Feather & Nest: Caring for the Postpartum Mother
From the moment a pregnancy is announced, the sole focus is on the baby and the birth. From creating the perfect, safe home to finding the perfect stroller, the new bundle of joy becomes the center of attention, and rightly so. Bringing a new life into the world is one of the greatest honors a person can experience. And the process of giving birth is one of the most intense and profound moments in a parent’s life.
However, we tend to lose sight of something equally important—the life for the mother after birth. From the time she finds out about the pregnancy, the expectant mother’s focus shifts from herself to the new life she is growing. But what about her care and well-being after the pregnancy?
To help ease the transition for both baby and mom, it’s important to plan for both their lives after birth, which can be done by developing a postpartum care plan.
A postpartum care plan is essential for transitioning into motherhood. Not only will it help to lessen the risk of the new mom developing postpartum depression, but it will help ease her overall anxiety levels so she can focus on adjusting to her new life.
For the best plans, there are five crucial components to include.
Sleep
One of the most important preventative measures against PPD is the amount of sleep a new mom gets. To help her get at least 4 hours of uninterrupted sleep, consider these options:
Sharing nighttime shifts with the other parent
Hire a sunrise doula, or have a family member come over for 4 hours each morning so mom can sleep.
No matter which direction is chosen, it’s critical that the new mom get these few hours of uninterrupted sleep. Not only will she become less likely to develop depression, but she will feel more capable to handle what each new day brings.
Food
Having a nutritious and balanced diet is essential for postpartum recovery and building breastmilk supply. To help out with this important part, the care plan should include:
Preparing freezer meals ahead of time before the baby’s arrival
Family members offering to prepare one or two dishes a week to help feed the family
Meal and snack prepping for the week ahead for easy-to-make, nutritious snack food.
Housework
One of the biggest challenges for any new mom is balancing the needs of her newborn and the household. Being a new mom can feel like two full-time jobs in itself, so to help with household duties, consider these options:
Will the other parent take over cleaning duties or grocery shopping for the mother in the first few months?
Hire a temporary cleaning service to do a deep clean of the house once a week
Consider hiring a grocery delivery service to the house
Body Care
After birth, a woman can feel like a foreigner in her own body. As her body adjusts to life after pregnancy, it is crucial for the new mom to have these essentials at her disposal:
“Padsicles” for the weeks after birth
Nursing clothes
Nipple cream
Sitz bath materials
Ensuring that she has these items will help her body adjust to life without a baby and help her feel more comfortable in her own skin.
Partner Care
The time after the baby is born completely changes a relationship. As you both adjust to life as new parents, it is still important to keep each other in mind. You can help each other prepare and adjust to new parenthood by deciding how you will share in caring for the baby while still maintaining household responsibilities.
For instance, creating a list of how you’ll equally divide responsibilities up is helpful. Discussing these things ahead of time can help you avoid miscommunications that can happen when hormones are heightened and you aren’t getting much sleep.
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The time after a baby is born is crucial for both mother and child. To help prepare for the future, reach out to me for postpartum counseling via my contact form.
