First Steps Postpartum Care

While most women research and plan for their pregnancy and birth most don’t give much thought to their postpartum. If you look at this metaphor comparing each event to climbing a mountain, how would you prepare for the third peak? Knowing your body has been working hard during the first two, how do you plan to support your recovery from birth while also experiencing postpartum and caring for a newborn?

Because your body will be healing and healthcare providers recommend limiting activities for up to six weeks, you need sustained support during those first few months. It’s not realistic to expect your partner to cover all the household chores, while supporting you and your care, bonding with your newborn, and possibly working outside the home as well.

Take a realistic look at what it takes to run your household and what things you can outsource during the postpartum period. Some can be handled by family and friends; some might require a paid service.

Think about what you might need to support your healing as well. Start looking around now and find resources in your area and have a list ready just in case. No one wants to be frantically looking up pelvic floor therapists when you are in pain. Ask your Dr or Midwife if they have any they recommend. I highly recommend everyone see a pelvic floor therapist after their 6 week OB/Midwife check up.

If you are planning to breastfeed, find a lactation consultant now, it’s good to have breastfeeding support from the beginning. While breastfeeding is natural, if you’ve never done it, there’s a big learning curve. Even if YOU have breastfed before, your newborn hasn’t and it’s a learning curve for them too. Add in figuring out a breast pump and that’s a lot of new information to be figuring out when hormones are fluctuating and you are sleep deprived.

When you’re working with a postpartum doula ask them if they have other local perinatal resources they can provide to you. This is the spreadsheet of local resources I share with all my clients. Hopefully it gives them another layer of information and support when they need it during those first few years.

I think of myself as a backup brain for my postpartum families, no one has the time or energy to research during those first few weeks and months. The goal of this resource list is to take that piece off your plate

My resources spreadsheet covers topics from pelvic floor therapists, breastfeeding support, acupuncture, chiropractors, cleaning services, mental health resources, relationship therapists, tongue and lip tie specialists, as well as community building options like playgroups, parenting classes and workout options that welcome children.

This is another perk of hiring a postpartum doula!