Tips for a Happy and Healthy Postpartum Period

   The time just after a baby is born is commonly referred to as the postpartum time period. There are several things you can do before birth, or prenatally, to help you have a happy and healthy postpartum. First off you can hire a doula to support you during the birthing process. Also you can attend birth, newborn care, and breastfeeding classes.  A postpartum doula to help you and your family adjust to life with the new baby. You can choose to have a placenta specialist encapsulate your placenta. It is also wise to make sure there are plenty of healthy snacks to munch on during feedings. All of these things can help you to feel supported and less stressed in the first couple of weeks as you and baby are getting to know each other.

    Prior to the arrival of Baby, a birth doula can help you make a plan for not only your birth but also your immediate postpartum time. This can include if you plan to breastfeed, express breastmilk and feed with a bottle, or use formula to nourish your baby. Are you going to use cloth or disposable diapers, or are you going to have Baby go without diapers and practice elimination communication? Will baby sleep with you in your room, bed share, co-sleep, or sleep in a nursery? Do you want to vaccinate your child, wait a few weeks, go on a delayed schedule, or abstain altogether? These are choices a birth doula can guide you and your partner through before birth, helping you find information so when the time comes to implement these choices you will have peace of mind in not having to make all the decisions all at once and know that you have thoroughly researched them beforehand.

    Also, you can attend childbirth, newborn care, and breastfeeding classes before baby makes his or her appearance. These classes will go over options for not only birth but the immediate postpartum period, how to care for your new little baby, and how to breastfeed. Having confidence in your skills and body before labor can not only help you during birth but also as you go into the next weeks and months. That confidence can help to alleviate stress in your postpartum period.

​    After birth, a postpartum doula can help you adjust to life with a new baby. She, or he, can take care of other things around the house, from cooking and cleaning to running to the grocery store for you. Postpartum doulas can also help if breastfeeding issues arise, sometimes a little help adjusting baby’s latch can go a long way for your breastfeeding relationship. A doula is also there to listen when you need to talk; they can be a sounding board for you. They have also been trained to spot when things are not going as they should and can help you find more specialized help if it is needed.

     You can also invest in having your placenta encapsulated after birth. Consuming your placenta after birth, or placentophagy, has been reported to help mothers feel more themselves following birth. If you choose to encapsulate your placenta Fort Wayne Tree of Life Placenta will pick up your placenta shortly after birth and take it to their designated kitchen for preparation. Gently washing, steaming, if you so desire, and dehydrating the placenta before putting the dehydrated powder in easy to swallow capsules. The placenta is rich in vitamins and minerals that your body has used to nourish your baby in the womb. After birth, that same placenta can continue to nourish Baby and you as well. Many mothers have reported an increase in their milk supply, or lactation, following the consumption of their placenta pills as well as increased energy and elevated mood levels.

   Whether you breastfeed exclusively, express milk and bottle feed, or use formula to feed baby there will be lots of your time in the first few months spent holding, cuddling, and feeding Baby. This is a great time for you to grab a snack and munch while baby suckles, helping you to stay nourished and your energy up to take care of Baby. Having lots of healthy snacks prepared and portioned can make this an easy grab and go cuddle time. This may be something you prepare for yourself or you can delegate to a partner, friend, family member, or a postpartum doula.

    Prenatally helping yourself and your partner prepare for life postpartum us a great tool to having a happy and healthy postpartum period. Knowing what you can expect and things you and others can do to help will eliminate time crunching decisions that can be stressful for you and your partner. Let a birth and postpartum doula help you plan for what you are comfortable with after birth. And most importantly remember you are human, life happens and even when things don’t go as perfectly as you would hope there is help to be had, and you can get the help to manage what life throws at you.

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