4 Benefits of having a postpartum plan
As you prepare for a baby, you’re probably spending so much time researching. You might spend a few hours trying to find the best bottle or bassinet. But you also need to spend time making a postpartum plan. A postpartum plan includes a plan for birth and immediate postpartum in a hospital or birthing center, sleep, feeding, and support. Here are four benefits of having postpartum plan.
You know what to expect
When you have a plan, you know what to expect. When you get evidence-based information about birth and postpartum, you’re better prepared. I can’t tell you how many clients tell me that they felt so much more prepared in the hospital or birthing center because they had a plan. And once they came home, they had a sleep plan that was based on realistic expectations, so they weren’t up googling how to make a baby sleep at 2 am.
other people know what to expect
The second benefit of having a postpartum plan is that everyone around you knows what to expect. For birth, I remember being at the hospital when someone I know was in labor and it was tense! Their families were arguing over who was going to go in first and everyone waited to go in, even though it was really late and the family probably wanted some time to bond.
When you make a plan and share it with family / friends, they know what to expect. It might be hard, they might not like it. But if you tell them when to expect a phone call, when they can come, and how long they can stay EARLY, they know. This goes for in a hospital or birthing center or at home.
You / your partner can be advocates
When you have a birth and postpartum plan, you can advocate for yourself and your baby. When you know your options for things like labor positions, pain management, newborn care, you can be in charge. You can tell your doctor, midwife, or nurse what you want or don’t want.
When my clients are in the hospital or birthing center, they have their birth preferences. They know what they want and don’t want. Even in case of emergencies, they know what they want. And instead of deciding if they want their baby to be given vitamin K or immediate skin to skin in the moment, they’ve already given the staff their wishes. It’s hard to advocate for what you want when you’re not sure what you want or what your options are.
you can rest and bond
Having a postpartum plan lets you focus on resting and bonding with your baby, which is what’s most important. When you have your plan for sleep, food, and other support, you can stay in bed (or on your sofa) and snuggle instead of researching or stressing or finding support.
what should you include in your postpartum plan?
When I work with clients, we make plans for birth, immediate postpartum for birth parent and newborns, postpartum physical and mental healing, visitors, feeding (the baby and the rest of the family,) sleeping, and making your home efficient and more.
If you want to know more about creating a postpartum plan, book a prenatal meeting with me today or learn more about my one-day intensive: Ready for Baby in a Day!
Hi! I'm Gigi; I'm a postpartum doula, mother to three toddlers, including twins, and a wife to my high school sweetheart. I’m a #swiftie who loves cheesy novels.
As a former teacher, I bring realistic, evidence-based, and actionable advice (and LOTS of handouts.) I help families get the tools they need to prepare, so once baby arrives, they can focus on resting and bonding instead of researching or stressing. I’m here to streamline the newborn learning curve and help birth parents, partners, and other family members. There isn’t ONE way to have and raise a little human. I’m here to guide parents to find THEIR way so that they can thrive in the fourth trimester and beyond.
Ready to learn how to create an actionable postpartum plan?
Ready to get the support you need in the fourth trimester?
Then learn about my prenatal planning services here!
