The Plan Every Mother-to-be Needs to Have for Optimal Mental and Physical Health!

Healthy Mama + baby bonding

During the final months, weeks and days leading up to giving birth it felt like everyone I came in contact with asked me, “Oh, do ya’ have a birth plan?!”

From my own experience and a ton of the moms in my village, the birth plan nearly ever goes according to plan, so while it’s a “nice-to-have”, I wouldn’t get too attached (cue sounds of bubbles bursting). A healthy baby is really the only goal of the birth plan. Can we all agree?

The real plan every mom needs and will be so freakin’ happy they put in place is the “after-birth plan”.

What’s the After-Birth-Plan, you ask? It’s a full-proof way to jump-start your road to recovery in nearly every department of your life by setting expectations for all the key pillars to your wellbeing during postpartum.

Here are a few questions to consider with your support team:

• “When are my/your parents coming to help, if at all?” “Who’s visiting first?” “When?”

• “Do we want visitors at the hospital or do we want that to be just us, bonding with our new little baby?”

• “How much time is your partner taking off of work?”

• “Will it be all at once, or several different days off during the first few months?”

• “What do we think about a night-nurse?”

Click the button above for the full list of the best questions to work through with your partner or whoever makes up your village so you’re in the best position for a smoother transition into motherhood.

If you enjoyed this list, you may also like The Must-Do List Before Baby!

MUST-READ Books To Prepare for Pregnancy & Motherhood

*Disclaimer: These books are about YOU and how to actually enjoy and be prepared for the journey ahead. After all, we can all follow along with the "What to Expect When You're Expecting" app to peek into the womb and learn what's going on in there each week (I know I did), but what the heck is happening to YOU during & after pregnancy? You know, when you're new life starts! 

Here are the three 'must-reads' to set yourself up for the best first year into motherhood so you can actually enjoy this new life rather than just survive it. 

1. The Fab Mom's Guide.

Why this is a must-read, in 10 words.... Gives you permission to do what YOU need to Do!

She's non-judgmental, and tells it like it is. You've got an instant bestie along for the ride when you read this one. I read this during the first few weeks postpartum and which I had read it sooner!

2. Bringing Up BeBe

The author gives you direct actionable steps to take to sleep through the night earlier and raise a toddler you can take out to eat who wont completely stress you out.

Thanks to this book, we had Olivia sleeping through the night by 3 months old and never had to sleep train.

3. The Third Option

Dreading going back to the 40+ hour a week job because you know you're going to miss out on the majority of your new little baby's life?

Have no fear, The Third Option is here! It's not just "stay home with baby" or "go back to work and miss everything". You'll have an entirely new perspective when it comes to "having it all"! You can do everything you want, it may just take a few modifications. Learn how to talk to your boss and partner about needing a third option.

Have any other books that you really love? Let me know! I'd love to see what they are! Maybe you've already read one or three of these?! Share what was a gold nugget for you.  Comment Below.