What Is A Postnatal Plan?

Why write a postnatal plan?

What should I include in a postnatal plan?

How do I write my postnatal plan?

Planning for birth is now a familiar part of most antenatal courses, a birth plan is a framework for thinking through what you would like to happen during labour and birth, to set intentions, reflect on your preferences and to communicate what matters to you to those around you.

But what about what happens once you meet your baby? There are many reasons why spending some time reflecting on your intentions and preferences for the first hours, days and weeks of life with a new baby might support you through the transitions of the fourth trimester. It’s a chance to focus on what’s most important to you along with identifying any concerns or fears you may have. What will you need as a new parent? What might your baby need at this time? A postnatal plan allows you to gather in your resources, set boundaries and communicate your needs with your partner and wider circle of caregivers, family and friends.

There is no right way to write a postnatal plan, what feels important will be unique to you, it might be a more formal document, it could be some prompts to inspire journaling or even something more visual.

Before you begin, it can be helpful to draw in some sources of information on what you might expect from a newborn baby as they make the transition from womb to world, what kind of environment might most easily nurture your relationship with your new baby, what supports bonding and allows you to establish feeding?

What might your experience be? What might your postnatal body need to rest and recover? What might the emotional and hormonal transitions be during this time?

I’ve put together a list of some of my favourite books here:

https://uk.bookshop.org/wishlists/eacf3034059a1e1ba1614ced1e677e1c5236958d

Some people find it helpful to break down their plan into sections focusing on the first hours, the first days and the first weeks: Where will you be? Resting in the bed, downstairs on the sofa? Who will be with you? Your partner? A family member? Your Doula? Your other children?

What might your needs be at this time? How might you be feeling? What will you need to put in place to be able to meet those needs? Do you have other caring responsibilities? A postnatal plan encourages you to focus on your priorities and set in place anything that might support you during this period of life.

When I work with a family to plan for their postpartum we often identify key areas to think through, these might include; bonding with their new baby, infant feeding, meal planning and postnatal nutrition, physical rest and recovery, matrescence, relationships and wider circles of support.

This time, as you get to know your new baby and get to know yourself as a new parent, is a unique period of vulnerability and change. You deserve to feel valued, supported and nurtured, it can be challenging to work out what you most need in the midst of exhaustion and overwhelm, being able to draw on your plan and share it with those around can be such a valuable resource.

Many doulas and birth worker and antenatal teachers will offer postnatal planning either as stand alone sessions, workshops or as part of their packages of support. Have a look what is available in your area and I’m always here if you would like to get in touch about how I can support you at this time,

K x