How to Set Yourself Up for a Peaceful and Balanced Postpartum Season
The postpartum season is often described as a "fourth trimester” and is such a sacred space where your body is healing from the miraculous work that it has just done and is still continuing to do to sustain your baby! It is a time of transition - as you recover, bond with your baby, and adjust to a new rhythm of life. It’s a beautiful season, but it can also feel overwhelming without intentional planning and support.
You can’t predict what your postpartum journey will look like, but the key to navigating this time with peace and balance lies in preparation—both practical and emotional. By preparing, you can create a foundation of rest, connection, and support that will carry you through the early days of motherhood. Let’s explore how to make this season one of grace and growth.
1. Create a Support Network Before Baby Arrives
One of the most important things you can do for a peaceful postpartum season is to build a village of support. Motherhood was never meant to be a solo journey, and having trusted people around you can make all the difference. Don’t have family close by, new the to the area, feel alone?
💖Be specific about your needs, like bringing meals, helping with older children, or running errands.
💖Consider hiring a postpartum doula, lactation consultant, and/or therapist if you need additional support. I recommend ALL THREE!
💖Join a community: Find local moms groups, connect with a group at church, hire a doula, and intentionally schedule family visits.
Remember, asking for help is an act of strength and a way to ensure you’re able to show up fully for yourself and your baby.
2. Prepare Your Home for Recovery and Rest
Your home environment plays a big role in how peaceful and balanced your postpartum season feels. A little preparation now can save you time and stress later.
💜Set up a recovery station: Stock essentials like pads, peri bottles, nipple cream, and comfortable clothing in an easily accessible spot.
💜Create feeding and diapering stations: Place diapers, wipes, burp cloths, and snacks near your most-used areas so everything is within reach during those early weeks.
💜Designate a safe space: This is a place you can go in the house when things feel overwhelming. Be intentional about setting up this space, just like your birth space. Think about including things that calm your senses like dim lighting, soft sounds, and soothing smells. This is a great space to have skin to skin with baby to release the LOVE hormones for you both! :)
💜Prepare meals in advance: Stock your freezer with nourishing meals or set up a meal train with friends and family. Easy access to healthy food will help fuel your recovery.
3. Set Realistic Expectations
The postpartum season often comes with the pressure to “bounce back” or have it all together. But the reality is, this is a time for rest, recovery, and bonding—not perfection.
💚Focus on healing: Your body has done some hard work growing and birthing your baby. It is still doing hard work while taking care of and feeding your baby. Give yourself permission to rest and recover without rushing. Your body NEEDS longer than 6 weeks to heal, both mentally and physically. Give yourself grace and listen to your body!
💚Embrace the newborn phase: It’s okay if your routine looks different for a while. I don’t usually recommend starting a specific routine until baby is about 6-8 weeks old and feeding is becoming more natural for you both.
💚Say no when needed: Protect your peace by setting boundaries with visitors or responsibilities that feel overwhelming. Focus on people who uplift and support you. It’s okay to pause relationships that feel draining during this sensitive season.
💚Find small pockets of time to focus on mental health for both you and your husband: Time flies during this time, so having this conversation and preparing ahead of time is key. Think about what refreshes your mind. Each of you make a list of 10 of those before baby gets here and then help each other to do at least one each day once baby is here. Some examples are praying, reading your bible, stretching in bed, taking a gentle walk, and/or napping. My favorite was napping - haha! ;)
The postpartum season isn’t about having everything perfectly figured out—it’s about embracing the messiness and beauty of this transition with grace. By preparing your heart, mind, home, and support system, you can create a foundation to come back to even in the most challenging moments.
Feeling overwhelmed as you prepare for postpartum? Download my free guide, “3 Simple Ways to Prepare for Birth and Beyond,” or schedule a Forming Foundations Coaching Call to create a personalized plan for this sacred season.
What’s one step you can take today to prepare for postpartum? Share in the comments—I’d love to cheer you on as you set yourself up for success!
