What I did differently to prepare for postpartum with baby number 3!

By the time I was preparing for postpartum with my third baby, I knew I needed to improve a few things. 

The first couple of times, I focused so much on getting ready for labor, the baby gear, and the to-do list before delivery. But with my third, I approached postpartum much more intentionally. I knew I would need support, nourishment, and systems in place: not just for me, but for our whole family. 

Here are the things I did differently the third time around that made a huge difference.

1. I planned a nesting party instead of having a baby shower!

Instead of trying to do everything myself in the final weeks of pregnancy, I planned a nesting party. It was such a practical and meaningful way to prepare.

Rather than celebrating with things I might not immediately need, this gave me real hands-on help before the baby arrived and it was a great excuse to spend time with my friends. We focused on getting the house and postpartum spaces ready, organizing essentials, and setting things up so life would feel easier in those early weeks. After we enjoyed a yummy brunch we tackled tasks to prep for baby! One friend organized baby clothes, one helped make energy balls and one made bone broth etc. etc. 

It felt supportive and honestly much more useful for this season of life.

2. I put a list of important numbers on the fridge.

One of the simplest but most helpful things I did was make a clear list of who to call and what the plan was.

On the fridge, I had:

- the numbers of people who had offered to help

- plans for where the kids would go if needed

- plans for who would take care of the dog

- key contacts in case things moved quickly

When you’re in labor or freshly postpartum, even small decisions can feel overwhelming. Having everything visible and organized removed so much mental load. 

3. I bought a deep freezer. 

Why had I not had one of these before??? This was a game changer.

A deep freezer gave me the space to really prepare ahead. I could batch cook, freeze meals, store bone broth, and stock up in a way that wasn’t possible with a regular freezer. It made it much easier to think beyond just a few meals and prepare for postpartum recovery.

4. Friends organized a meal train. 

Having a meal train in place made such a difference for our family.

With a newborn and other children to care for, not having to think about dinner every night was a huge relief. It meant we were fed, supported, and one less daily to think about. My husband and I always laugh about when we had our first son and tried to feed ourselves in the first few weeks we ate terribly. We were sleep deprived and could barely remember how to cook. Even frozen perogies got burnt! 

5. I had my mum come early.

This was a big support for me (though I know it won’t be the right fit for everyone.)

Having my mum come early meant I had extra help before the baby arrived and in those first postpartum days. She could help with the older kids, everyday household things, and just generally hold things together while I focused on resting and recovering.

Support looks different for everyone, so even having a few friends you can rely on to help out at the end of pregnancy can be a game changer. 

6. I hired a doula.

I know what your thinking….”but your a doula why do you need a doula?”

Even doula’s need doula’s. Laine (The Birth Laine - https://www.thebirthlaine.com/) was so helpful and I couldn’t imagine having done it without her. I may have experience giving birth and teaching childbirth education and doulaing myself but I needed her more than ever! 

That support made me feel much more held during the postpartum period. There is something powerful about having someone experienced who understands what recovery can look like and can support both you and your family through that transition. 

7. I made meals ahead of time, specifically Chinese Chicken soup and bone broth. 

In addition to the meal train, my husband and I also prepared meals ahead of time.

This gave me a mix of homemade options we already knew we liked and easy meals that could be reheated quickly. An easy way to do this was to double a batch while I was pregnant and then put one portion in the freezer for later (yay deep freezer)

Highly recommend The First Forty Days by (please borrow it from my lending library)

8. I actually let myself rest in bed postpartum.

This may be one of the biggest mindset shifts I made.

The third time, I truly let myself rest in bed postpartum. I didn’t put the same pressure on myself to be up, productive, or back to normal right away. I treated rest as essential, not optional.

That physical rest mattered, but so did the permission I gave myself to slow down.

9. I made sure to eat a lot.

Postpartum recovery takes so much energy. Healing, feeding a baby, waking through the night,  it all asks a lot of your body.

The third time, I really prioritized eating enough. Not just grabbing whatever was quick, but intentionally keeping myself nourished. I noticed such a difference when I supported my body with plenty of food instead of running on empty.

Final thoughts

The third time around, postpartum preparation looked a lot less like “having everything perfectly done” and a lot more like building support around myself. It meant accepting help, planning ahead, simplifying what I could, and taking my own recovery seriously. Not every part of this will be right for every family, but if there’s one thing I learned, it’s this: postpartum is worth preparing for. 

Birth and parenting is never easy but I have been sharing that I had the easiest transition to being postpartum of the three. That felt like a real win for me. 

If you’re preparing for your second, third, or fourth baby, you might be wondering whether you really need a doula again. But the truth is, support is not just for first-time parents.

In many ways, having a doula can be even more valuable when you’re welcoming another baby into an already full life. You’re not only preparing for birth and postpartum, you’re also thinking about older children, family schedules and commitments, recovery, and how to care for yourself while caring for everyone else. A doula can offer steady, practical, and emotional support through all of that.

If you want this postpartum season to feel more supported, more intentional, and less overwhelming, investing in a doula is one of the best gifts you can give yourself.

I would love to help you prep for that next baby!  Please reach out to book your FREE consult here.