We generally give a lot of attention to self-care and remaining healthy during pregnancy. But sometimes, we forget to prepare for the post–partum period. The intensity of early parenthood, combined with hormonal shifts and sleep deprivation can be overwhelming. Putting a plan in place for the post-partum period before your birth can be immensely helpful in keeping stress levels to a minimum so you can enjoy your new baby.

Prepping some meals and freezing them, or setting up a meal train for friends and family to contribute can be really helpful. Nutrition is important during pregnancy but is also very important after birth. Pregnancy and breastfeeding require a lot of calories and nutrients, so a new mom needs to be replenishing her body while also fueling it to create milk. Soups, casseroles and crockpot meals all freeze well and reheat easily.

Caring for your body after birth is important. Often there is soreness in the vaginal and perianal area. Ice, witch hazel pads, and herbal sitz baths can all be very soothing. If you have stinging pain from raw spots, it can be helpful to rinse with a peri-bottle full of warm water while urinating. Soothing your nipples with an herbal salve can help with the initial discomfort associated with breastfeeding. Gentle hand expression or even just letting the warm shower wash over your breasts can help with the pain of engorgement.

It’s an old adage but “sleep when the baby sleeps” is prudent advice. Although it can be tempting to use baby’s nap time to take care of things around the house, rest is crucial in the early post partum period. If you have older children, ask friends or family to take your older kids out for a play date to give you some downtime with your newborn. Nighttime sleep is unpredictable and night wakings are frequent, so any extra rest will be helpful to your physical and mental wellbeing.

It can be hard to ask for help but having a plan and a support system in place for the first several weeks after baby is born can really change your post-partum experience!

To learn more about Rachel and her work as a sleep consultant, please visit https://seedandsew.org/