POSTPARTUM PLAN Template from cradledapp.com/resources/postpartum-plan-template Fill this in together with your partner or main support person during pregnancy, ideally in the third trimester. Share it with the people who'll be helping you. This plan is for practical and emotional support. It doesn't replace advice from your doctor, midwife, or other care provider. Replace everything in [BRACKETS]. Skip anything that doesn't apply. ------------------------------ 1. OUR SUPPORT TEAM Partner or main support person: [Name, phone] Time off work after the birth: [Dates] Family and friends who can help: [Names, what each is good at, how to reach them] Doula, lactation consultant, or postpartum support: [Name, phone] Our care provider (after-hours number): [Name, phone] Baby's care provider: [Name, phone] ------------------------------ 2. REST AND SLEEP How we'll protect sleep for whoever is feeding at night: [e.g. partner does the first night feed or diaper change, a family member takes a morning shift so we can nap] Who handles nights on the weekends or after leave ends: [Name] Our "rest first" rule: [e.g. when the baby sleeps during the day, at least one of us sleeps too] ------------------------------ 3. FEEDING How we plan to feed: [Breast/chest, formula, combination, not sure yet] Who we'll call if feeding is hard: [Lactation consultant or care provider, phone] What would help: [e.g. someone to bring water and snacks, help washing pump parts or bottles, a feeding station set up at home] ------------------------------ 4. MEALS Meals for the first [2-4] weeks: [Meal train, freezer meals, delivery, family] Who's organizing it: [Name] Dietary needs and allergies: [List] Drop-off preferences: [e.g. leave at the door, text when you arrive, no visits before 2pm] ------------------------------ 5. HOUSEHOLD Who's doing what for the first few weeks: - Groceries: [Name] - Laundry: [Name] - Cleaning and dishes: [Name] - Older children (school drop-off, activities): [Name] - Pets (walks, feeding): [Name] - Errands and pharmacy runs: [Name] ------------------------------ 6. VISITORS Visitors are welcome: [e.g. after the first week, in the afternoons, for up to an hour] Who can visit first: [Names] Our house rules: [e.g. wash hands, no visits if you're sick, please bring food or do a task instead of holding the baby] Who will tell people our rules, so we don't have to: [Name] ------------------------------ 7. PHYSICAL RECOVERY Follow-up appointments: [Dates for parent and baby] Who will drive us: [Name] Supplies we'll have ready: [e.g. pads, comfortable clothes, pain relief recommended by our care provider, water bottle] Ask our care provider before the birth: which symptoms mean we should call them, and which mean we should go to emergency. Write the answers here: [List] ------------------------------ 8. EMOTIONAL HEALTH How each of us usually shows we're struggling: [e.g. going quiet, getting irritable, not eating] What helps each of us: [e.g. a walk alone, talking it through, sleep] How we'll check in with each other: [e.g. a quick "how are you really?" each evening] Who we'll call if one of us is struggling: [Name, phone] Professional support: [Care provider, therapist, or local postpartum support line] Baby blues (tearfulness, mood swings) are common in the first two weeks. If difficult feelings last longer, get stronger, or include thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, contact your care provider right away. In an emergency, call your local emergency number. ------------------------------ 9. OUR PRIORITIES The three things that matter most to us in the first six weeks: 1. [Priority] 2. [Priority] 3. [Priority] Things we're letting go of for now: [e.g. a tidy house, replying to messages quickly]