As an expectant mother’s due date approaches, the inevitable "are you ready for baby?" question comes as a reminder of all the unknowns to come. While it’s easy to get swept up in preparing the nursery and incessantly stockpiling items you assume you’ll need, let’s take a moment to focus on the most important question: Are you ready? While the mother’s well-being often lives in the shadow of baby’s necessities, the new mother’s health is arguably the most important factor that will impact a baby’s entry into the world. From physical health to emotional resilience, your baby’s well-being starts with your readiness—no matter if you’re a mother giving birth, adopting, welcoming baby by surrogate, or a parental partner in the process. The new paradigm of welcoming a baby is truly about finding ways to nurture yourself first, so that you can then nurture your baby in the most significant ways.
We know that 1 in 5 new mothers will experience postpartum depression or anxiety (PMADs), and we also know that maternal health outcomes are significantly improved when a mother has access to high-quality care and support during the delicate transition to motherhood. Emphasis on that maternal care and support is truly the key for both you and your baby to embark on the journey with better health and greater ease. While most of us no longer live in villages where mothers are naturally surrounded with the care and support each one desperately deserves, many of us do live in communities embedded with healers and wellness providers who have found their life’s purpose in supporting new mothers and families. You just need to know to look for them.
It’s never too soon to start planning for your care; to foster a smooth transition for your whole family. If you’re an expectant mother looking for inspiration to support your growing family, here’s a short list of maternal care and family support providers to point you in the right direction. Stay with us to the end and we’ll dive into financial solutions for them, too.
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How to build your village before baby arrives
Here's a list of the practitioners and experts to consider leaning on when it comes time to preparing for birth—and well beyond.
1. Prenatal doula or birth doula
- Education and preparation: Doulas provide information about the birthing process, and give tailored advice to parents, helping them understand options to make informed and empowered choices. They also offer planning and preparation tips to ensure the family is set up for success during the postpartum period.
- Emotional support: Doulas hold space for expectant parents, providing continuous emotional support during pregnancy and labor, offering customized solutions, and helping to reduce anxiety and fear.
- Physical support: They offer comfort measures including massage, breathing techniques, aromatherapy, and positioning for pain management.
- Advocacy: Doulas can help facilitate communication between the parents and/or surrogate and the birth or medical staff, ensuring that the parents' preferences and wishes are respected in any birth setting.
- Reduced Interventions: Research suggests that having a doula present during childbirth may lead to fewer medical interventions including labor induction measures, use of pain relief medications, and cesarean sections.
2. Postpartum doula
- Infant care, education, and guidance: Doulas can offer advice on newborn care, including feeding, diapering, soothing techniques, and sharing resources and information on newborn development, sleep patterns, and postpartum recovery—empowering parents with real-time, relevant information.
- Emotional support: Postpartum doulas provide compassionate, judgment-free support, helping parents process their experiences during the transition to parenthood. Oftentimes, a postpartum doula becomes a new mother’s closest confidant that she can be truly vulnerable with. A doula offers intimate support with the challenges of new parenthood, reassuring parents along the way.
- Partner support: Doulas are a strong source of emotional support for partners who are also going through their own experience of welcoming a new child. A doula can help reduce anxieties and fears and help the family unit settle in and bond together.
- Practical help: They assist with daily tasks such as meal preparation, light housework including baby laundry and feeding supply washing, allowing parents to focus on their rest, recovery, and bonding as a family.
3. Night nanny
- Overnight support for restful sleep: Night nannies keep a watchful eye on the baby during the night, allowing parents the peace of mind to get uninterrupted sleep. The care provider will wake a nursing mother for overnight feedings.
- Help with household tasks: Many night nannies will assist with light household tasks during their shift, including baby’s laundry and cleaning baby’s feeding supplies.
- Establishing routines: They can help establish healthy sleep routines for the baby, which can lead to better sleep patterns for the whole family.
4. Lactation consultant
- Expert breastfeeding guidance: Lactation consultants are trained professionals who can provide evidence-based advice tailored to your specific situation. They help with positioning, latching techniques, and addressing common challenges like pain or difficulty latching. They also help create personalized feeding plans that fit your lifestyle and goals, including exclusive breastfeeding or combination feeding.
- Problem-solving and long-term success: They can help troubleshoot issues like mastitis, engorgement, and supply issues. They also assess and address concerns about milk supply, whether it’s too low or too high. Proper breastfeeding support can lead to better outcomes for both mother and baby, including improved health and well-being.
- Support for transitions: If you're planning to return to work or introduce formula, a consultant’s support can help ease those transitions.
- Community resources: They often have connections to local support groups, resources, and additional services you might find helpful.
5. Mental health professional
- Emotional support: A mental health professional can offer a safe space to express feelings, fears, and anxieties related to pregnancy and motherhood. Professionals can help new parents process their feelings and offer effective coping mechanisms to manage stress, mood swings, and the emotional challenges that come with pregnancy and new parenthood. They also help address issues that arise while in transition into parenthood, like navigating the changes in identity, relationships, and daily life.
- Managing anxiety and depression: A mental health professional can help identify and treat prenatal or postpartum depression and anxiety (PMADs)—or help avoid them altogether. Each pregnancy and postpartum experience is unique, and mental health professionals can provide personalized approaches to meet individual needs.
- Addressing past trauma: For those with a history of trauma, pregnancy and childbirth can trigger unresolved issues that unexpectedly present. A therapist can help process these experiences.
- Relationship counseling: Pregnancy and parenthood can strain relationships, and a professional can facilitate communication and conflict resolution.
6. Nutritious meal delivery service
- Balanced nutrition: The right services provide meals designed to meet the nutritional needs of postpartum recovery, supporting energy levels and overall health. Proper nutrition can aid recovery from childbirth, support breastfeeding, and boost mental well-being. Convenient access to nutritious meals can promote healthier eating habits that may last beyond the postpartum period. Many new parents continue taking supplements like those by WeNatal. A nutritious meal delivery service can be a valuable support system during the postpartum period, helping new parents maintain their health and well-being.
- Convenience: Preparing meals can be time-consuming and challenging, especially with a newborn. Meal delivery saves time and effort. With meals taken care of, there's less need for meal planning and grocery shopping, allowing parents to prioritize self-care, rest, and bonding with their baby. Having healthy meals readily available can alleviate the stress of cooking and help parents feel more in control. Meal delivery can benefit the entire family, providing nutritious options for partners or older children as well.
The support providers listed above only scratch the surface for the type of support available to growing families, and there are many more to discover on your journey. Although these services can be life-changing for a new family, the investments can certainly add up. But there are cost-cutting options to consider: Insurance companies may cover a portion of certain services, including lactation consultations, mental health, and pelvic health physical therapy. And, certain prenatal and postpartum services like doulas and lactation may be eligible for coverage by Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). Lastly, Little Honey Money is the baby registry platform that acts as a gifting solution for maternal care services. You can find local and virtual providers through the service provider directory while utilizing the baby registry to create a wishlist and receive support-related gifts as part of your baby shower celebration.
As you’re preparing for baby’s arrival, remember that, while nothing matters more than your baby’s well-being, your baby’s health is deeply dependent on yours.
