My postpartum experience with my second baby was so very different than my first and I spent a long time planning how to improve it the second time around. Here are some of the things that worked well for easing into postpartum time:
Sleep
- Nursing while lying down has been a game changer
- Having our local lactation consultant’s details on standby in case I needed breastfeeding help / one to one support. I also had notes of current local free breastfeeding support places local to me
- Using a sling library and consultation to get advice and be shown exactly how to wear it properly. From then on; babywearing was so helpful! Our absolute favourite is the Integrababy Size 1
- Getting extra sleep whenever possible; when my partner can take the baby early in the morning so I could sleep more, or going to bed early, or taking any offers from family to look after the baby so I can sleep during the daytime
Batch berry crumble - Made with buckwheat flour and oats
Apres Food - Healthy Frozen Ready Meals, Delivered
Food & Supplements
- High quality supplements + electrolytes (I got recommendations from my incredible nutritional therapist, whom I highly recommend and who works remotely! https://www.anoushkadavy.com) - Batch cooking nourishing food - We got a whole extra standing freezer from Facebook Marketplace, that we put in our shed, and filled with batch cooked meals and snacks! In fact, I did the same with my first baby so now we have 2 extra freezers in the shed :D
- Any friends and family who offered to cook us meals either in advance of the baby arriving, or once she arrived, were gratefully appreciated too. I think these are the best gifts!
- If budget allows, there are some lovely postpartum doulas + batch cooking small businesses out there for support during this time
Home
- I set up breastfeeding baskets around the house, where I was planning to spend time nursing (stocked up with snacks, hairbands, reusable breastpads, cheeky wipes, muslins, nappies, water bottle, etc)
- We have a weekly cleaner which helps us so much. Even a fortnightly clean would help so much
- We did not have any visitors while in our newborn bubble (and I allowed myself not to feel guilty about it!)
I created pregnancy affirmation cards for my specific situation
Self Care & Mental Health
- I created some affirmation cards (in Canva) that were specifically tailored to help me with Tokophobia and thoughts that I had during pregnancy and I also included calming and positive cards for when the baby would be here. I put them everywhere around the house and found them really helpful
- I set up our home, family life and childcare in advance so that I could mainly rest for the first 40 days, as per the book (see link in 'Books' below). I felt that it was one of the best things I did to set me up for feeling well for long after that
- Finding local likeminded parent and baby groups, run by wise women who are very compassionate and supportive
- Accepting that I don’t need to get much done for the first year! I journaled ideas for ‘later on’ so I knew they were safely held somewhere, every time I had an idea but knew that it was not really the time for it
- Time in nature most days, like a little walk locally, or even just a short time in the garden
- I had accupuncture monthly locally with someone who specialises in fertility and understands a mother's postpartum needs very well
- This 12 minute Yoga Nidra meditation for whenever I had small pockets of time - I love Ally's relaxing voice - Epsom salt baths with lavender essential oil drops in (when I was allowed them after my c-section)
Books
Here are some books that I would recommend for this time (these could also be helpful to read if you have a friend or family member who is expecting; ways that they may feel supported):
Here are 4 of my daughters's current favourite books at around age 18 months. In our family we focus on reality based books from birth to age 6 (approximately), so these are all reality based and also I have gone further here and mainly offered books that feature animals and nature that she is likely to see or have seen around her in her daily life and outings. So, things like farm animals, pets, woodland settings and everyday objects and nature.
