I value the sacred time following birth. You will only get these moments once— the world can wait. I believe it can be a protective time to be nourished, comforted, + cared for. A time to get to know each other deeply + learn about this person you’ve spent months or years dreaming about. A time to be restored. A time to laugh + cry, to humbly learn, + to grow. Doing a bit of preparation now will help make this dream a reality + set your mind at ease so that when baby comes, you are ready to recover, feed your baby + fall in love (I earn a tiny commission, at no additional cost to you, if you decide to make a purchase below— thank you!)

Learning.

Here are some of my favorite educational resources to prepare you for your postpartum time:

• Breastfeeding Made Simple

• The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother

• Misconceptions: Truth, Lies, + The Unexpected Journey to Motherhood

• The Baby Book

• The Fourth Trimester: A Postpartum Guide to Healing Your Body, Balancing Your Emotions, + Restoring Your Vitality

• The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy + Childbirth

• Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth

• Ina May’s Guide to Breastfeeding

• The Vagina Bible

• Get Untamed The Journal

• Nurture

• You’re The Only One I’ve Told— The Stories Behind Abortion

• Come As You Are: Transform Your Sex Life

• How To Keep House While Drowning

Nesting.

You’re likely preparing a lot for baby— finding all the perfect outfits + stocking up on diapers. Don’t forget about nesting for yourself! Here’s what I recommend new mamas gather before they go into labor:

• Sitz bath herbs to help you soothe your perineum after giving birth.

• Sitz bath if you don’t have a bathtub or would prefer to soak your perineum while sitting on the toilet instead of in the bathtub.

• Restorative teas + other beverages (maybe a new water bottle to encourage you to stay hydrated).

• Peri-bottle to rinse off after using the toilet (you can fill with warm water or sitz bath tea) instead of using toilet paper.

• A pillow or padded ring to sit on.

• Menstrual pads to make padsicles.

• A pack of toss-able undies, for the first few days/nights when bleeding is at its heaviest.

• Disposable mesh underwear while bleeding is heavier.

• Menstrual pads of different sizes (without any scents + organic, if possible). Period underwear also work great (do not use tampons or cups postpartum).

• Chux pads to sleep on for the first few nights to protect your sheets from middle of the night diaper changes, leaky milk, spit up, blood, etc.

• Stool softeners because the first couple of poops postpartum can feel intimidating.

• Pain reliever. Arnica pellets are helpful for reducing swelling + pain, as are ibuprofen + acetaminophen. Arnica cream is lovely to soothe sore muscles (make sure you check with your medical provider).

• Electric heating pad to soothe sore muscles.

• If you’ve had more than one pregnancy, something like After-ease tincture for the after-birth cramping.

• Comfortable clothes that are easy to breastfeed in (comfy shirts you can pull up or button-downs are great).

• Massage oil.

• Uplifting essential oils (citrus + rose are lovely).

• An app or notebook to keep track of newborn poops + feedings.

• A few hearty meals that you can freeze.

• Lots of snacks (energy balls, granola bars, nuts).

• Breast pads (reusable or disposable).

• Breast pump to catch milk on the side you aren’t breastfeeding on.

• Electric breast pump (check to see if your insurance covers one!).

• Nipple cream + the phone number to a recommended Lactation Consultant in your area.

• Bras that make breastfeeding easy— they don’t necessarily need to be “nursing bras” but I recommend ones that have no underwire + are easy to lift up or pull down.

• A book, a few magazines, a 1,000-piece puzzle, a journal, etc. that encourage you to rest.

Gathering your people.

People will ask you, “how can I help?” + it can be beneficial to arrange a team before you go into labor. Gather them now so that when it’s go-time, they already know their duties. It’s also nice to have a list on your fridge or door for people to lend a hand when they come for a visit. Here are some ways that you might need assistance:

• Organizing a meal train (plan for every 2-3 days— not every day, as this may be too overwhelming). Also think about extending the meals or spacing them out to 2-3 months postpartum.

• Making a meal.

• Making snacks.

• Taking care of your pets.

• Picking up/dropping off library books.

• Bringing your older children to the park, dropping them off at school, arranging for pickup, playing a game with them, etc.

• Watering your indoor + outdoor plants.

• Cutting your grass/shoveling snow.

• Cleaning the house (even simply running a vacuum or washing a load of dishes is helpful).

• Dropping off paper plates + garbage bags.

• Doing a Target pickup.

• Taking out the garbage + recycling.

• Cleaning out your vehicle, bringing it to get an oil change, getting it washed, or filling it up with gas.

• Doing a grocery pickup + then putting them away.

• Bringing you coffee + encouragement.

• Financially contributing to a Postpartum Doula (I have gift certificates available!!)