Postpartum Planner

The moment the child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new " - Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh

The first few weeks after birth, it's crucial to prioritize caring solely for your newborn baby. This means allowing yourself to rest, recover, and adjust to your new role as a mother.

➜ Your baby is growing at an incredible pace during this time and requires your undivided attention, feeding, and comfort around the clock.

➜ Maintaining your energy and well-being can allow you to provide the best possible care for your baby and strengthen the bond between you.

➜ Make sure to take breaks, rest when you can, and ask for help when needed.

The life of the mother is the life of a child: you are two blossoms on a single branch " - Karen Maezen Miller

Your newborn baby has no sense of self, and for the baby the two of you are one. The mother-baby dyad means ensuring that both of you are comfortable, safe, and in tune with one another.

➜ Skin-to-skin contact is a powerful way to enhance the mother-baby bond, as it releases hormones that help regulate your baby's temperature, heart rate, and breathing while also promoting breastfeeding.

➜ Breastfeeding provides numerous benefits for both you and your baby, including strengthening your immune system, reducing the risk of postpartum depression, and aiding in the development of your baby's digestive and nervous systems.

➜ Spending quality time with your baby and providing lots of love, attention, and nurturing is the foundation of a healthy and happy mother-baby relationship.

Contact with you activates your baby’s parasympathetic nervous system that switches off stress; enhances digestion, healing and growth, and imprints calm and connection " - Sarah Buckley

Skin-to-skin is highly recommended during the early days and weeks after birth.This delicious, intimate contact has incredible benefits to both you and your baby and needs to be protected as sacred and necessary.

➜ Skin-to-skin helps release important hormones in both of you to stimulate intense attachment and bonding.

➜ Heart rate, blood sugar levels, breathing, and core body temperature are all regulated as the baby is snuggling skin-to-skin with you.

➜ This natural urge for closeness with your baby is also known to promote successful breastfeeding, as it helps to stimulate milk production and encourages your baby to latch on and nurse.

A baby’s natural habitat is his mother’s body, she is the source of love, nourishment, safety and warmth " - Rosie Knowles

Baby wearing is the practice of using a sling or carrier to keep your baby close to your body while you go about your daily activities. It's beneficial for both you and your baby as it promotes bonding, breastfeeding, and emotional well-being.

➜ Baby wearing fosters bonding between you and your baby by keeping them close to your body and allowing you to respond quickly to their needs.

➜ Wearing your baby also promotes breastfeeding, as it allows you to nurse on demand and helps to establish a strong milk supply.

➜ Baby wearing can also be beneficial for your baby's emotional well-being, as it helps to regulate their heart rate and breathing, and provides a sense of comfort and security.

After birth, there’s a sacred window of time. A time for complete rejuvenation of a woman’s physical, mental and spiritual health. A time for deep, extended bonding with her newborn. The first 42 days after birth set the stage for her next 42 years " - Ysha Oakes

The 5-5-5 rule is a postpartum recovery plan that recommends spending five days IN the bed, five days ON the bed, and five days AROUND the bed. It’s a great way to bond with your new baby and family, breastfeed on demand, and allow your body to recover from childbirth.

➜ During the first 5 days after giving birth, it's recommended that you spend as much time as possible in bed. This will help your body recover from the physical demands of birthing, promote skin-to-skin bonding and successful breastfeeding.

➜ After the initial 5 days, you can begin to move around more, but still spend a significant amount of time resting. This might involve lying down on the bed (or couch), with your baby close by, and engaging in activities like breastfeeding, reading, or watching TV.

➜ Finally, during the last 5 days of the 5-5-5 rule, you can start to move around more and engage in light activity. This might involve sitting in a chair or going for short walks around your home. The key is to gradually build up your activity level, and avoid overexertion.

A baby’s cry is precisely as serious as it sounds " - Jean Liedloff

The different newborn cries may seem similar at first but there are some common cry cues that can help you understand your baby's needs. The cry cues are subtle and usually happen right before the big cry. Here are five common sounds and what they may indicate:

➜ Hunger cry -’Neh’: a rhythmic cry that gradually increases in intensity.

➜ Sleepy cry - ‘Owh’: a fussy cry that sounds like a whine.

➜ Gassy or need to poop cry - ‘Eairh’: a high-pitched, urgent cry that may be accompanied by facial expressions such as a furrowed brow.

➜ Physically uncomfortable cry - ‘Heh’: a whiny cry that stops when you pick up or interact with your baby.

➜ Need to burp cry - ‘Eh’: a cry that sounds like your baby is in pain and may be accompanied by leg movement or arching of the back.

Your top job as a new parent is to love your baby like crazy. After showering her with affection, your next two important jobs are to feed her and to calm her when she cries " - Harvey Karp

The 5 S's are a set of techniques developed by Dr. Harvey Karp to help soothe a crying or fussy baby. They are:

➜ Swaddle: Swaddling your baby can help them feel safe and secure, which can in turn help you feel calmer and more relaxed.

➜ Side/stomach position: Placing your baby on their side or stomach can help soothe them and encourage sleep.

➜ Shush: Using a gentle shushing noise can mimic the sounds of the womb and help calm a fussy baby.

➜ Swing: Gently rocking or swinging your baby can also help soothe them and promote sleep.

➜ Suck: Offering your baby a pacifier or allowing them to breastfeed can help them self-soothe and promote relaxation.

I’ve become sort of an accidental advocate for attachment parenting, which is a style of parenting that... basically, the way mammals parent and the way people have parented for pretty much all of human history except the last 200 years or so " - Mayim Bialik

Attachment parenting is a parenting approach that emphasizes the importance of developing a strong, secure attachment between a parent and their child. This approach is based on the idea that building a secure attachment in infancy can lead to better outcomes in later life, such as increased empathy, self-esteem, and resilience.

➜ It involves practices such as co-sleeping, babywearing, and breastfeeding, which strengthen the bond between parent and child.

➜ By responding promptly and sensitively to a child's needs, parents create a secure and nurturing environment that fosters healthy development.

➜ This approach can benefit both parent and child, leading to greater emotional regulation, more positive interactions, and a deeper sense of connection between the two.

➜ Attachment parenting can be a challenging but rewarding journey, one that requires commitment and an open heart.

Think about your kids walking around every day with two invisible red buckets above their heads. These buckets represent their emotional needs. One bucket is ‘power’ and the other is ‘attention’ " -Tia Slightham

It's important to recognize that siblings may have a range of emotional needs during this time, and to provide them with the support and attention they need to adapt to their new roles as a big brother or sister.

➜ To meet the emotional needs of siblings, give them individual attention and validation. Spend one-on-one time and offer praise and encouragement for their achievements.

➜ Siblings also require stability and routine, especially during a major family change like the arrival of a new baby. Setting up new routines and maintaining a level of predictability in their daily lives can help them adjust better.

➜ Give siblings opportunities to share their thoughts and feelings about the new baby in a safe and supportive environment.

➜ Emphasize on what they CAN do with the newborn baby, like lying next to them or holding their hand. Involving them in age-appropriate tasks like feeding, changing diapers, or holding the baby can help them feel included, responsible, and proud.

The greatest gift our parents ever gave us was each other " - Unknown

Building a strong bond between siblings can take time and effort, but it's worth it in the long run.

➜ Involve siblings in caring for the new baby. Depending on their age, they may be able to help with tasks like diaper changes, feeding, or holding the baby. Not only does this help them feel included, but it can also foster a sense of responsibility and pride.

➜ Encourage physical touch between siblings and the new baby. Holding, cuddling, and skin-to-skin contact can all help siblings bond with the new baby and develop a sense of connection.

➜ Foster positive interactions between siblings and the new baby. Encourage siblings to talk to and sing to the new baby, and celebrate their accomplishments together.

➜ Set aside special one-on-one time with each sibling. This can help them feel seen and valued, and can help them adjust to their new role as a big brother or sister.

➜ It's important to give siblings opportunities to share their thoughts and feelings about the new baby in a safe and supportive environment.

Say ‘I love you’ out loud and often' " - Mary Davis

The words ‘I love you’ carry immense power, especially during the postpartum period. Saying ‘I love you’ to one another can help foster feelings of warmth, care, and emotional well-being.

➜ Say ‘I love you’ to yourself in the mirror every day. This can help boost your self-confidence and self-love.

➜ Say ‘I love you’ to your partner and children as often as possible. This can help foster feelings of love and security.

➜ Show and receive love through actions such as hugs, kisses, and quality time spent together.

Intuition literally means learning from within. Most of us were not taught how to use this sense, but all of us know well that 'gut' feeling. Learn to trust your inner feeling and it will become stronger. Avoid going against your better judgement or getting talked into things that just don't feel right " - Doe Zantamata

It's easy to feel overwhelmed by all the advice and opinions out there, but ultimately, you intuitively know what’s best for you and your baby.

➜ You might have to learn to disregard advice projected onto you by others and mother in a way that feels intuitive and follows your heart.

➜ Practice mindfulness and engage in activities that promote mental and emotional relaxation. This can help you access and enhance your Mother’s Intuition.

➜ Journal your thoughts and feelings. This can help you identify patterns and insights that can inform your intuition.

There is a nobility in compassion, a beauty in empathy, a grace in forgiveness " - unknown

Compassion and grace are important virtues to cultivate during the postpartum period. It's easy to be hard on yourself when things don't go as planned or when you're feeling overwhelmed, but it's important to remember that you're doing the best you can. Here are some ways to cultivate compassion and grace:

➜ Practice self-care regularly. This can help you feel more grounded and centered.

➜ Talk to yourself with kindness and compassion. Instead of berating yourself for not being perfect, acknowledge that you're doing the best you can in the moment.

➜ Practice forgiveness. Forgive yourself and others for any perceived mistakes or shortcomings.

There’s no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one " - Jill Churchill

It's easy to get caught up in trying to do everything perfectly, but this can be a recipe for burnout and exhaustion. Instead of striving for perfection, focus on doing what you can and letting go of the rest. Here are some ways to let go of perfection:

➜ Prioritize self-care. This can help you feel more grounded and centered, even when things aren't perfect.

➜ Practice mindfulness. This can help you stay present and focused on the moment, instead of getting caught up in perfectionism.

➜ Celebrate small victories. Instead of focusing on what didn't go well, focus on what did go well, no matter how small.

‘I had too much postpartum support’ - said no one ever " - unknown

Asking for help can be a difficult thing to do, especially if you’re new parents and want to do everything yourselves. It takes a village to raise a child and asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Here are some ways to ask for help:

➜ Identify your needs and ask specifically for what you need and give a time frame around when you might like help and for how long.

➜ Reach out to your friends and family for help with tasks like cooking, cleaning, and running errands.

➜ Know that most of them want to be involved and would love to share in the experience.

➜ Hire a postpartum doula or other professional to provide support and guidance during the postpartum period.

A diaper caddy is a portable, organized container that holds all the essentials you need for diaper changes, making it easy to stay prepared and efficient. 

➜ Typically, it includes compartments or pockets for diapers, wipes, creams, and other changing supplies. 

➜ Many caddies are designed to be lightweight and easily portable, allowing you to move them from room to room or even take them along when traveling.