My Postpartum Plan (What I'm Doing Differently This Time)

what I learned from my first two postpartum experiences

The postpartum season is beautiful and messy... despite the exhaustion, there is nothing quite like holding your newborn in your arms (and I truly can’t wait for that!!!). However, after my first two pregnancies, I felt totally drained, depleted and exhausted, with a lot of pressure to resume regular life as well as “bounce back” to my normal body. This postpartum season with baby #3, I want to do a few things differently...

Stressing Less

One major thing I want to do differently this time is stress LESS, and just be more laidback in general! With my first, I had postpartum anxiety pretty bad right afterwards that lasted for the first year. With my second I was *better,* but I still stressed myself out about small details like logging how many times she peed in a day and measuring the ounces gained after feedings. Now, I feel SO much more confident in myself because I’ve already done this twice before and I know exactly what to expect - and that I’m capable of handling it. And with three kids, our only option is pretty much to just go with the flow!!

Collecting Colostrum

For me, one of the hardest parts about birth are those few stressful days between delivery and when my milk supply comes in. I find this period SO stressful because I never know if my baby is getting enough to eat. (By the way, colostrum is the nutrient-dense, antibody-rich first form of breast milk that is often called “liquid gold” - and most women begin producing it before they even give birth.) In the past, we’ve ended up supplementing with formula during those couple of days to ensure that the baby is getting enough. This time, I am collecting colostrum BEFORE the baby even gets here! I got this kit from Amazon and I plan on bringing the colostrum with me to the hospital and having some at home *just in case.* This is not a replacement for breastfeeding, but rather to supplement and give me peace of mind that she is getting enough to eat!

Fully Embracing Rest

I’ve heard this referred to as the 5-5-5 Rule after birth: 5 days in bed, 5 days on the bed (minimal movement), and then 5 days near the bed (staying home). With every other postpartum experience of mine, I have been up and moving right away - we took Kennedy on a walk the day that we got home from the hospital! I think that initial adrenaline rush postpartum gets me moving, but I always crash hard after a few weeks. This time I am giving myself permission to truly STAY IN BED for as many days as possible - even with two other kids, I think we can make it happen and I think it will make a big difference! I’ve already stocked up on a few things that make being in bed all day feel a little more enjoyable… comfortable pajamas, nursing-friendly nightgowns, cozy slippers, the best nursing bras, and a good robe. Check out the blog tomorrow for a full round-up of everything I bought to wear postpartum.

Taking a True Maternity Leave

Similar to the point above about resting, I do plan to take a true maternity leave this time. When you own your own business, it’s really hard to step away for a few weeks (let alone a month) - it can mean an immediate loss in income that can be impossible to make up for throughout the rest of the year. With my first two babies, I never really took a true maternity leave... returning to filming, posting and accepting sponsored campaigns just days after giving birth. With my third baby, I really plan to step away. I know *for sure* that this is our last baby, and I really want to soak up as much time with her in the newborn phase as I possibly can. I also now (thankfully) have built more of a team around me that can handle things while I’m gone - and we’ve all worked hard to build up a backlog of content that will go live while I’m on maternity leave. It might look like I’m still posting a lot, but I promise you I’m not!

Meal Prep Delivery Service

This time around, I really want to focus on replenishing nutrients lost during pregnancy and childbirth - something I did not do a good job of in the past. My friend used this meal service after the birth of her baby and loved it, and I plan to use them as well! It’s a small company and they use organic, pasture-raised and deeply nourishing ingredients in every one of their meals - tailored specifically to the unique needs of a postpartum mama. Rather than cold, raw or dry and meals, all of Restorative Roots’ recipes are warm, soft and easy-to-digest. They honestly sound like a dream come true and I’m really excited to order and try them once baby gets here!!

Overall, I’m just really trying to create a calm environment to really enjoy this last newborn phase our family will have (that’s crazy to even write!!). If you have any other tips, I would love to hear them!!

xoxo