1. Allow yourself to be cared for.
Write a list of tasks for your support team to complete, like a daily checklist of tasks you would normally do on an average day so your support people can complete any jobs without disturbing you. This can also be super helpful if your a person that doesn't like asking for help like me. Your family and friends want to help you, let them fill up their cups by caring for you.
2. Warm fluids and foods
Consider warm fluids and foods in those first few weeks after birth. Bone broths, teas or water with honey and lemon and rich vegetable soups are nutrient dense and healing. A nutritious diet will not only help you physically heal but also provide you with a sense of comfort and a sense of warmth and love in those first few tough weeks.
3. Rest - No actually rest!
In the first few weeks baby has no sense of day and night, newborn's often breastfeed 12-18 times a day in the first few weeks. Try to minimize visitors and nap frequently to allow your body time to heal after the strenuous act of growing and birthing a baby. Consider deactivating social media so you and your partner can "just be" while you are soaking up your new baby and adjusting to new parent life in those first few days and weeks.
4. Create a postpartum cave.
Where will you spend those precious few weeks getting to know your baby. Consider creating a safe, relaxing space for you and babe to chill in those first few weeks, a basket with snacks and warm fluids will help replenish you during those breastfeeding / baby settling marathons. Consider the smells you like to be immersed in, the type of light, your bedding and pillows. This is the place you will heal, bond and transform as a parent, you deserve this!
5. Consider a birth debrief
Birth doesn't always go to plan, trauma can prevent us from bonding with our babies, impact our milk supply and affect our ability to physically heal. A birth debrief "birth healing session", can help you unpack your story, it provides you with a safe space to share your version of your story, get an explanation of why things may have happened the way they did and help you start the journey towards emotional healing.
6. Care for your breasts
If you have any pain while breastfeeding its important to modify babies positioning to assist pain free attachment. For ongoing pain accessing a post partum support service may be able to help with a few tips and tricks to help babies positioning and reduce the pain. Your local lactation consultant or local possums accredited practitioner are also an amazing resources for assistance with breastfeeding.
7. Care for your vagina / wound.
Ice packs applied for 20 minutes every 2 hours for the first few days can provided some much needed comfort and soothing while also improving healing post vaginal birth. Fill an empty pump water bottle with water and squirt while urinating and post passing stools, this can take the edge off that sting while also cleansing the site of stitches or hemorroids if present. Always gently pat dry with toilet paper post toilet.
The "no lifting" for 6 weeks post C/S really is essential to allow your body to heal, you have just experienced major abdominal surgery with is a huge feat to recover from.
Post all modes of birth, a small foot stool can be helpful for that first post birth poo as it helps to prevent straining.
You may bleed for around 6 weeks post partum, regardless of mode of birth, consider investing in some heavy duty period underwear, I personally love the modibodi french cut high waist design as it helps support my tummy, provides great period coverage, can be more comfortable while healing then synthetic options and is environmentally sustainable (not sponsored).
8. Invest in some heat packs
Involution pain is caused by your uterus beginning the process of returning to its pear like shape. Pains can be made worse by breastfeeding as the release of oxytocin stimulates your uterus to contract. Heat packs are a comforting and effective wat to help take the edge of the pain, its also safe to take nurofen and panadol if required.
9. Leave it to your partner or extended family.
Birthing then feeding and caring for a newborn is hard work. Consider leaving the settling to another care giver, it provides them with a beautiful chance to bond and may give you the opportunity to get a nice long shower, nap or "just be" without a babe attached to you for a moment.
Remember, they want to help and most of the time they are also squirming for a newborn snuggle.
10. Outsource!
Consider requesting gifts of meals instead of baby teddies and clothes. Add a chilled cooler to your doorstep with instructions like "thankyou for your beautiful meal, please text when dropped so I can collect when awake" friends can then drop their meals off to you so its easy for them to give and you to receive.
Consider adding a postpartum support service to your baby shower list. A beautiful new pram may look lovely but a professional support person can make life a whole lot easier in those first few days.
Feel free to drop me a message to develop your personalized postpartum plan or book your postpartum support service.
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