I’m definitely not an expert on anything. But having had 4 pregnancies in 7 years, I have learned a few things about how to prepare for postpartum recovery. Here are some of my favorite tips to pass along that I often don’t hear other people mention.
I’ll leave a simple synopsis of my list here. Keep reading if you want all the dirty details!
- Don’t let the first two weeks fool you
- There’s no such thing as being too prepared
- Stock up on household essentials
- Make wiggle room in your budget
- Have something to look forward to
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#1 The First Two Weeks of Postpartum Recovery May Be The Easiest
And to be clear, this will look different for everyone! There are many factors that play a role in what may be harder or easier in your experience. I’ve had postpartum recovery experiences that were harder physically while others were much more emotional.
Generally speaking however, the first two weeks of postpartum recovery have been the easiest for me. We’re all still in the honeymoon stage of newborn snuggles, my husband has some time off work, and I’m just so happy to not be pregnant anymore! That’s also the time when friends and family are usually offering to watch older children and bring food. By the third week, the new has worn off, hormones are crashing, and vacation time has been used up. You also may feel the effects of little sleep starting to impact you.
For my fourth postpartum recovery experience, I’m planning on asking friends and family to space out how they help a bit more. For the first week after the baby is born, my husband will be home to help me and our older children. We may have the older children spend one night with grandparents the day that baby is born. I’m going to ask that the overnight or day trips to friends and family take place after my husband has gone back to work and I’m home alone. That way I can actually rest when the baby rests.
#2 You Can’t Be Over Prepared!
Postpartum recovery can be tricky in that you have no idea what you may face. So many things play a role in how you enter into postpartum. Unexpected events during labor and birth, your support network, the time of year, etc. can change drastically from one experience to another. I always work on preparing my mind first and foremost for postpartum. Praying over my mental health and asking God for His guidance and help is the single most important thing I can do to be prepared.
I also do my best to prepare my body for birth by being mindful of resting, stretching, sitting, and eating in a way that helps my body and baby prepare for labor. Our physical environments also impact our postpartum recovery experiences! I know that I’m going to be spending a lot of time in my bedroom and living room for the first month of recovery. I’ve been working on decluttering those spaces and making them feel welcoming. We don’t have a large budget for home decor, but I’m sprucing some things up by adding twinkle lights so I can have soft lighting for nighttime feedings. Comfy blankets, pillows, a basket with all the postpartum essentials, whatever it is that will help you to settle in should be a priority in getting your home ready for baby.
I also compiled a list of easy meals and snacks to have on hand for the first month. Having enough ingredients or pre made meals to be used 2-3x each is helpful.
#3 Make Postpartum Recovery Easier By Stocking Up On Consumable Household Items
If you are like most American households, the woman tends to be in charge of grocery and household purchases. We all probably know the importance of having a plan for food during postpartum recovery, but what about household items? One thing I have forgotten consistently in my last three postpartum experiences was to stock up on consumable household items that are used daily. These are items that you can’t really make do without. By having these in surplus, I won’t have to arrange last minute trips into town or send someone else.
Grocery shopping is a lot less stressful with the advent of grocery delivery and pickup in the last decade. However, many American households live in areas that still don’t have access to these luxuries. My local Walmart only just got grocery pickup within the last two years, and grocery delivery isn’t available in our area. To save some hassle I’m planning on having a couple of months worth of household supplies already here. In addition to items that we regularly buy, I’m planning on “splurging” on some disposable or compostable items as well. We don’t have a dishwasher, so it’s a little gift to my husband and myself to save some extra dish washing.
Some examples are:
- Laundry detergent
- dish soap
- dishwasher detergent
- hand soap
- toothpaste
- toilet paper
- contact solution
- shampoo/conditioner/body wash
- deodorant
- Diapers/pull ups for older siblings
- parchment paper (this makes clean up from baking so much easier!)
- Aluminum pans (not a usual purchase for me, but there’s a place for them!)
- compostable/disposable plates, cups, and cutlery
- paper towels
- paper napkins
Have Some Breathing Room In Your Budget for Convenience Items
We really try to keep our budget as simple as possible. I make most of our food from scratch and it’s fairly rare for us to have prepackaged or convenience foods. We also don’t eat or order out very often. I let this slide a bit more when in the early stages of postpartum. Convenience costs more but I’m willing to trade the extra money for ease if it means retaining my sanity. We will probably order out a few times in the weeks after my husband returns to work. It may even be something as simple as him picking up a rotisserie chicken and some prepackaged salads at the store.
If you are on a really restricted budget, I would recommend that you try to at least have some no fuss options in your freezer. Hot dogs, frozen pizza, stir fry kits, etc. Things that can be hidden away for those hard days. As part of your baby registry, you could add items like gift cards to local restaurants and meal kit delivery services for some easy meals without going over budget. I also plan to use gift cards to places like Target or Walmart for items that we don’t usually buy, like prepackaged granola or organic cereal. This can help ease the burden of meal prepping and budgetary restraints.
Planning A Homebirth?
My top tips for preparing your home, mind, and body, for a homebirth!
#5 Have Special Things To Look Forward To
Postpartum recovery means allowing yourself to rest! I don’t usually spend a lot of time watching TV or reading during the weekdays. When I’m recovering from having a baby though, down time is a must! Maybe this is the time you finally watch a series or movies you’ve wanted to get to for a long time. I’m planning on reading a lot more too! Find something you’ve been wanting to read or watch for a while and make it a priority. Here are some things I’m looking forward too to help me rest and recover:
- Taking a daily bath or shower in peace with my favorite soap or bath oils
- Take care of my skin with my favorite skincare
- Sitting outside for some fresh air
- Reading or listening to some books on Scribd while nursing my baby
- Watching my favorite period dramas
- Getting copies of some fun magazines I don’t usually buy
It doesn’t have to be anything expensive, but taking time to care for your body and lovingly let it recover will help your mind and body to transition from pregnancy to motherhood. No matter how many babies you have had before, your body always needs this time to reset. Once I’m cleared to be more active I also plan to purchase a postpartum recovery program. It focuses on helping women to gently rebuild strength in their pelvic floor and core muscles. You can find similar programs for free on YouTube, but I want to make a commitment to myself to actually rebuild my body this time. Making a financial “investment” in a program will make me actually use it! I’m planning on using this program created by a mom of four and Dr. of Physical Therapy.
Postpartum Recovery Can Be A Mini Vacation
I had hoped this would be the summer I could resume some of my favorite activities and goals. To be 100% honest, I was struggling with the thought of this being yet another summer without a vacation, kayaking, or expanding my garden. I’ve had to work on re framing my goals and dreams for this season of my life. I plan to keep it incredibly simple, but still have some things to enjoy and look forward to (beyond the sweet newborn snuggles of course!). Picking wildflowers from the roadside, going to the creek so the kids can splash, making homemade ice cream on a hot afternoon, etc. We’ve been dreaming up simple things to enjoy that won’t exhaust me and will still be special for my older children.
Whether this is your first postpartum recovery experience or your tenth, I hope that you are able to prepare your mind and body and look forward to a season of rest. Help yourself out by doing what you can, and don’t make or let yourself feel rushed! Every experience is different.
Shalom and happy recovering!
Olivia