Categories: Breastfeeding, Insurance, Postpartum, Pregnancy, Pumping
September 4, 2024
Don’t wait until you’re overwhelmed with a newborn and the demands of recovery to look for postpartum support. Preparing for postpartum care is just as important as preparing for your baby’s arrival. The best time to secure your options is while still pregnant!
Here are 5 key supports to consider for a smoother postpartum experience.
1. Lactation Support
Almost everyone can benefit from lactation support after giving birth. We don’t mean just for initiating and maintaining a milk supply or navigating positioning and latching baby, but also for pumping, combo feeding, breast/chest and nipple care, and more. Lactation professionals can support families prenatally all the way through weaning, whenever that may be! Finding the lactation support that makes the most sense for your journey is based on a few factors and personal preferences:
- Group or individual support
- In or out of your home
- In-person or virtual
- What your insurance may or may not cover
- Free community options
2. Breast Pump
Do you need to use a pump immediately after giving birth? Not necessarily! Many people find themselves without the need of a pump until closer to returning to work/school/time away from baby, while some need one earlier, and some never need one. No matter what category you fall in, most insurance plans follow the ACA and cover a breast pump per pregnancy/birth event. Not sure what type of pump you might need? The best way to decide is based on your needs and preferences, and we can help!
Bonus Tip: Know exactly how to contact the manufacturer of your pump for any potential warranty concerns or questions BEFORE you actually have a need. Save their contact number and/or warranty email into your phone.
3. Family/Friend/Doula Support
Many resources have shown that peer and family support are extremely important to postpartum recovery and lactation. Know who your people are and talk about it with them prenatally:
- Who can you call on in your most difficult moments?
- Who is most open to helping with or listening to you talk about the more personal parts of recovery (lactation, mental health, diaper blow-outs, and more)?
- Who are the ones that love a good errand or babysitting older children you may have?
Hard truth about family and friends: establish boundaries, because often supporting yourself postpartum means not having certain interactions at certain times. For example, you may not want visitors in the hospital while you navigate feeding and early bonding with your baby. Guess whose choice that is? Not theirs! Figuring out and setting these boundaries ahead of time can save future you from awkward conversations, leading to less stress overall.
If you find you need more than what your family and friends can offer, consider looking into a postpartum doula!
4. Mental Health
Everyone deserves mental health support! The postpartum period is a unique time in your life. It’s ok if your experience doesn’t match your expectations, and there is no shame in seeking support. You don’t have to label it as a “difficult” time to reach out for mental health support. Many of us put so much pressure on ourselves as parents, often neglecting our own needs to prove we can “handle it.” No one needs to, and no one should go through postpartum alone – it is not something to be “handled.”
Find postpartum planning guides, books, resources, recommendations, and so much more with Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance’s (MMHLA) 4th Trimester Fact Sheet, plus their website is a great resource too!
5. Community
Lactation support groups, new parent groups, WIC, and more:
- Look for what your local community offers
- Try to get out of the house if you can, or join groups virtually
- Interact in whatever ways feel manageable to you
- Make connections
You will soon discover you are not alone in your postpartum journey. Shared experiences can turn strangers into friends, and building community connections can introduce you to valuable resources that support all 5 categories mentioned above.
Bonus Tip: Be sure to check what postpartum support services your hospital offers, whether free or paid. Many hospitals provide new parent groups, breastfeeding/chestfeeding support groups, lactation consultations, baby weight checks, and more.