A Day in the Life - Postpartum Shift
What does a postpartum shift look like? This is one of the most common asked questions. Most people can visualize birth support well, at least to some extent, but postpartum support remains a mystery to most expecting and first-time parents. So, here’s a day in the life.
Would this be much more satisfying in video format? Absolutely. But idk how to do that while remaining HIPAA compliant and respecting everyone’s privacy. Videoing in someone’s house gives me the ick. A journal is the only compromise I could come up with.
Mom is three weeks postpartum from a vaginal delivery with a baby girl and she is breastfeeding. All times are approximated.
4 pm the day before my shift - I check in with mom and she tells me they’re out of creamer and milk and she cannot eat another frozen pizza or chic-fil-a meal. She sets a budget of $100, which is more than enough for 2 people that like leftovers. I start a meal plan and grocery list. Iron, calcium, protein, and vitamin C are my priority.
11:20 - Drive-up was my choice for today because I’m still recovering from a long birth a couple days ago. I hurt my shoulder the week before my last birth and the rebozo about did me in. I am so thankful drive-up exists today. I came in under budget with a total of $89 and I didn’t forget anything. Starting off strong!
12 noon - I show up to my shift grocery bags in hand. Baby is asleep in the pack ‘n play in the living room and I start to unpack the cold items while I chat with mom about how she’s feeling, how breastfeeding and sleeping has been going, and any goals that she would like to achieve for the day. Mom tells me that she is hoping for meal preps as well as a nap. I have breastmilk bottles available if baby wakes up. I send mom for a nap and I get to work on meal prep.
12:15 - I have started pot roast as well as granola. I’m thankful that the kitchen is open to the living room and I can hear & see baby from the stove. Baby is squirmy. If she cries, she will wake up mama, so I wipe down the counters and wash my hands and go get baby. She burps pretty much as soon as I pick her up and I am able to get her settled back down into the pack ‘n play over the next 5 minutes.
12:20 - I make it back to the oven just in time for the granola to be done. Granola is a great snack by itself or with fruit & yogurt parfaits and oats and nuts boost milk supply. I switch out the laundry. There’s towels in the dryer and I am able to get them folded fast.
12:30 - Baby is squirmy again and although she’s asleep, I can smell her diaper. She gets a diaper change and I rock her in the rocking chair until she’s settled again.
12:45 - Mom pops up and says she’s hungry, so I make her a quick omelet. She wants to eat before nursing again, but baby goes from 1 to 100 quickly. It’s difficult to get baby to latch because she’s so frustrated and hangry. I gently educate mama on the importance of picking up on hunger cues early and mentally note to point them out earlier for the next feeding. I make mama decaf sweet tea and pour her a glass just in time for her to finish the feed.
1:15 - Mama has eaten and gotten back in bed. Baby is fed. I make mental note of what time she finished eating so I can hold her in an upright position for at least 20 minutes before laying her flat to help with gas.
2:00 - I tried putting baby down a couple times, but she had gas. We worked out the burps and then she got settled back down.
2:30 - I put the cooled granola away in a Ziplock bag and start on breakfast tacos and parfaits. The next hour is a blur of washing my hands and picking up and putting down baby. Mama is sleeping, so my goal is for baby not to cry at all, which makes food prep a bit more challenging, but that’s ok.
3:30 - Mama gets up and gets ready for a shower. She wants to shower before another feed, but baby is making the ‘neh’ noises and starting to root around. I point out hunger cues to mama and this nursing session goes much easier. Baby is not nearly as frustrated and latches easily. While mama is nursing baby, I run back to the kitchen and unload the dishwasher and put the potatoes on to boil and prep the carrots to roast.
4 - Baby is fed and full. I change her diaper and burp her while mama showers. We’re rocking in the rocking chair when Dad comes home and takes baby. I return to the kitchen to finish up dishes and prepare gravy for the pot roast. I swap the laundry again and fold little baby socks and onesies.
4:45 - Dinner is served. This is a bit early for my personal preference, but this is what the parents preferred. I hold baby while they enjoy their meal. I take their plates and load them into the dishwasher and take out the trash on my way out at 5pm. When I leave, mama is rested, refreshed, and ready for the upcoming night with her baby.