Postpartum Planning

Perhaps you are heading into the third trimester, your new baby, your new bundle of joy, all of the anticipation, fear, and excitement of the last nine months is about to come to fruition. You have checked off all the things from your list - the nursery is ready, your hospital bag is packed, or your home is prepared for birthing, either way you are as prepared as you can feel for baby’s arrival...but what happens after baby is born?

Your about to enter the 4th trimester, wait! What? There is a 4th trimester?

“The medical care of women before, during, and immediately after pregnancy has long focused on the goal of achieving a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. But too often, the fourth trimester - that time between birth and 12 weeks postpartum — is swept aside” (Harvard Health Publishing, 2021).

As noted above, so much of the planning and preparation is focused on the pregnancy and the delivery. But the real change comes after your baby is born - enter the idea of postpartum planning. Planning for pregnancy and delivery only, is a little like planning for a perfect wedding day but not considering how to make the marriage successful or how to adjust to life as a married couple!

A postpartum plan is a written document you can prepare with your partner to express your wishes and preferences for life during the first few weeks and months with your new baby. As with any plan flexibility is needed, as things may change but the important part of postpartum planning is to have an idea of how you ideally want to be supported after giving birth.

Postpartum planning also creates an opportunity for conversation with your partner about the important things... such as visitors aka boundaries and figuring out, “what is helpful help” for you? Folks in your life may want to come and hold baby for hours on end, but what would be helpful is doing a load of laundry for you, walking the dog, or taking your toddler on a special outing, or perhaps knowing you can shower or nap while they are holding baby.

Postpartum plans typically include a variety of topics such as fears or worries with the postpartum period, visitors (who, how long, when – again boundaries!), sleep and rest, feeding (both you and baby), household chores, parenting roles, time off of work, mental/emotional health supports, and physical recovery from birth to name a few. 

With a quick google search you can find a variety of postpartum plans, below is one I often share with clients, or you can even create your own to fit your needs. A postpartum doula is a great option of support as well. A wise friend once told me, “raising children takes a village, and sometimes you have to pay for parts of that village”.

For pregnant individuals and their support people, I also always recommend, “Not Your Mothers Postpartum Book” a book by Caitlin Slavens and Chelsea Bodie. Often available at Mint Pharmacy in Grande Prairie, and always available online.

Postpartum Support International Postpartum Plan – https://www.postpartum.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/PP-Plan-Updated.pdf

Written by Jodi Schollaardt, MSW, RSW, PMH-C

Mental Health Therapist – Wandering North Therapy