When you're expecting, it can be easy to just focus on pregnancy and labor, but preparing for postpartum – sometimes referred to as the fourth trimester – is an important thing to plan for. 

Postpartum is such a weird season – you’re totally ecstatic to have your little one safely earth-side and healthy, but your body couldn’t feel more foreign both physically and mentally. Thankfully, I can tell you firsthand that having certain items ready to go can really help your mental and physical health during this time.

So, I’m sharing the things that helped me prepare for my postpartum season after having my baby boy. Give yourself peace of mind today – you’ll be glad you did! Here are some ideas to help you prepare for your postpartum season:

1. Prep and freeze meals in advance: There are so many freezer meal recipes, and they can relieve the stress of cooking nutrient-dense meals during postpartum. I recommend checking out Pinterest or food blogs for ideas.

2. Keep a to-do list: Your family and close friends will ask what they can do to help when they visit. Asking someone to do one small task can help you focus more on yourself and baby, and help you stay calm so tasks don’t pile up. You could also have a friend start an online meal train where family and friends can bring over a homecooked meal daily! 

3. Lean on a friend when things are getting hard: Although it is completely normal to experience strong emotions postpartum, it’s healthy to talk them out, and having a friend or family member to turn to is awesome. Don’t try to hold it together by yourself!

4. Share your feelings with your partner: It’s also good to express how you feel to your partner. You might feel frustrated that they “don’t understand.” Although your feelings are completely valid, keep in mind there is no way for them to understand unless you explain it to them. Think back to the start of your pregnancy journey; we had no idea what our own moms or friends were really going through! So, take your partner through things day by day, week by week. Speak up when you feel extremely emotional. By sharing all the hard things, you allow them to be there for you.

5. Stock up on the necessities: Get a diaper cart and store it with everything you need. The last thing you want to do is run from room to room after you’re home with a new baby – you need to rest and heal. Have the cart accessible so it can easily be restocked by you or by visiting family or friends. Use the cart for baby necessities and stuff you’ll need postpartum. Think diapers, wipes, and diaper cream.

6. And don’t forget your own necessities: Here are some things I kept on hand to help me heal:

  • Snacks! (For more on what to eat during pregnancy, check out our pregnancy food chart.)
  • Perineal spray: You’ll want this every bathroom trip. (I just kept these with pads by the toilet.)
  • Adult diapers/pads
  • Padsicles: Look them up online and make these beforehand. I just did unscented witch hazel, aloe, and essential oils, like lavender and frankincense. Use one, then wrap back up and freeze. Trust me, these are magical. You can also use a spray like Claraderm that’s made up of healing oils, which I also used to “spray down there” every bathroom trip. 
  • Quality essential oils for emotional and physical healing.

7. Don’t forget to support yourself with supplements: Your body has been through a lot. Now it needs time to recover. Some of my favorite supplements I used to support myself are:

Thorne’s Bacillus Coagulans: This probiotic promotes bowel regularity and supports GI upset, including occasional gas, bloating, constipation, or diarrhea.* I highly recommend it because you’ll want things to be super easy those first few days.

Thorne’s Basic Prenatal: It’s not just for pre-conception. Basic Prenatal also supports you through pregnancy and nursing with a complete multi formula, including active forms of folate and other B vitamins. Remember, your nutritional support needs are even higher if you’re breastfeeding!

Thorne’s Iron Bisglycinate: Even though there is iron in Basic Prenatal, you might want an additional iron supplement depending on your blood loss during delivery, particularly if you haven’t been supplementing with iron during your pregnancy. As always, consult your health-care professional about whether iron supplementation is indicated.

The takeaway

All in all, know that those first five to six weeks after giving birth can be really hard physically, emotionally, and hormonally. Get through those first few weeks, and then it’s usually smooth sailing from there! But if you do feel something is extremely off, then trust those feelings and get checked out.

Get blood work. See a pelvic floor therapist or psychologist. There is no shame in realizing something is off physically or mentally and getting professional help. You know your body best. Whatever you need, know there is no shame in needing it.

Hope this helps you in your postpartum prep!