don’t get bogged down in the details but remain flexible. If there’s one thing you learn quickly after becoming a parent, it’s that your well-thought-out plans sometimes end up being nothing more than a mere suggestion. No matter how faithfully you follow your postpartum care plan, the conversations we suggest below can be beneficial for new parents.
What should I include in a postpartum care plan?
Parental Roles – Establishing roles in the early stages of parenthood is important to avoid burnout and resentment. When emotions are running high and sleep is at an all-time low, taking the time to communicate how you feel can seem like a daunting task. If you set your expectations before you get to this stage, it’s easier to redirect and remind yourself and your partner of your roles. Are you exclusively breastfeeding or can your partner help with bottle feeding? Who’s on diaper duty at midnight? Will someone handle the daily cleaning tasks? What about shopping? Setting expectations reduces the stress of wondering who is responsible for what and the feeling of doing everything yourself.
Visitation and Limits- Letting your friends and family know before delivery what your intentions are about the visit can help limit awkward or unexpected miscarriages and the undue stress they can cause. If you want people to respect your privacy while you’re in the hospital and not visit you until you’re home and settled, that’s fine. If you don’t want other visiting children to limit your newborn’s exposure to germs, set them the limits. Every visitor will understand – especially those who are already parents. Fellow parents will remember how scary the early days were and how uncertain they felt as they settled into their new roles. Ultimately, this time is about bonding with your baby and establishing a routine that you feel comfortable with. Anything (or anyone) that gets in the way can wait.
Recovery- Your expectation of postpartum care is something you can discuss when planning your postpartum plan. Buy items to aid your recovery early – keep them in storage and easily accessible for when you get home. A bottle of perineal cleanser, Postpartum Sitz Bath, heavy flow maxi pads, hazel pads, numbing spray, comfy clothes, nursing bras and tops, are things you’ll want to have in abundance. Plan accordingly!
Nutrition and Hydration- It may not seem possible to neglect basic needs like food and water, but between rocking, wiping, carrying, feeding and caring for your newborn, your needs are easily forgotten. Grocery delivery services are useful, but they can get expensive. Before your baby arrives, think about meals you can make ahead of time and freeze. If you have friends and family in the area, ask someone to set one up meal train can be beneficial – if that’s something you’re comfortable with. Hydration is critical for recovery and milk production. While you’re in the hospital, you’ll have nurses constantly refilling your iced water by buying a timed bottle of water Having it with you throughout the day is a helpful reminder to drink enough once you get home.
Family planning- When it comes to family planning – talking with your partner and healthcare provider about how to have sex postpartum is extremely important. Want to get pregnant again? If so, how long would you like to wait until you get pregnant again? If you don’t want to get pregnant, you’ll need to have a birth control plan. Do you want something semi-permanent like an IUD or an implant? Or more permanent like tubal ligation? If you have a c-section, do you want them to complete the tubal ligation at that time? All of these questions can be addressed when writing your postpartum plan.
Preparing for postpartum emotions- During your pregnancy you have experienced a flood of hormones and subsequent mood swings. If you thought it would be over once you had your baby, you were sadly mistaken. This rollercoaster of emotions won’t stop until your hormones return to pre-pregnancy status – which can be anywhere from six months to a year postpartum – so preparing and supplementing during this time is crucial. We supply our own Postpartum mood gummies that provide essential vitamins for hormonal and emotional support after childbirth is a great way to prepare for your return home. Also, having a quality postpartum vitamin with adequate vitamin D for mood support (like ours Total postnatal + DHA) is ideal for your postpartum and breastfeeding health. Plan accordingly so you can start taking these supplements as soon as possible.
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