Fourth Trimester Resources Everyone Should Have
It is almost here. You’ve installed the car seat. You’ve packed the hospital bag. You’ve even snuck in some time “me” time to soak in every last moment of being baby free. Congratulations!
Before you welcome baby home, make sure you have these resources on speed dial.
Postpartum Plan
The fourth trimester is a whirlwind. Aside from recovery from childbirth, you and baby are still trying to figure each other out. A postpartum plan can be a lifesaver in the days after childbirth. But, how do you know what to include and plan for? Postpartum Support Virginia has created a comprehensive worksheet for pulling together the must-haves during postpartum. This worksheet will walk you through how to get rest, meal planning, infant feeding, supporting older children, strategies for self-care and renewal, getting support from friends, and supporting your mental well-being. Want a copy? Click on this link.
New Mom Mental Health Checklist
Many individuals have difficulty transitioning to parenthood. The New Mom Checklist was developed to help facilitate difficult conversations with others about postpartum experiences. This checklist is particularly helpful to bring to your 6 week checkup to help your OBGYN understand how you are coping with the first 6 weeks of parenthood. While this checklist is not intended to diagnosis a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder, it can be a wonderful tool to empower individuals to get the support they need during postpartum and it provides a good overview of the various symptoms and evidence-based risk factors that are associated with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs). Want a copy? Click on this link.
Support When You Need It
Postpartum Support Virginia has done an amazing job of providing quality resources to postpartum families when they need it the most. These resources include talking to a PSVa Peer Mentor (aka another parent who gets it and won’t judge), virtual support groups for individuals and their partners, and a peer support warm line (calls to the warm line are returned within 12-24 hours). All of these resources can be found on the PSVa website here.