Are you a first time expectant parent? Have you had a day where you just stand or sit in the middle of your nursery looking around at all of the new baby equipment and items, feeling super excited and also a bit overwhelmed? There is so much emotion (and so many baby products) to sort through! The days and months leading up to the birth of your baby can be so very exciting! A lot of families get caught up in the fun and excitement of ordering all the baby gear, planning their nursery, and often forget that a newborn is a major blessing, but also a major life adjustment. Just as you have planned and ordered all of the baby items on your baby registry, make sure to also PLAN for the postpartum time (6-8 weeks) after your baby arrives.
You may want to look into services such as: doula or night nursing care once baby comes home, a lactation consultant, postpartum nutrition or meal prep service, a mental health provider that specializes in postpartum, dog walker, house cleaning, and pelvic floor therapy.
These are just a few resources to be thinking about on your new parenthood journey. This is the most important time in life to plan for and utilize your village
In my 19 years of taking care of families with newborns, I have seen a big trend that most people will need way MORE help than they actually think they will. I have gotten so many middle of the night emails and last minute requests of families desperately needing nursing care, and saying they needed way more help than they thought.
Not to scare you, but again, PLAN ahead. So plan accordingly, pad yourself and get ready for the most exciting, challenging, blissful, and rewarding time in your life!
Some services to consider when planning for postpartum:
-night nurse
-newborn education class
-lactation consultant
-dog walker
-tongue tie specialist (if needed)
-mental health counselor
-infant car seat specialist to check placement of car seat
-house cleaner
-meal prep or postpartum meal service
-massage therapist
-pelvic floor specialist
-babysitter for older kids