A love letter to you from a mom to three!
All of the links and mentions in this post can be found here!
Whether it’s your first baby or your fifth, postpartum is no joke. I’ve been through it three times, and each experience taught me something new (usually the hard way). So, here’s my honest, mom-to-mom survival guide to the wild ride of postpartum recovery—written with love, coffee, and head full of dry shampoo.
1. Give Yourself Ridiculous Grace
Your body just created a human being. You are not supposed to “bounce back.” You are supposed to rest, heal, and bond. Some days, just brushing your teeth will feel like a win. Celebrate that win.
2. Stock Your Nest
Before baby comes, fill your space with what you need:
- A comfy nursing/pumping spot (with snacks and water within arm’s reach) Nursing supplies and essentials took over my nightstand! Go ahead and tuck all of that decor away for a bit!
- Stock your bathroom with all of the mama essentials! From disposable underwear to my favorite postpartum sprays… I’ve added all of the essentials for mama’s healing to this Amazon storefront!
- Easy meals in the freezer! You’re going to want to say yes to paper plates and meal trains but it’s also a huge blessing to have a freezer full of yummy meals you’ve been stocking up for months.
- A water bottle that doesn’t leak when you’re half-asleep and drinking sideways! I loved this flip top Stanley!
- Go ahead and clean out a kitchen cabinet or two for disposable plates, bowls, nursing snacks and all the baby bottle/ nursing and pumping essentials!
All of my postpartum essentials for baby and mama are linked here!
3. Accept (and Ask For) Help
Let peoplewash your sheets, drop off meals, or hold the baby so you can shower. This is not the time to prove how strong you are. Strength is knowing when to say, “Yes, I need help.” This is your season to say yes to anyone who offers help! It’s also your season to hire that cleaning service, instacart driver, laundry helper or babysitter for the big kids! If a friend offers to set up a meal train, say YES! You’ll also want to have your “medical” team on standby. Know the number for the nurses station in your postpartum wing (frequent caller here!), as well as your pediatrician and the lactation consultant at your hospital. Give these #’s to your husband too! There are plenty of people around that can help with whatever comes up!
Ps. Subscribe & save on Amazon for all of the baby things like diapers and wipes is a gift to yourself too!
4. The Night Feeds are Hard—Prep for Battle
Keep a stash of snacks, burp cloths, and a dim light by your bed or nursing chair. If you’re bottle feeding, prep them ahead of time. And always, always do whatever makes nighttime feel more manageable. Pair nighttime feeds with a fun snack you enjoy, a podcast you look forward to or even a cheesy TV show! A giant pot of coffee and this headache mask were morning essentials my first few weeks with baby Marg! I promise, you will sleep again soon!
5. Hormones are Real and Wild
You might cry for no reason. You might feel anxious, angry, or totally overwhelmed. You are not broken. You are healing. But if things start to feel too heavy, please reach out to your doctor, your husband or a friend. Postpartum depression and anxiety are common—and treatable.
I’ve been through PPD and put some really great tools in my toolbox before having Margaret! Green Compass CBD Gummies (broad spectrum – limencello flavor!) and tincture (broad spectrum – orange & vanilla) paired with these recess beverages have been SUCH a gift to my postpartum hormones this time around. I hate the way I felt on prescription meds and have loved this natural alternative but YOU MAY NEED those prescription drugs and I am in no way opposed to you exploring that option too!
Eating balanced meals. Drinking water. Spending time outside. All of these things help mom feel a bit more like mom! I’ve also been intentional since day one about changing clothes or “getting ready” even if that just means swapping robes for the day. That has been a GAME CHANGER this time around! I’ve felt so much more confident and put-together simply by throwing on a matching set or a bit of concealer!
6. Your Relationship Might Feel Weird
You and your husbamd are both exhausted, navigating new roles, and probably snapping at each other over diapers. Communicate. Be kind. Lower expectations. You’ll find your rhythm again. Remember that few things said between midnight and 6am are worth bringing up again the next day. Birth is crazy and sleep deprivation is rough! You still love each other, I promise.
7. Take Photos (Even If You Feel Blah)
You might not love how you look right now—but trust me, you’ll want to remember this time. The tiny fingers. The squishy cheeks. The blurry, beautiful chaos. You’ll forget how tired you were—but those photos will bring the magic back. Start a shared album with your spouse and get in a habit of saving and sharing those photos and videos!
8. Be Gentle With Your Body
You don’t need a “bounce back” plan. You need rest, nutrition, hydration, and maybe even a good physical therapist (especially if things don’t feel right down there). Move your body when it feels good—not because of pressure. I suffered with HG and tons of other symptoms during my pregnancy and then postpartum I dealt with a broken tailbone, mastitis, and a UTI from hell. When my body felt GOOD I took the opportunity to move it a bit and slowly try to walk in between lots and lots of rest. Let your body lead!
9. Find Other Moms (Even Just One)
Whether it’s a Facebook group, a mom friend you text at 2AM, or someone you meet at a baby class—connection matters. You were never meant to do this alone. I’m on leadership for a local MomCo chapter (formerly MOPS) and it’s been the best way to connect with other new moms!
10. Trust Yourself
You’ll get a million opinions. Some will contradict each other. Listen to your gut. No one knows your baby (or your body) better than you do.
Postpartum is tender and hard and holy. You’re becoming someone new—and so is your baby. Be kind to both of you. Trust yourself, lean on your people and soak up ALL of that baby magic because it’s a hard season but it’s also a short season!
From one tired, grateful mama to another: You’ve got this.
xo, mckenzie
