Postpartum Support Plan for Mom

Hospital gives one but buy backups. Warm water rinse after every bathroom trip for 2-4 weeks. The upside-down squeeze bottle design is easier to use.

Instant cold packs or DIY with witch hazel pads in the freezer. She'll want these for the first 1-2 weeks. Stock at least a dozen.

The first postpartum bowel movement is genuinely feared. Colace (docusate) daily starting day one post-delivery. This is non-negotiable.

Mesh hospital underwear runs out fast. High-waist disposable or period underwear protects the incision site (C-section) and holds pads in place.

Milk leaks are constant in the first weeks, especially during letdown. Keep extras in every room and the diaper bag.

Apply after every feeding session for the first 2-3 weeks. Cracked nipples are common and incredibly painful. This isn't optional.

Soups, casseroles, burritos, pasta bakes - things you can reheat one-handed. Label everything with the date and reheating instructions.

Use MealTrain.com or TakeThemAMeal.com. Coordinate dates so you don't get 5 lasagnas on Monday and nothing by Thursday.

Granola bars, trail mix, cheese sticks, cut fruit, lactation cookies. Mom will be hungry and holding a baby 80% of the time.

Breastfeeding moms need 80-100 oz of water daily. Put a filled 32 oz bottle on every surface she sits - couch, bed, glider, kitchen.

Persistent sadness, inability to bond with baby, intrusive thoughts, panic attacks, rage. This is not 'baby blues' - baby blues resolve in 2 weeks.

24/7 helpline, text support, and online support groups. Save this number in both your phones now, not when you need it.

Find one who specializes in perinatal mental health. Get the intake paperwork done before baby arrives so it's one call to start sessions.

Ask 'How are you really doing?' every day and actually listen. A 5-minute honest conversation catches problems before they spiral.

1 in 10 new fathers experience PPD. Sleep deprivation, identity shifts, and feeling helpless are real. You're allowed to not be okay.

Hire a cleaner, ask a friend, or accept every offer of help. The house will be a wreck and that's fine, but basic cleaning keeps things livable.

Toilet paper, paper towels, dish soap, laundry detergent, trash bags. One less reason to leave the house in those bleary first weeks.

Dog walking, feeding schedule backup, vet info accessible. Your dog doesn't understand why walks got shorter. Line up a friend or service.

Instacart, Amazon Fresh, or your store's delivery. Create a recurring order template with essentials so reordering takes 2 minutes.

10 AM - 2 PM works for most families. Text it to everyone before baby arrives. 'We love you but we need sleep' is a complete sentence.

Whooping cough can kill a newborn. Anyone holding baby needs TDAP (ideally 2 weeks before visit) and a current flu shot. No exceptions.

Pick one trusted person (sibling, parent, best friend) to manage all visit requests. You and your partner should not be fielding 30 texts about visit times.