A PLAN

Mothers tend to do a lot of planning for the actual birth of their child, but usually, very little thought or planning goes into what will happen when they get home from the hospital or birthing center. The following is a tool that mothers can use to formulate a plan before going home with their newborn.

1. Support persons

Make a list of support people

These are a list people that you can trust completely depend upon to provide different levels of support in your journey and transition into motherhood.

Emotional Support and Advise (You should be able to tell at least two of these people your innermost thoughts and feeling, even those feelings/thoughts that you may find embarrassing and/or troubling)

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2. Breastfeeding Support

Success in Breastfeeding takes commitment and proper support

Breastfeeding support (Who do you know that is a lactation consultant, and also a mother who has breastfed successfully and can offer you good advice)

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Click here for a valuable website that will help you determine if your baby is getting enough breastmilk by counting your baby’s stools and urine occurrences. *This video is for mature audience*

3.Trusted childcare givers

Who do you trust to care for your baby?

The following should be a list of those friends/family who can step in and give you a break. The persons in this group may be the same as those or overlap with those in your previous list.

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3. Schedule Me TIME once per week (at least)

You have to take care of YOU, so that you can properly care for your baby.

There are times that you will feeling overwhelming exhaustion. You must take time for yourself to unwind. This is important for both you and your newborn. Take at least 3 hours.

1. Exercise for 20-30 minutes. This is very important. It is a wonderful way to decrease stress and anxiety. If you do not want to exercise alone, join a gym and enroll in a yoga or zumba class.

2. You can use this you time to take a power nap, and pamper yourself with a relaxing bath/shower.

3. Read a good book or watch your favorite show.

4. Get a massage.

5. Go shopping.

6. Learn to meditate. Meditation once a day while the baby is sleeping can really help to reduce stress.

4. Schedule Family time once per week (at least)

If you have older kids, they may feel left out. It is important to schedule family time where all family members feel included.

1. Get a family calendar and a glass jar. Label it the family fun jar.

2. Get a two pieces of construction paper (you may need more), cut them up into square size pieces. Everyone in the family gets to write down on these pieces of paper, as many fun family outing ideas as the can think of. Fold them up and put them in a jar.

3. At the beginning of each month everyone gets a chance to draw one or more folded papers from the jar. Pick a day of the week, and schedule it on your family calendar

4. Schedule a date night once per month (at least)

A new baby places considerable strain on a Relationship.

1.Take steps to ease tension this by scheduling date nights and carve out quality time for you and your significant other in the evening when the baby is sleeping.

2. One of the major reasons that couples argue is concerning the parenting and disciplining of their child. Take time to discuss these matters ahead of time, before the baby

2. You can do a date night/eve jar as well. You and your spouse can write down fun things to do on pieces of paper, fold them and put them in a jar. Draw out a piece of paper at the beginning of each month, find a day that works and schedule it.

5. Time saving tips….

Be smart about how you use your time!

Initially you may think you can do it all, but you can’t you however do so much more if you plan your time wisely!

1. Plan your meals for the week/month. Look up ideas online for quick nutritious meals. Write out your grocery list.

2. Do most of your grocery shopping online. The store will notify you by text or email when your groceries are ready. They will load your groceries for you when you get there. This saves tremendous amount of time and will save you from the stress of shopping with a baby. If you are willing to pay a small fee, you can also have your groceries delivered. This saves even more time!

3. Cook your meats and veggies on Sat/Sun for your meals that you have planned for the rest the week. Freeze those meats and veggies that are scheduled to eat later on in the week. You can then make up some of your veggies fresh for each meal. Click here for quick meals.

4. Schedule your house chores for specific days throughout the week, so that you don’t get behind

5. If you have kids that are old enough to be in pre-school, then they are old enough to be assigned chores. They can pick up their toys. Take out the trash ect.

6. Delegate, delegate and then delegate some more! You can’t do it all yourself.