Postnatal Planning: Essential Tips for a Smoother Transition
Preparing for a baby’s arrival often focuses heavily on the birth itself, but planning for the postnatal period is equally crucial. We often underestimate the profound physical, mental, and emotional impact of carrying and birthing a baby. Did you know it takes about two years for a woman’s body to fully recover from pregnancy and childbirth? That’s huge!
Even with an ideal birth experience, time and support are vital for physical recovery and adapting to life as a new mother and family. Ideal births are rare, and difficult or surgical births require even more recovery.
As you recover from birth, you’re also on a steep learning curve, figuring out how to be a mother and care for a baby. Your home life and relationship dynamics change drastically, and everything takes on enormous importance. There are countless decisions to make every day. It’s hard to imagine this while you’re pregnant—I remember feeling like I was on the edge of a precipice, unable to see what was on the other side.
Societal pressures add to the stress, with an expectation to have it all together and radiate that new mom glow. The reality is way more complex. By planning and setting up support systems beforehand, you can better navigate the overwhelming early days and months. Asking for help can be tough, so putting a few things in place now will make it much easier when you need it.
Here are my top recommendations for a smoother postnatal experience:
1. Placenta Encapsulation
This process can significantly improve your sense of self, emotions, physical energy and recovery by harnessing the power of your placenta’s feel-good hormones, stem cells, iron, and other essential elements. Boosting mood, energy, and breast milk production is a game-changer! Book your encapsulation, have your placenta picked up, and enjoy the benefits within days. This is the simplest, fastest and most cost effective way to impact your post natal experience.
2. Hire a Doula
Having personal, caring support during and after birth is incredibly powerful. A doula helps you feel safe and empowered, providing a level of personalized care that hospitals often can’t match. They support your entire family, ensuring everyone feels safe, supported, and confident. This is priceless.
3. Book an Osteopath Appointment ASAP
Birth is a physical ordeal for both mother and baby. An Osteopathic appointment soon after birth can address issues that, if left untreated, can lead to difficulties. This goes for the baby too! Sometimes an unsettled baby is simply a baby in pain. An adjustment can help with breastfeeding, settling, sleeping, and digestion. I’ve seen babies transform from “upset and unsettled” to calm and relaxed after treatment. My top recommendation is Osteo4Kids.com.au ask for Miranda Cox, she is amazing!
4. Create a Support Network with a Twist
Pre-plan your support roster by enlisting friends and family to organize a emotional and practical support as well as a meal tree. Be specific about your needs, whether it’s dietary preferences or help with shopping and laundry. Quick visits for a cup of tea or a check-in phone call can make a big difference. Think about what alleviates your stress and include those things.
Dare to be specific. The more detailed your requests, the better your support circle can provide exactly what you need. Have loved ones commit to their offerings before the baby arrives so you can focus on the monumental task of bringing new life into the world. Assign a coordinator to be your point person, ensuring you have one contact to manage instead of juggling multiple helpers. Embrace the power of asking for help—it fosters a sense of community and connection during this transformative time. Talking about this with loved ones ahead of time, makes it much easier to act on when the time comes. I had one client who wrote her specific wishes on a little card with a beautiful hand drawing and sent it to her circle.
There are some apps to make this simple such as https://www.mealtrain.com/ https://takethemameal.com/
5. Meal Prep or Delivery Services
Nutritious meals are vital for recovery, but cooking can be daunting with a newborn. Stock your freezer with pre-made meals or sign up for a delivery service to take the pressure off meal prep.
6. Know Your Neighborhood
We are not meant to mother in isolation. This modern-day problem leads to depression. Research local postnatal support groups—mother and baby groups, walking groups, online communities, reading time, or mother-baby yoga. These should be local and easy to get to. Feeling connected is essential. Being with other new mothers will help you make new friends. Knowing what’s available locally before you need it will help you access it when you do.
7. Allocate Self-Care Time
Set aside time for yourself, whether it’s taking a warm bath, enjoying a cup of tea, or taking a gentle walk. Prioritizing your well-being is crucial. I recommend my Birth Bliss birth hypnosis tracks to help you wind down, relax, and trust yourself during this time.
Remember, the postnatal period is a whirlwind of emotions and challenges. With preparation, you can feel less isolated and more supported as a new parent. Your well-being is the cornerstone of the whole family’s well-being, and getting good at asking for help is the key!
Plan to Ask for Help Sooner Rather Than Later
New mums and women in general, often feel like our needs are too much trouble and hold off on getting help. It can be hard to prioritize funds for yourself. Change this mindset now. Plan to reach out as soon as you sense a need. There’s no need to hold off and risk normal challenges becoming chronic. Have a list of help ready with a number of options to call. Here’s a sample list:
- Massage
- Lactation consultant
- PANDA
- Counseling
- Doula
- Cleaner
- In-home meal prep
- Friends and family ready to come when called
- Somatic release or bodywork
- Online Mother’s Groups
What can you think of?
Birth is a continuation of life
You birth how you live, how you do things is how you will do this. At the same time, birth is a peak moment of transformation, it is a profound opportunity. If you are often isolated or overly independent, if you find it hard to ask for help or to say no, if you have not learned how to listen and trust your body… this can be a chance to make a powerful change.
See my list of postnatal care recommendations and discounts here: Post Natal Support