Doula Etc. Postpartum Checklist

For Families with Kids at Home

This checklist, designed for families who already have a child or children at home, focuses primarily on the birthing person and the family, rather than focusing on newborn care.

Guiding Questions

What do you want to re-seed/keep?

What do you want to cultivate/change?

What do you want to uproot/discard?

Logistics

  • Determine who will care for older sibling(s) during labor and delivery

  • Paperwork that may need to be completed:

    • Parental leave forms

    • Birth certificate

    • Social security application

    • Insurance change forms

    • Passport application for baby (after SSN assigned)

  • Source additional help, if desired/possible

    • Babysitting

    • Grocery delivery

    • Pet care

  • Set up birthing recovery stations with necessities at hand

Social

  • Establish “visitor policy”

    • Who, if anyone, will visit the hospital? 

    • When will you receive home visits? 

    • Will you request/require vaccinations (e.g. Tdap)?

    • What will be your policy if someone is sick?

    • Consider creating a list of tasks that visitors can help with (see this article for an example of a list: https://wisewomanwayofbirth.com/after-the-birth-what-a-family-needs) 

  • Meal train setup

  • Sibling plan 

    • Consider creating a physical copy of a plan (e.g. [Doula Etc.] Sibling Plan)

    • If appropriate, consider reading sibling books with your child(ren)

    • Some families like to have a gift for the older sibling(s) “from the baby,” and/or let the older sibling(s) choose a gift to give to the baby upon arrival

  • For couples: what worked well last time for finding connection?

Physical

  • Create a plan to stay hydrated! 

    • Water bottles/cups at recovery stations (with straws, if you like) 

    • Hydration boosters (powdered mix; coconut water; electrolyte drinks)

  • Supplies to consider having on hand:

    • Peri bottle

    • Maxipads

    • Disposable underbed pads (“chux”)

    • Mesh underwear

    • Witch hazel wipes (Tucks)

    • Sitz bath + herbs

  • Prepare your favorite one-handed snacks to have close by during recovery

  • Develop a sleep plan (for couples, discuss with partner)

  • Sleep aids to consider having on hand:

    • Sleep mask

    • White noise machine

  • If nursing, consider having on hand:

    • Contact information for a trusted lactation consultant

    • Nursing pads

    • Lanolin, coconut oil, or nipple butter

    • Silverettes, cooling gels

    • Nursing bras

  • Medications to discuss with doctor/midwife for use postpartum:

    • Stool softener (Colace)

    • Pain relief and anti-inflammatory

      • Acetaminophen (Tylenol)

      • Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin)

Emotional