My Postpartum Toolkit

My postpartum experience with my second baby was so very different than my first and I spent a long time planning how to improve it the second time around. Here are some of the things that worked well for easing into postpartum time:

Sleep

- Nursing while lying down has been a game changer
- Having our local lactation consultant’s details on standby in case I needed breastfeeding help / one to one support. I also had notes of current local free breastfeeding support places local to me

- Using a sling library and consultation to get advice and be shown exactly how to wear it properly. From then on; babywearing was so helpful! Our absolute favourite is the Integrababy Size 1
- Getting extra sleep whenever possible; when my partner can take the baby early in the morning so I could sleep more, or going to bed early, or taking any offers from family to look after the baby so I can sleep during the daytime

                        Our favourite gluten free bread - recipe here

Batch berry crumble - Made with buckwheat flour and oats

Apres Food - Healthy Frozen Ready Meals, Delivered

Food & Supplements

- High quality supplements + electrolytes (I got recommendations from my incredible nutritional therapist, whom I highly recommend and who works remotely! https://www.anoushkadavy.com)

- Batch cooking nourishing food - We got a whole extra standing freezer from Facebook Marketplace, that we put in our shed, and filled with batch cooked meals and snacks! In fact, I did the same with my first baby so now we have 2 extra freezers in the shed :D

- Any friends and family who offered to cook us meals either in advance of the baby arriving, or once she arrived, were gratefully appreciated too. I think these are the best gifts!

- We also stocked up with healthy ready meals (I’ve loved Apres Food, Cook and Mindful Chef's frozen ready meals). I often add extra cooked vegetables to add to the meal, to make the amount go further)

- If budget allows, there are some lovely postpartum doulas + batch cooking small businesses out there for support during this time

Home

- I set up breastfeeding baskets around the house, where I was planning to spend time nursing (stocked up with snacks, hairbands, reusable breastpads, cheeky wipes, muslins, nappies, water bottle, etc)

- We have a weekly cleaner which helps us so much. Even a fortnightly clean would help so much
- We did not have any visitors while in our newborn bubble (and I allowed myself not to feel guilty about it!)

I created pregnancy affirmation cards for my specific situation

Self Care & Mental Health

- I created some affirmation cards (in Canva) that were specifically tailored to help me with Tokophobia and thoughts that I had during pregnancy and I also included calming and positive cards for when the baby would be here. I put them everywhere around the house and found them really helpful

- I set up our home, family life and childcare in advance so that I could mainly rest for the first 40 days, as per the book (see link in 'Books' below). I felt that it was one of the best things I did to set me up for feeling well for long after that

- Finding local likeminded parent and baby groups, run by wise women who are very compassionate and supportive
- Accepting that I don’t need to get much done for the first year! I journaled ideas for ‘later on’ so I knew they were safely held somewhere, every time I had an idea but knew that it was not really the time for it

- Time in nature most days, like a little walk locally, or even just a short time in the garden

- I had accupuncture monthly locally with someone who specialises in fertility and understands a mother's postpartum needs very well

- This 12 minute Yoga Nidra meditation for whenever I had small pockets of time - I love Ally's relaxing voice

- Epsom salt baths with lavender essential oil drops in (when I was allowed them after my c-section)

Books

Here are some books that I would recommend for this time (these could also be helpful to read if you have a friend or family member who is expecting; ways that they may feel supported):

- The first 40 days - by by Heng Ou, Amely Greeven, Marisa Belger

- The postnatal depletion cure - by Dr Oscar Serrallach

- The fourth trimester - by Kimberly Ann Johnson