Preparing for Postpartum

Practical tips on what parents can have prepared ahead of the arrival of their newborn.

Reach out for help ahead of time

A Doula may recommend that parents look at their current routines and assess who can help take over certain elements once baby arrives.

Consider the things you do everyday such as; who is going to walk the dog, who will cook meals and who can drop any older children to school.

Decide when is best for visitors to come

Ahead of baby’s arrival, it is advised for parents to have a conversation with friends and family members about the best time for them to visit their newborn.

Have realistic expectations for family and visitors to say for example “we know everyone is super excited to meet our newborn and around week three, we’re going to get in touch and arrange a time for you to come”.

Perhaps you might not want visitors even though everyone’s just really excited to meet the new baby. It can be a very raw time for new parents.

New mums might have bleeding, may be experiencing night sweats or could simply just be exhausted, therefore mums may not be in the humor to have visitors, although visitors coming to the door and leaving off food parcels is always welcome!

It is important for visitors to stick to the visiting time agreed, as there is a reason for that time that’s been given – sticking around the sleeping schedule or the naptimes of the child, if you’re half an hour late, that’s really going to mess up the child’s schedule.

Plan practical support

Whether it’s arranging a doula or a lactation consultant, if you’re going to get some ready made meals into the freezer or if you’re going to arrange for a cleaner to come once a week, putting these types of plans in place ahead of time can really help.

Can your friends and family help with gift vouchers for services? Everyone has loads of blankets and onesies, what parents really need is practical supports in those early newborn weeks.

Organise your hospital set up

Doulas will often describe birth as a very intimate thing and for some families, coming to the hospital can be quite off putting.

Try to get your home experience replicated into the delivery room – bring your own pillow, your own favourite smell that you can put onto your pillow, bring tea lights, photos, affirmations, have a playlist of songs that have an emotional connotation for you.

Creating a comfortable environment in a hospital room is a huge part of what doulas can help with.

Doulas help set the scene for the birth and a doula can help by chatting with the midwife while mum and dad lock eyes and zone in on each other for the labor and the birth.