3 Keys to Postpartum Planning
Postpartum planning is overwhelming when you first sit down to think about it. As a postpartum doula, I have divided your planning session into three simple categories: 1. Nourishing your body, 2. Nourishing your baby, and 3. Nourishing your soul.
Nourishing yourself: Food, Rest and Mental Health
Food: Will you prepare and freeze meals ahead of your birth? Will you set up a meal train? Who can you invite to help you with your meal train? Where do you shop for groceries? What are your favorite restaurants? What nutrients and foods do you want to include in your postpartum meals?
Rest: How do you find rest in your everyday life? What do you do to re-energize after a hard night? Who can you call to watch your baby while you nap/sleep-in?
Mental Health: Learn about PMADs and the signs and symptoms of different disorders? Who can you call when you are feeling blue? What resources are available in your area for perinatal mental health support (therapists, support groups, doctors)? Who can you call when you are feeling overwhelmed?
Nourishing your baby: Milk and Sleep
Milk: How do you plan to feed your baby? What local resources are available for infant feeding (Lactation Consultants, Midwife/Doctor, Doula etc.)? Who will feed your baby? Who will you call when you need extra support with your feeding journey?
Sleep: Where will your baby sleep? Who will care for the baby at night? How will you divide responsibility for nighttime parenting?
Nourishing your soul: Visitors, Companionship and Your Partner
Visitors: Who do you want to invite into your postpartum space? Who will visit you in the hospital? Who will visit you in the first few weeks? Will your visitors be able to help with household tasks? How will you encourage visitors to leave when you need them to?
Companionship: Who can you call for a play date? What local resources are available for babies and toddler? Who would you like to invite to participate in a “friend-train”?
Your Partner: Will your partner be able to take time off of work? How long? What will it look like for them to transition back to work while you are still on leave? How will your partner best use his/her time off?
Download your postpartum planning template here.