Planning for Postpartum
Congratulations! You're having a baby! Look through this list with your partner and discuss the questions provided. Feel free to add your own things to your plan as well. It is very important to talk openly and honestly with each other so that you can iron things out now, before the baby comes!
Baby Care
Do we want to follow the standard protocol for vaccinations?
Will our baby be breastfed or formula fed?
Will we feed on demand or on schedule?
Will we use pacifiers?
Do we want frequent skin-to-skin contact?
Do we want to receive instructions on breastfeeding, diapering, bathing and swaddling?
Do we want to save the placenta and what do we plan to do with it?
Visitors
Are visitors allowed to come to the hospital? Everyone or just close family? How many days/weeks after we take the baby home do we want to start receiving visitors?
What are the best times of day for them to visit and what’s the maximum amount of time they should stay?
What are some tasks we could ask visitors to help with and should we consider posting a list on the fridge as a reference?
Should we ask visitors to use hand soap or hand sanitizer when they enter the house?
Should we ask visitors to avoid wearing perfume?
Will we allow visitors to hold the baby?
Should we encourage visitors to ask our postpartum doula any questions they might have during their visit?
If birthing person is body/breastfeeding
Should we advise visitors that birthing person may need to breastfeed at any time during their visit and that they may not be covered up?
Should we suggest things visitors can do to help them while they're breastfeeding, such as bring them a glass of water or change the baby’s diaper?
If birthing person is napping
Should we ask visitors to help birthing person get some rest by taking care of the baby if they can, but waking them if the baby needs to eat?
Should we ask visitors to keep the house quiet during this time? Should we suggest other things visitors can do to help while birthing person sleeps?
Self care
How many hours of sleep does each family member need to function normally and how will we go about trying to achieve that?
What essential supplies will birthing person need in the first few weeks: maternity pads, several pairs of underwear, comfortable pajamas, water bottles around the house, healthy snacks, magazines, etc.?
How do we plan to keep birthing person well-nourished and hydrated? What types of music and TV shows will we find uplifting?
What other self-care practices does each family member need to follow to stay positive and happy: bath, meditation, reading, massage, walks, etc.? What are each partner’s expectations of the other during this period and how do we plan to communicate our needs to each other effectively?
Meal prep and chores
How do we plan to feed the family nutritiously in the first couple of months: previously prepared freezer meals, healthy meal services etc.?
Who will do each household chore and when? (create a detailed list) Who will look after our other children’s needs: feeding, bathing, school pick-ups and drop-offs, etc.?
Who will keep track of our postpartum appointments and all our other engagements?
Who will look after our pets?
How will we ensure our children and pets accept the new baby?
Have something else to add to the list? Let me know in the comments below!
