The Postpartum Plan
What exactly is a Postpartum Wellness Plan?
Most birthing parents come in with a birthing plan and the question is, have you thought about your postpartum plan? The postpartum plan can be just as empowering as a birthing plan. So, let’s delve in, shall we?
Taking care of your mental health in the fourth trimester
The fourth trimester is often overlooked as many people only focus on the birthing process. The fourth trimester is the 12-week period immediately after you have had your baby. Not everyone has heard of it, but every mother and their newborn baby will go through it. It is a time of great physical and emotional change as your baby adjusts to being outside the womb, and you adjust to your new life as a parent. Questions arise such as:
1. Why am I not acting like myself?
2. Am I isolating more than usual?
3. Am I easily agitated and less patient?
4. Am I realistically able to feed my baby while simultaneously feeding myself and others?
These questions often get swept under the rug and new parents do not feel supported. Asking for help and figuring out WHO makes you feel supported is imperative. Enlisting simple self-care exercises can also be beneficial during the fourth trimester.
Who can I reach out to for professional support?
Professional support can look like enlisting a doula, midwife, general practitioner, a mental health therapist, and even a support group for new parents. As parents, we tend to forget that it takes a village to support parents through the postpartum period. Can we really expect ourselves to do this alone? The newborn stage is one of THE most challenging experiences that we will face.
Helping your newborn adjust to the new world
Dr. Harvey Karp, a pediatrician and well-known author, reported that the term “fourth trimester” suggest that you should try to recreate, for another 3-4 months, the kind of environment that your baby had in your womb (2002). Creating safety for your baby is just as important as reaching out for support! So, what can you do to re-create this time?
1. Try swaddling and swaying your baby – this helps them feel secure
2. Wear your baby – utilizing a sling or baby carrier helps baby have access to your chest and this is a familiar feeling for them
3. Skin to skin contact – Cuddling your newborn on bare skin creates tremendous comfort for them.
What does the fourth trimester look like for new parents?
For new parents, this is the biggest challenge and change that a parent will go through as most parents focus solely on bonding and recovering. This is also a time where you get to create and set healthy boundaries for yourself and your family. Ask family or friends to bring you meals, help with household chores, look after your baby (or another child) while you try and rest, drink plenty of water, and eat nutritious foods.
Remember that you do not have to do this alone. You have already birthed a child and are a superhero so why not relish in the help that you can obtain?
For more information on what a postpartum plan can look like, please reach out to us! A mothering approach is sometimes the best approach and that is what MontanaTherapyForMoms is here for!
Written by: Lital Diament MA LMFT