A Complete Guide to Postpartum Care Plan for New Moms

Mama, are you feeling anxious about your upcoming birth? You probably have a birth plan in place already; that’s great! As new moms also prepare for post-delivery, what about adding a plan for your postpartum care?

Getting ready for Homecoming Day can bring up concerns about your time of healing and transition.

Have you ever thought about your specific plans to recover at home?

New moms can focus on healing, recovery, and bonding at home once the postpartum recovery plan is in place.

Who wouldn’t plan for their post-delivery recovery?

After a significant medical event, it’s helpful to have at least an outline regarding your postpartum care.

Although any birth is unpredictable, you can be adaptable regarding your plans during your postpartum period.

This care plan acts as a guide for you, your recovery on what you can expect, and tells your support system what your wishes are.

New moms can make a postpartum care plan ahead of time, understand why they need one, and write down the structure of their recovery plan at home.

What is a Postpartum care plan?

The postpartum care plan guides or outlines your postpartum expectations and strategies to have a smooth transition at home. In addition, it’s a document that can describe your wishes as a recovering mom.

It states who is involved in your immediate hospital care and home care. Also, who’s in your baby’s care team.

It covers everything from feeding, personal support, navigating work, and other adjustments regarding your postpartum period.

Why do New Moms need to create a postpartum care plan?

• It helps you set up your healthcare team and your baby’s
• It promotes preparedness on your part and your spouse
• Guides you to what you’ll be needing when it comes to healing
• Acts as a reminder when things get overwhelming at home
• Lessens some anxiety through planning ahead
• It helps you transition into parenthood

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

What is included in building your recovery plan at home?

Your New Role

Becoming a new mom is a beautiful experience. However, you might hear from other moms that it’s tiring and exhausting; there’s no denying those as well. 

You will go through a tremendous change within your body, hormones, emotions, thoughts, and overall well-being. In addition, you’ll be responsible for your baby and their needs.

Knowing postpartum expectations will help you prepare for these new parenthood transitions. It is a massive leap from being responsible only for yourself to extend that responsibility to your newborn baby.

Your Healing Time

You’ll use your energy taking care of your baby while you heal. You may even forget that you also need to take care of yourself as a new mom. 

Give yourself ample time to heal physically and emotionally. 

You can read about being a First-Time Mom in this post that shows what to expect as a new mom. 

Feeding plans

When you’re breastfeeding or bottle-feeding – the choice of feeding your newborn falls on moms. However, nourishing your baby will be included in your birth plan and shared with your birth team. 

Your desire to breastfeed your newborn will outline how you want it to happen. When you’re at home, you continue to breastfeed your baby and address any lactation issues or baby concerns timely. 

Moms also have the choice to bottle-feed with pumped breast milk or formula. Whatever the circumstance preceding your decision to bottle-feed is entirely up to you. 

You may even begin with bottle-feeding with pumped milk at first, as is the case for many NICU moms, and when the premature baby comes home, you resume breastfeeding your baby.

Or you may breastfeed at first, and have personal/health reasons you switch on bottle-feeding (pumped milk/formula) – it all comes down to what you decide. 

This plan also includes pumping breastmilk at work if you choose to do so. In addition, you may contact your boss when your Maternity Leave is about to end regarding accommodations for expressing milk during your break hours.

Sleeping Arrangements for Baby

Have you thought about where the baby will be sleeping? For example, will it be in your bedroom with a small cot next to the bed? Or will your baby be sleeping in a nearby room after a few weeks/months?

This decision planning of where baby sleeps will probably change as soon as you get adjusted in the few weeks. Whatever works for you and your baby, as long as you follow a safe baby sleep method.

Photo by Tuva Mathilde Løland on Unsplash

Post-delivery Care Plan for New Moms includes a Postpartum Recovery Kit

It’s great to have a plan when it comes to your postpartum recovery. Therefore, you need the bare essentials to promote your healing and improve comfort as you transition into your new role – MOM.

Check out this postpartum recovery Kit for a C-section Mom. Also, here’s a New Mom Care Package for yourself to promote self-care.

If you had a C-section, you might want to know how to care for your C-section Wound and prevent infection. Make sure you have the supplies you need at home.

You don’t want to be trying to remedy any postpartum issues without any of the needed items on hand. For example, for nipple cream for cracked nipples or stool softeners, you can create a personalized postpartum care basket at home.

Parenting Roles:

You are communicating your plans in handling baby care. You are the primary caregivers of your baby as new parents. Mom may do most of the baby care during the day as dad may be working. Then Dad will take on night care every time the baby wakes up. Or help you out with diaper changes before a feeding session. 

Plan what you think will work for your schedule. Your newborn will have their schedule; adjusting and being flexible will help with your parental arrangement. 

Meal Plans:

Are you going to prepare a couple of weeks’ worth of meals? Will you accept a food train coming from relatives and friends? Are you going to be ordering out for the first week home? 

It’s great to plan so as not to overwhelm yourself with meal planning and cooking while you recover from birth. Once you got that meal preparation, you can quickly reheat the meals up.

Visitors Handling:

Your postpartum period is a crucial time for the mom, the baby, and the immediate family.

Every culture is different as you go through the fourth trimester. New moms may want to spend these couple weeks with just the three of you. You are recovering from delivery and learning about your newborn together. 

Moms may prefer a close relative (your mom or anyone you trust) to be around you and your new family to help you adjust for a week or a month.

Well-meaning visitors may ask to see you and the baby right after you get home. Make plans for what you are comfortable with. 

Talk with your spouse – how you’ll handle visitors from each side of the family, friends, and even co-workers. You must talk about this topic ahead of time so that when the time comes, there’s a clear line to what you’ll accept and not tolerate.

It will also depend on how you are recovering. For example, you may have complications during your delivery, or your baby may need close monitoring of their health. So, conveying your wishes is important as not to step on anyone’s toes or feelings. 

The important thing is what you prefer; YOU – who’s healing, bleeding, breastfeeding, and more. Your comfort and preference are what matters here. 

So for husbands, make it about your spouse, your new baby, and your new growing family. Be her number one recovery advocate.

Photo by Yagi-studio from Getty Images Signature

Postpartum Team:

These people are part of your postpartum team: OB/Gyn doctor, Nurse, Lactation Consultant, Care Coordinator, and Primary Care Doctor.

Getting in touch with your healthcare team is a great way to keep a smooth recovery at home. Make sure that you set up your appointments before you leave the hospital. 

Also, if you plan on breastfeeding, you may want to continue to see the lactation specialist after you are discharged from the hospital. Keep those contact numbers together with your records. 

I also mentioned Care Coordinators/Case managers because they can be a great ally in getting the resources you might need at home. Discuss your current needs before you go home and then follow up as needed.

Your nurse will also teach you warning signs/symptoms to watch for at home, medications, newborn care, and other discharge instructions.

Your primary care doctor plays a role in your postpartum recovery. For example, suppose you have underlying conditions (diabetes, hypertension, etc.) before or after delivery. In line with that, you may want to follow up with them as well for disease management.

Baby Team: Pediatrician, Pediatric Nutritionist, Nurse

As far as I remember, I had to set up appointments with recommended pediatricians with my babies. So I asked for referrals from my OB doctor for a list of known pediatricians with good standing.

Around seven months, I met with these pediatricians by appointment. I asked them questions about babies, check-ups, and their practice. It’s almost like interviewing the pediatrician and choosing which ones are a fit for your family. 

Even though you have decided on the doctor for your baby, there may be changes that’ll arise. Such circumstance includes:

• Babies born prematurely.
• High-risk babies.
• Babies who are sick when born.
• Other health-related issues. 

Or, if you and your baby’s current pediatrician don’t see eye to eye or are not a good fit, then you can change your baby’s doctor. 

When my daughter was born prematurely, I went with the pediatrician for premature babies assigned to her when she was almost discharged. There were neonatologists in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Still, those are the ones who are in-patient doctors that are designated for specialized NICU baby care.

NICU nurses are healthcare professionals who care for newborns who are born prematurely or ill. Their support for new moms is tremendous. If you have a NICU baby, they’ll be the ones who will care for your baby closely until discharge.

Postpartum Appointments for Mom and Baby:

You will have your first postpartum check-up with your doctor, which will be the initial visit after the delivery of your baby. Be sure to get your questions written down, bring up any issues in recovering at home, and ask for help if you’re struggling.

As for your baby, newborn visits will be frequent for the first month. It will be checking up on growth and development, feeding and concerns, overall adjustment at home, and more.

It’s also good to have your questions regarding your baby written down so you won’t forget to bring up any concerns.

Mental Health Support for New Moms as part of your postpartum care plan:

New moms are at high risk of experiencing emotional and mental health challenges. It’ll be the time to set up a plan for when you or your spouse thinks you may need additional support with your mental wellness.

Don’t hesitate to reach out for help if you are struggling with postpartum depression or postpartum anxiety. There are licensed therapists and mental health professionals who can help you navigate your condition. 

Ask for a referral from your doctor for a postpartum evaluation with a licensed mental health provider. For all emergencies, call 911.

Seek assistance from NAMI Helpline

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Rounding up your support system as a New Mom:

Besides your spouse, you get to select the most trusted persons in your circle to provide support throughout this critical period of healing and adjustment.

When you open up yourself to ask for help, be mindful of how people react to your established boundaries around this postpartum period. You need people who respect your wishes, you don’t need added stress to fend off, and you need genuine support from them. 

Extend adequate consideration to yourself when help is offered. You don’t have to do this alone. 

Whether you need assistance in getting the laundry folded, dishes put away, or any household tasks, help is help. 

Also, it’s good to include who will be driving you to your postpartum appointments (first weeks) and baby’s doctor visits too.

You can enlist a postpartum doula at home who provides support to mom and infant. Here’s an information resource on postpartum doula from the American Pregnancy Association.

You can also join mom support groups in your community or even online postpartum support. 

These are resources on Support Groups for Moms who are experiencing postpartum concerns and mental illness.

NAMI Support Group 

Postpartum Support International

Parental Leave:

The parental leave is discussed between mom and employer. If mom works outside the home, this decision is placed on the table around the third trimester. 

Paper works may be filled out depending on your agreed maternal leave and finalized when the birth happens. You will be coordinating with your boss, your Human Resource department, and your OB doctor.

The scope of your parental leave will depend upon the birth and circumstances. For standard vaginal delivery, moms in the U.S. can get six weeks off, extending to 12 weeks (company approved). For C-section delivery, moms may extend the leave from 12 weeks or more. 

It doesn’t mean you have to take the whole 12 weeks or doesn’t mean you have to go back at six weeks. These are just guidelines based on the recommendations of your doctor and ACOG for optimal postpartum recovery for mom and bonding with baby.

Plan for Going Back to Work:

So, if you happen to work outside the home, you may be thinking about your transition back to work. Like taking the lead on your parental leave, you may want to contact your human resource department again with these transitions.

It’s also beneficial for you to keep your boss updated with your desire to go back. Keep everyone in the loop so you will have a smoother transition back to work after the baby.

When new mothers embark on their parenting journeys, they face several challenges. Some may stay home and resign from their jobs. It’s essential to discuss with your spouse if that’s the path you want to take. Then, check out this guide to transition to becoming a stay-at-home mom.

Again, communication is crucial in making these significant changes in your family dynamic. Be sure to acknowledge your concerns and issues regarding the decision to stay home with the baby.

Photo by 51countriesandcounting

Final Thoughts on Postpartum Care Plan for New Moms

As you get familiarized with these postpartum preparations, new moms’ care plan for recovering is crucial to make it manageable. 

It’s beneficial to have set your wishes, needs, postpartum goals, and strategies to face your post-delivery time.

Include having a post-birth care plan along with your birth plans to prepare yourself in the coming weeks of healing and recovery. It would help if you had the same dedication to laying the grounds of your fourth trimester as with your pregnancy and delivery. 

Here’s a checklist to help you out as an outline. You can also download Postpartum Care Plan for New Moms checklist for Free (No email required). 

• Transition as a New Mom
• Method of Feeding your Baby/Sleep
• Postpartum Recovery Kit
• Parental Roles
• Meal Plans
• Visitors Handling
• Postpartum Healthcare Team
• Baby Healthcare Team
• Appointments for Mom and Baby
• Mental Health Support
• Your Support System
• Parental Leave
• Plans for Going Back to Work

I’m hoping that by learning more about postpartum recovery and preparation, you’ll be able to adjust to being a new parent as smoothly as possible, with less worry, and heal completely.

Are you going to create a postpartum care plan? Don’t forget to download the checklist above. 

Share this post with your mom circle. I appreciate your support!