Postpartum Planning
Just as you have a birth plan for your labor and delivery, it is wise to also have a postpartum plan.
WHY PLAN FOR POSTPARTUM
* Avoid or lessen the effects of postpartum depression
* Enhance the enjoyment of motherhood and caring for your baby
* Strengthen family bonds
* Speed recovery
It works best if you hope for the best (a quick smooth recovery), but expect the worse (recovery from a cesarean). That way should you not need the assistance required of a cesarean recovery everyone will be pleasantly surprised!
PERSPECTIVE
Not until about the past 100 years have women and families been without long term postpartum help. When families began moving away and birth moved into institutions, postpartum help became something only availbale to the wealthy. Hence postpartum depression and psychosis increases, the mother and baby couplet became more suseptible to illness and infection, and family bonds were stressed and weakened.
SIGN OF STRENGTH
Planning for help postpartum is such a wise thing to do. There are really very little drawbacks if your helpers support you and your parenting practices. Even minor help can make a HUGE difference.
WHAT SHOULD I CONSIDER TO BE HELPED WITH AND FOR HOW LONG?
A minimum of 1-2 weeks help should be planned on. If you can get help for a full month, take it!
Items to consider:
* Laundering chores
* Meals and Clean up after meal
* Light house keeping
vacuuming, emptying trash, changing sheets, run errands* Care of siblings (taking them to school, etc)
* Breastfeeding help
Even if you have just the meals taken care of, that's a huge burden lifted. It's best to make up a schedule.
CARING FOR THE BABY
Should be your job. That's the whole point of postpartum help. It's not so much a vacation as it is an opportunity to form strong loving bonds. The couple should do all the bathing, feeding, diaper changing, etc. of the baby unless you are ill or recovering from a cesarean.
WHO SHOULD I ASK?
* Family first, if available and supportive of your philosophy and parenting views. If there are teenage girls in your family, this is a great learning experience for them
* Friends - do what they can when they can
* Support groups - Church, mommy and me, La Leche, etc.
* Professional help - A Postpartum doula or all of the above
HELPFUL TIPS
* Request postpartum help as a gift instead of baby shower gifts or pool money for a gift certificate for a postpartum doula
* You could also ask for gift certificates for take out or maid service
* Make or purchase freezer meals ahead of time or have a "Dinner's in the Freezer" Shower
* Get a cordless phone and caller ID (ask for it as a gift). Screen your calls.
* Set up a diaper changing station in multiple areas of the house
* Relax and let things get messy. Your family will survive short term. It's more important to care for yourself and the baby.
* Use paper plates, etc instead of things that need washing.
* An unmedicated birth will speed your recovery and lessen the chance of interventions you'd need to heal from. Additionally you will reduce your risk of postpartum depression.
* Breastfeeding can be much easier than bottle feeding once you cross those initial hurdles.
* Try to make the meals healthy. Also speeds recovery and allows for more energy.
* Don't get out of your pajamas when people come by. It gives the impression that you don't need or want help. Do take a shower and sleep when you can, though.
* Don't be afraid to ask! If your friends and family really love you, they won't mind helping, and most of the time they truly want to help!
