Three Tips to Prepare for Postpartum
Have you ever wondered why there are SO many resources available to educate women on pregnancy, but very little information given to us about postpartum? We know every detail of our baby’s growth and development (is your baby the size of an avocado or a squash?), we are constantly being checked up on and monitored during the entire pregnancy, and we are even offered free classes that teach us about the delivery process. But then what? What happens when that sweet baby is finally here, you drive home and there are no nurses or doctors around? Who is going to tell you what’s happening to your body? Who is going to tell you if what you're experiencing is normal or not?
After I had my first baby, I spent SO much time worrying about what was going on with my body that I missed out on some of the most precious moments of the newborn phase that I can never get back. Because of that anxiety-filled time, I have made it my mission to educate women about the 4th trimester so you don’t have to go through what I went through and waste precious time worrying about things that are perfectly normal. You deserve to enter motherhood with confidence, not fear. You deserve to spend your time and energy enjoying your baby and not stressing over hormone changes and regular bleeding. So, to help you prepare, here are three tips to help you prepare for your postpartum experience.
Tip #1: Prepare for the Baby Blues
The “baby blues” are the period of time when your hormones go through a whirlwind of adjustments for 3-4 weeks after delivering your baby. I didn’t know this was normal, so as a new mom I thought something was wrong with me when I cried for 3 weeks straight for no apparent reason! Please know that chances are, no matter how happy you are, you will cry for no reason for a few weeks after having a baby. Hormones do crazy things to our bodies sometimes! But it’s also amazing they can balance themselves back out, right? Baby blues will happen but they will also resolve on their own after a few weeks. Postpartum depression, however, does not resolve itself on its own and will last much longer than a few weeks. If you aren’t familiar with Postpartum Depression, I teach this topic in depth in my Postpartum Mini-course.
Tip #2: Lay a Healthy Foundation for Sleep
Lay a healthy foundation for your baby’s sleep by doing this simple thing: Teach the difference between day and night from day.
Keep lights on during the day. Open blinds. Let natural light in.
Keep it dark and quiet at night.
I know this sounds simple, but the majority if baby’s are born basically nocturnal. They sleep all day and are wide-awake at night! And although it is normal, it’s exhausting. Teaching your baby the difference between day and night early on will help your baby get longer stretches of sleep at night until you can start truly teaching your baby how to sleep at four weeks.
Tip #3: Get a Small Postpartum Wardrobe
Hear me out: your body just took 9 months to grow and create a human being. That’s a miracle! But because that beautiful process took 9 months, it is going to take time for your body to heal. Meaning, you will look pregnant for a while after as your uterus shrinks back in size, your body is going to bleed and ache while it heals, and your breasts will grow and change as they provide nutrients for your baby (whether you breastfeed or bottle feed, they will go through this process after delivery).
So, while your body goes through this healing journey, buy a few bigger shirts and a pair of pants that fit so you can still feel put together when you want to, without being angry at your body for not fitting into your old clothes. Your body is a miracle and it totally deserves to wear clothes that fit, no matter what stage you’re in! I didn’t do this until my third baby and it changed everything. I could go to the doctor and not feel like a mess because I actually had jeans that buttoned! Sure, they were a few sizes bigger but who cares? That’s just a number on a tag. Get yourself something that you feel good in and give your body grace while it heals.
I hope you know you were made for this, and you’re going to do an incredible job.