The postpartum period is the six weeks after birth. It is distinct from the so-called “fourth trimester,” a popular non-medical term for the first twelve weeks of new motherhood, though you may see the two used interchangeably. You do so much planning for pregnancy, labour, and birth that this time can get sidelined. Indeed, many parents recall being discharged from the hospital with their new baby and not knowing what to do next. We are biased, but we do recommend you watch Unii’s Newborn Journey, Baby Sleep Journey, and Baby Feeding Journey for expert support in your first weeks as a parent. However, there is some planning you can do while you are still pregnant to make things easier on yourself as a mother, a partner, a professional, and a woman.

Plan for breastfeeding support

Don’t expect breastfeeding to come naturally. It’s not something you know instinctively but a skill that needs to be learnt, and even getting it right in the hospital does not mean you won’t have to practice to perfect it. Just do the best you can. Every breastfeed you can manage is helping your baby. Check out Unii’s Baby Feeding for expert support from a leading lactation consultant and infant feeding expert. Lack of support is a major reason women who planned to breastfeed for the first six months (or longer) give up early, and planning to secure yourself a cheerleader—whether it is your partner, your mum, or a professional—in the postpartum period can ensure you stick to your support.

Organise your wardrobe

Try to simplify your postpartum wardrobe to a comfortable everyday uniform. Long-sleeved v-neck tops or loose button downs and comfortable trousers that can be machine washed are ideal for breastfeeding and keeping dressing and undressing quick.

Minimise your beauty, haircare, and hygiene routines.

Think about how you can save time in your skincare, haircare, and personal hygiene regimen. These will make you feel like yourself, and the faster you can get them done, the more quickly you can get to bed, eat, or respond to your baby. There is mixed advice about whether you can use retinoids while you are breastfeeding, so check with your doctor or midwife if you want to put those back in your skincare routine after pregnancy. A vitamin C serum is a great idea if you’re worried your chloasma will cause permanent pigmentation changes (which can happen), and it will benefit your skin even if the issue resolves itself. You really won’t have the time or energy to get your roots done postpartum (unless you have someone come to your home), so plan to have root concealer ready or be comfortable with regrowth early.

Think of your teeth.

Tooth and gum sensitivity is common in new mothers who are undergoing hormonal changes and may have become calcium deficient in pregnancy. Try to avoid home whitening and other products that may exacerbate this. Pregnancy can be hard on oral health generally, and it is important to maintain good hygiene and get your mouth checked out afterwards. Your baby will need their first dental appointment at six months (or before this if you see a tooth or teeth emerge), and you should consider scheduling your first post-pregnancy dental appointment for around the same time.

Plan your baby’s sleep space.

Think about where the baby will sleep relative to your own sleep space. Newborn babies need to sleep on their backs with no blankets, pillows, or soft toys. They should not sleep in your bed, but you may find it time- and response-efficient to buy a cot you can attach to the side of your bed frame.

Plan for babywearing

If your baby seems to want to be “on” you a lot of the time, which is common with newborns, or you are attachment parenting, invest in an ergonomic sling to protect your back and keep your hands free.

Plan for domestic help

Recruit a pregnancy pal to help with meals, laundry, and cleaning, at least for the early days. Consider giving them a key or some way to get into the house so they don’t disturb you while you or the baby are sleeping. It may be a good idea to promise that you will do the same for them when they have a new baby, or find some other way to properly reward them, as “mothering a mother” can be hard work.

Minimise the number of guests you’ll receive in the postpartum weeks.

Ask your partner or a close family member to communicate how much time and privacy you need for your recovery, send thank you messages for gifts and good wishes, and tell everyone you are excited to introduce them to your new baby as soon as possible. A polite social media post, email, or text message is an appropriate way to do this. Nobody expects long calls from expectant or new parents.

Have a clear understanding of how and when you will transition back into work. Many mums start worrying about the office as soon as they get home—it’s natural to think about all the training and projects you may be missing, especially if your workplace is typically competitive—but you really do not need that kind of stress when you’re adjusting to motherhood. It can interfere with postpartum recovery and postnatal bonding. Plan to avoid thinking about work any way you can, at least for those first few weeks. Unfortunately, women in Western cultures are often praised for “bouncing back” after pregnancy (as though it were an accident, failure, or some other setback). An example would be former French justice minister Rachida Dati, who returned to work five days after birth. While there’s nothing wrong with this if it is how you choose to live and you have the resources to support it, every woman, pregnancy, and birth is different, and the best way to be a good mum (and employee) is to take as much time to recover as you feel you need.

Set up an online supermarket account for weekly shops.

This convenience isn’t for everyone—if you know you're prone to buying silly things when you haven’t slept enough, then have your “pregnancy pal” or partner head to the supermarket—but a regular order in a regular timeslot booked well in advance can be a godsend for busy new parents.

Think about how you are going to make time to nurture your relationship with your partner.

Research shows that relationship satisfaction is often diminished by the arrival of a baby. Relationship satisfaction means different things to every couple, and it’s easy to see how being sleep deprived and stressed out by coping with a newborn can make you more prone to fights. Plan childcare so you can have regular time together as soon as you can manage. You are still the same people but will be able to appreciate each other in whole new ways when you are parents.

Think about how you will make time to reflect on your mental health.

Postpartum depression can manifest up to a year after birth and take other forms beyond sadness, such as anxiety and obsessive-compulsive behaviours. We recommend that you take time at least once a week to check in with yourself and see how you are coping psychologically.

Can I still call my midwife for advice when I’m postpartum?

This will depend on your healthcare provider; some NHS services allow you to continue working with your midwife up to a month after birth, others restrict you to a fortnight, while a private midwife may be fine with you texting or calling months after your baby arrives. At some point you will need to take your baby to a GP or paediatrician and see your regular doctor for your own check-ups again.

Finally, while it is important to seek medical advice in the postpartum period and advice from other sources can also help, your instincts as a new mum are invaluable. Nobody knows your body, your baby, and your relationship better than you, and you are the best person to identify problems and what you feel is right to fix them.

For more advice on taking care of yourself in pregnancy, labour, and birth, check out Unii’s Antenatal Classes, with prenatal video episodes taught by senior NHS midwives, an award-winning obstetrician and gynaecologist, and six other leading healthcare experts. Only at unii.com.

Antenatal Class Questions: What do I need to plan for my postpartum?