Setting yourself up for the best postpartum experience possible

Written By: Ali Glinsky, Certified New Parent Educator.

As a new parent educator, I work with families in many capacities and I love to give them real, actionable tools to set themselves up for a successful postpartum experience.

I often recommend in lieu of baby gifts to ask for contributions to a postpartum doula fund. To have even a few hours a week of this kind of care can really make all the difference in a smooth transition postpartum. Also, with doulas varying experiences, you can usually find one within your budget. I often find the doulas that are just starting out are eager and beyond capable of providing the necessary support immediately postpartum at a fair price.

Here are some additional tips that you can do for yourself to prepare for the early days postpartum.

Prepare some easy and freezer friendly meals before you deliver. I love to make a big batch of Iasagna for easy dinner portions to freeze and also I encourage moms to have breakfast items such as individual frozen oatmeal or frozen nutrient rich muffins so mom can make sure to nourish herself in the morning after what can be long nights.

In the time of a pandemic, things have gotten more complicated as far as relatives coming to see and help with the baby and even having additional support outside your immediate household. In these cases I highly recommend a sit down with your partner before the baby arrives to go over some logistical tasks and expectations you can agree on. Figure out what policies you are going to enforce with visitors and family and any outside help ( ie vaccines, flu shots, mask wearing,etc.) and think about your daily life and what things might fall by the wayside once the baby arrives. Often that can look like pet care, laundry and other chores in the early days with a newborn. What are some tasks you can outsource or your partner can pick up from you during the first few weeks to lighten your load while you recover? Talking about these things early and often will relieve some of the stress having a new baby brings naturally between couples.

If you plan to breastfeed, it's great to do a little research or get a referral for a lactation professional should you need one once you deliver. Taking a breastfeeding class in person or virtually is also extremely beneficial. Lactation professionals are trained to help you manage most breastfeeding issues and can offer alternative positions and work with you to make nursing the most comfortable, enjoyable experience possible. It's nice to have someone to call should you need extra support that you have been referred to or you researched while pregnant.

Another tip, don’t buy too much baby gear! We come from a society that places so much emphasis on newborn sleep and you hear friends swear by this and that product, but truly you don’t know what you need until you have the baby. If your baby has reflux or simply hates the expensive swing you may be in for an item that was pricey and didn't get much use. I like to tell parents to always have a babywearing carrier or wrap, a safe sleep space, as well as a diaper changing station. You can figure out what you need and what the baby might like as you get to know each other in the early days.

Lastly, I like to help parents to find some resources prenatally, as I mentioned about breastfeeding but also babycare and postpartum care for the mother should she need it. Once a baby arrives a lot of mothers are overwhelmed and it helps to have moms do some research and have some names on tap to call if they run into any roadblocks.

Having a baby looks different for every family but preparation can never hurt and often can help if families are struggling. Wishing you lots of joy with your new bundles!

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