5 Easy Ways to Plan for Postpartum (before the baby arrives)

Planning for postpartum while you’re pregnant doesn’t need to be hard. Follow these easy steps to begin the process. Be sure to include your family and friends. Add a doula fund to your baby registry and consider dropping $10 each week of your pregnancy into a savings account to help you pay for a postpartum doula - every little bit counts!

Your postpartum time is one for healing, bonding, and readjusting to your parenting life - not a time to scramble to find support. If you’re looking for more one-to-one support, reach out!

1. Research Postpartum Professionals
   Lactation, Pelvic Floor PT, Massage therapist, Mental health therapists, etc.

2. Gather your “Village”
   Who are folks in your network you can tap to support your HEALING postpartum? Where are the baby lounges? What about postpartum yoga classes?

3. Start Saving for a Postpartum Doula
   A good postpartum doula’s role isn’t to be a glorified nanny - a postpartum doula’s role is to care for YOU, to lift any BURDENS, to focus on your healing and rest. In addition to putting a postpartum doula on your registry, consider saving for one as well.

4. Create some Freezer Meals
   Think about the foods that bring you the most comfort and start there! Remember to make meals that will be easy to digest and foods that are warm to support your healing. Try not to do a giant vat of something, but instead plan and freeze one or two meals at a time so you don’t get bored by eating the same thing.

5. Plan Beyond the 4th Trimester
   While the first three months postpartum are vital for healing and rest, you’ll find that extended postpartum needs attention as well. It’s also important to remember that PMADs tend to spike in months 6-9 postpartum when many folks no longer have support.

Need more tips for planning for postpartum? Reach out!