Planning Your Postpartum
Bringing home a new baby is an exciting and life-changing experience, but it is also overwhelming. Between sleepless nights, healing from birth, and adjusting to your new roles, the postpartum period is a time when support and preparation make all the difference. That’s why having a clear postpartum plan is essential.
Most Common Postpartum Planning Mistakes
Planning for postpartum was the hardest part for me, it is for most! I thought I was going to be able to wing it and that people would be flocking to help – in reality, people wanted to hold the baby more than help me. I don’t blame them! The newborn phase is rare and fleeting, but that time should have been a focus on me too.
SOME THINGS MOST NEW PARENTS MISS (and I did too!):
Sharing expectations early on – I didn’t clearly communicate my needs ahead of time, leaving people unprepared for the boundaries I wanted to set.
Being decisive about boundaries – I hoped others would be as flexible as I needed, but in reality, not having clear boundaries led to unnecessary stress.
Planning for meal support – I expected people to offer food, but often it came as an exchange: We’ll bring food if we can hold the baby. This made it feel transactional rather than caring.
These struggles taught me that postpartum planning isn’t about controlling every detail—it’s about creating space for your needs, setting expectations, and making sure you have the support that allows you to recover and bond with your baby without added stress.
Key Areas to Think About
Support System & Help – Who in your circle enjoys cooking, running errands, or offering emotional support? Having a list of trusted helpers makes it easier to delegate when you’re exhausted.
Partner Support & Shared Responsibilities – Parenting is a team effort! Discuss how you’ll divide diaper changes, night shifts, and household tasks before baby arrives.
Visitor Guidelines – How long do you want before welcoming visitors? What are your rules about handwashing, kissing the baby, or bringing a meal? How will you handle people showing up uninvited or kissing the baby after you asked them not to? Setting expectations in advance reduces stress later.
Rest & Recovery – Plan for a comfortable recovery space and prioritize sleep. Healing takes time, and having a plan in place ensures you get the rest you need.
Communication & Boundaries – Prepare gentle but firm ways to communicate your needs and redirect unhelpful advice. Your well-being comes first!
Why You Need a Postpartum Plan
Most parents spend months preparing for birth, but what about the weeks after? A postpartum plan helps you:
Identify your support system so you know who to call on for help.
Set boundaries around visitors to protect your rest and bonding time.
Divide parenting responsibilities with your partner so one person isn’t carrying all the weight.
Create a restful environment to support your healing and recovery.
Communicate your needs clearly so family and friends know how to support you in meaningful ways.
As a postpartum doula, my training and experience have shown me just how vital this planning is.
A postpartum doula specializes in nurturing both parents and baby during the early weeks—offering physical, emotional, and practical support. That can mean helping with newborn care, assisting with feeding, supporting parental recovery, guiding partners on how to share responsibilities, and ensuring that the whole family is adjusting well. I’ve seen firsthand how a little planning can create a much smoother and more supported postpartum experience!
My focus as a postpartum doula is to create resources for those who want to DIY their postpartum planning or for those who, for any reason, don’t want to or are unable to hire a postpartum doula. Having the right tools and knowledge can help you to make your postpartum experience as smooth and supported as possible within your circumstances!
Stay Tuned for A Postpartum Planning Workbook
Want to go deeper in creating your personalized postpartum plan? Our Postpartum Planning Workbook provides guided prompts, checklists, and scripts to help you confidently prepare for life after baby comes home. With dedicated space for working through all the tough questions, this workbook is designed to make the transition smoother for both you and your family.
