Baby no. 3 is here and we are reveling in the newborn phase. This time around has already felt a lot smoother than the last two times and I believe it’s because I spent a good amount of time preparing for postpartum this time around.
The Importance of Preparing for Postpartum
Somehow this is something I have been semi cognizant of since my first postpartum journey. I had the freezer pads, and the postpartum toiletry basket, the freezer meals were made. Still, I really had no idea what we were in for the first time around. It’s hard to prepare yourself emotionally and physically that first time, but we made it through and learned a lot of lessons to carry into each postpartum journey. This pregnancy I was exhausted from the day to day of life and parenting, but I still figured out ways to prioritize preparing for postpartum for our third little. Here are some ways I prepared for my postpartum journey.
1. Freezer Meals
Freezer meals are something I prepare during each pregnancy. At this point, I’ve reused some of the recipes three times because they are a big hit. I know that these meals will be nourishing for my body, and allow us to get food on the table easily for the rest of the family.
To prepare our freezer meals I go on Pinterest and begin searching. I have found a lot of wonderful recipes through the Family Freezer website. I like to pick recipes that include ingredients we already have in bulk. Using ingredients we already have saves me time and money. I have also been turning recipes I know my family loves into freezer meals. Going forward I definitely think freezer meals will be on permanent rotation for busy evenings!
While I do a handful of meals I also like to have simple recipes tucked away for quick lunches / snacks / breakfasts. This time I made a bunch of bean and cheese burritos to freeze, along with Kodiak Cake muffins for an extra boost of protein with breakfast / snacks. I also like to have “lactation” banana bread on hand! It’s a hit with everyone in the house and absolutely delicious.
2. Bone Broth
Since I started canning and making my own bone broth I like having a few jars of broth in the “cantry” to use. I was able to can up 6 quarts of my homemade beef bone broth and am freezing at least 2 quarts of my homemade chicken bone broth to sip on and use in recipes. Bone broth is incredibly nutritious and, honestly, very comforting to sip on. I want my body to heal quickly and I believe having good quality bone broth is one way I can help it along.
3. “Nesting”
During my last pregnancy my baby shower was held at my home. This was the perfect reason to really clean house, at least the living areas. Once I had the areas nice and clean they were much easier to maintain and keep clean in the month leading up to baby’s arrival. This time I did the same, tackling one room at a time, deep cleaning and decluttering as I go. To make this less overwhelming I declutter each space little by little throughout the day, then do the “deep cleaning”. It can take a couple days to be completely finished with each room. Having the rooms deep cleaned and decluttered really helps with the daily maintenance of the house!
4. Stocking Up on Household Essentials
A couple weeks before baby arrived we did one last big Costco run. I needed ingredients for the freezer meals, and we also needed to stock up on some household essentials. Having these on hand will help with the chaos in the early days, no last minute runs to get dog food or toilet paper! Make sure you are set on the basics: Toilet Paper, Paper Towels, Dog Food, Dish Soap, Contacts, Medications, Toiletries, anything you use on a daily basis. Costco also has a great selection of things to toss in the freezer and pantry for easy meals and snacks.
5. Preparing for Delivery
Obviously we’re not going to get through postpartum without going through the nitty gritty. Some things I like to have for myself during the postpartum period are freezer pads, red raspberry leaf tea and a sitz bath mixture. Sitz baths after postpartum are a wonderful way to indulge in some alone time and were the only thing that made me feel comfortable after baby no. 2. Freezer pads are a great comfort as well.
This time I decided to just stick to the basics. My sitz baths have consisted only of epsom salt and dead sea salts, and I honestly didn’t even use my freezer pads this time around. Sticking a pack of pads into the freezer to pull out when you’re feeling uncomfortable is just as relieving. Plus, putting on an already saturated pad is just not my cup of tea after the initial pain from labor subsides.
Speaking of tea – Red Raspberry Leaf tea is something I like to have on hand at all times. I find it really helps with cramps during my period, and I really do enjoy the light flavor. Drinking it while your uterus is contracting back to its normal size helps a lot. Drinking warm beverages instead of ice water can help with the pain, and Red Raspberry Leaf Tea is said to help tone your uterus. I’ve found it helpful with each pregnancy and postpartum. This year I have actually been able to pick my own raspberry leaves to dry out and turn into tea! This is something you can enlist your older littles to help with, we all know they love picking things in the garden.
Are you Prepared for Postpartum?
This Postpartum Journey has felt a lot less chaotic than the last two. Maybe it’s because the third time really is the charm, or maybe it’s because I prioritized preparing for postpartum. I guess it’s probably the latter! What did you do during your pregnancy to prepare for postpartum?
What do you think?