How To Prepare Your Postpartum Nest
🐣Be honest…how many hours have you spent scrolling Pinterest looking at pictures of adorable baby nurseries? Now, how much thought have you put into making sure that you can rest appropriately after your baby is born?
You’ve probably thought quite a bit about cribs, paint colors, themes, rockers, and more…BUT have you considered how you would prepare for your healing after postpartum?
This is where creating a postpartum nest comes in. If you’ve been wondering about how to set up your own space to support yourself in the early sleepless days, then get ready to have all your burning questions answered.
In this blog post, you’ll learn
Why creating a postpartum nest is important for your healing
Where you should set up your nest
What to include in your postpartum nest
… and a whole lot more!
What is a postpartum nest?
A postpartum nest is simply a comfortable space for you to recover from childbirth with everything you and your baby may need within arm’s reach.
Your nest should be used in the initial weeks following birth and should allow you to stay in bed as much as possible in the early newborn days.
Why does setting up a postpartum nest matter?
🏃🏽♀️Giving birth is like running a marathon. Even with the best delivery imaginable and no stitches, you still have a plate-sized wound left in your abdomen from your placenta.
Instead of trying to rush your healing, let’s take the lead from other countries outside of the United States that prioritize rest after giving birth. Did you know many other cultures around the world believe that the first 40 days after birth are considered a time of rest for new mothers? Their families may even come to stay with them during this time or the mother will move back in with her family during this time.
You may have heard of the 5-5-5 rule that has circled on social media suggesting 5 days in the bed, 5 days on the bed, and 5 days around the bed.
If you are meant to rest, then you need to set up a space that will allow you to do so. A space that is near your bed with all the essentials for you and baby so that you are not putting undue stress on your body in the early days of healing.
Where should you set up your postpartum nest?
My recommendation is to set up your postpartum nest in your bedroom. During the early days of recovery, you should be in your room, on or near the bed as much as possible.
Not only does this promote your healing, but it also promotes skin-to-skin time with your baby as well as your breastfeeding relationship, if that is your feeding choice.
As you begin to heal, I still recommend having a space that is convenient and comfortable for you with these essentials nearby. This may continue to be in your bedroom, but you may decide you want to move it to the living area of your home to be closer to your family or other children.
If you are breastfeeding, you will find that you may not need many of the items you did in the early days. So your nest may include more self-care items like a journal, a book to read, or something else you enjoy doing near you while you nurse.
What should you include in your postpartum nest?
Anything that you will need to care for yourself during your healing
A large water bottle nearby
Healthy snacks for you
Any medications or tinctures you are using
Lotion
Hair ties
Chapstick
Nipple cream (coconut oil or your breast milk can be used as well)
Soothing gel pads for breasts
Milk catchers
Nursing pads
Heating pad
Other suggestions based on your needs:
Healthy snacks for older siblings
Toys or activities to do with older siblings while in bed or nursing
Pump, bottles, breast milk storage bags, bottle brush, soap, drying rack**
A mini fridge so that you don’t have to go put milk away downstairs
White noise machine
Diffuser
Humidifier
Blood pressure cuff
Belly wrap
Tracker for you and baby (blood pressure, meds, vitamin D drops, wet and dirty diapers, feeding for baby)
**Although you may not need your pump during the first few weeks, moms who have babies who struggle to latch may need it. I recommend getting it set up and sterilized for your use in case you run into feeding issues. You may find that you need nipple cream, gel pads, pads, and milk catchers depending on your supply.
Anything you will need to care for the baby
Baby’s sleep space
Diapers
Diaper cream
Wipes
Extra clothes
Changing pad
Burp cloths
Swaddles
Any medications for baby (vitamin D drops, gas relief drops)
How to set up your postpartum nest?
If you’ve seen posts on social media about setting up your room for your baby, you may have seen the beloved three-tiered cart. A benefit of using one of these carts is that it can be wheeled around your home to different spaces. Although these carts can be very helpful in organizing your items, you do not need one.
You could simply use your baby’s bassinet or pack-n-play to hold necessary items, a diaper caddy, or another basket you have around the house. I recommend keeping frequently used items on your nightstand so that they are easily accessible to you.
If you have a two-story house, I recommend having your primary nest upstairs for those early days with a small basket or caddy downstair for your use. If you have more than one bathroom, I suggest having your postpartum care items in each bathroom so that you do not have to lug items up and down the stairs. If you’ve taken items home from the hospital, you may not even need to purchase any of your own as you can simply split in half what you need for each bathroom.
Remember, the postpartum nest is all about allowing you to REST with your baby. Make it yours. Your nest should be unique to you, your goals, and your needs!
So let me know…what would you add to your postpartum nest?
Thanks so much for reading the blog!
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Sources:
https://www.thebump.com/news/placenta-plate-birth-recovery-photo
The Fourth Trimester: A Postpartum Guide to Healing Your Body, Balancing Your Emotions, and Restoring Your Vitality by Kimberly Ann Johnson
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