Getting your home ready for the postpartum weeks

In the first weeks after birth you will want to spend your energy on your baby and yourself, while shopping, cooking and housework wait in line. Small preparations in the last months of pregnancy can make this time noticeably easier.

For what goes in the hospital bag, see “hospital bag list”; for how the postpartum weeks go, see “postpartum period: the first 6 weeks”.

A postpartum basket: one easy-to-reach spot

Put together a basket in your bathroom or bedroom, with everything in one place.

• Postpartum pads or large sanitary pads, plenty of them
• Comfortable, loose cotton underwear; disposable ones can also be used
• Nursing bras (breast size can change in the last months, so 2–3 are enough rather than many before birth)
• Breast pads and a soft cream that eases breastfeeding (ask your pharmacist)
• A squeezy water bottle for the perineal area
• Fibre-rich foods and plenty of water to ease constipation
• Pain relief only as advised by your doctor or midwife, including name and dose

Comfortable clothes

• Front-opening or wide-neck tops (easier for feeding)
• Loose high-waisted bottoms that do not press on your tummy
• Non-slip, easy slippers
• One or two spare pyjamas for sweat and milk leaks

Meal prep

• A few weeks before the birth, prepare freezable meals (soups, stews, portions), labelled and dated.
• Long-lasting, easy-to-heat foods: yoghurt, fruit, nuts, cheese, wholegrain bread.
• You can ask relatives to bring meals; this is a lovely way to ask for help.
• Keep a water bottle and snacks where you usually sit.

A help plan

• Talk in advance about who does what and when: cooking, laundry, tidying, caring for other children.
• Set limits for visitors; you might choose a “help first, baby cuddles after” rule.
• Write key numbers (family doctor, midwife, paediatrician) somewhere visible.
• Ask about local postnatal services in your area.

Emotional preparation

• Talk to people close to you about mood ups and downs; asking for help is not weakness.
• Short walks and fresh air do many people good.
• If you want to share your birth story, talk to someone you trust.

A resting place

• Set up a comfortable feeding corner near your bedroom or in the living room: back support, a footrest, water and snacks.
• For night care, keep low lighting and easy-to-reach nappies and wipes.
• Your sleep will be broken; rest when the baby sleeps.
• Prepare emotionally too: mood swings are common in the first weeks.

When to contact your doctor

• Heavy bleeding (such as soaking a pad in an hour), large clots or foul-smelling discharge
• Fever, severe abdominal or pelvic pain
• One-sided leg swelling, pain or redness
• Breathlessness, chest pain, severe headache or vision changes; call 112 (in Turkey) or your local emergency number
• If you feel overwhelming sadness, hopelessness or thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, seek help immediately

Frequently asked questions

When should I prepare the basket? Many people finish preparations around weeks 34–36, but everyone’s course differs.

Do I have to make freezer meals? No; meals brought by relatives and healthy ready options also work.

How can I manage visitors? You can ask for short visits at agreed times in the first days. Saying “rest first, visits later” is perfectly fine.

This is a general guide; for questions about your health, ask your doctor or midwife.