I’m a Postpartum Health Coach and Prepping These 4 Rooms Before the Nursery

A big area I coach any new parent in is their sleep health. Most expecting parents realistically know they won’t exactly be getting a good night’s sleep for a while; newborns need to be fed and changed frequently, often every 2-3 hours, which disrupts their sleep (and yours). However, your sleep may be influenced by more than just caring for the baby. Physical pain following delivery, postpartum night sweats caused by hormonal changes and emotional and mental health challenges, such as postpartum depression and anxiety, can also lead to insomnia or difficulty staying asleep.

But the good news? Your sleep health has far more to do with the quality of your sleep than the quantity. And knowing that we plan to room-share again with our second child, I’m paying extra attention to my own sleep sanctuary.

These are my bedroom upgrades:

Immediate postpartum care is crucial for your recovery and comfort, especially to aid in healing, pain management and preventing infections. For those who delivered vaginally, essentials might include items like perineal ice packs, witch hazel pads, and peri bottles to help soothe and clean the perineal area. For those who had a C-section, abdominal binders, silicone scar sheets, and gentle cleansers for the incision site are essential (here’s a full list of postpartum care products to add to the bathroom). Stocking your bathroom (or bathrooms if you have more than one, especially if you have more than one floor) with all of your postpartum essentials and go-to care items are key for both recovery and a quick refresh.

What to add to the bathroom:

Whether you’re batching meals, welcoming in loved ones to cook for you, or your partner is taking the lead—having an organized kitchen is key to supporting your nourishment and, therefore, your postpartum recovery. Not to mention, it supports more efficient cooking, minimized clutter (aka stress), and time management. Especially when those bottles and/or pump parts threaten to take over your free counter space daily!

Here’s what I’m adding to prepare the kitchen:

In a nutshell, this space means that caregiver-mode is off. The transition to life after birth is a time of immense physical, mental and emotional adjustments, and having a designated space just for you can be pivotal. Think of this as the area to go when you need it, a space where you can pause from the demands of caring for your newborn and connect with the sides of you that existed pre-parenthood. It doesn’t need to be an entire room, just an area that’s set off that you can call yours.

Items for creating the “Sanctuary”:

Creating supportive spaces for tasks in your home like diaper changing, feeding or pumping is a strategic way to make this transition smoother. But it often happens on the fly and not in a specific room, so consider setting up a portable “baby station” that can move with you from room to room, ensuring you have everything you need for changes and feedings without extra trips up and down the stairs.

Just like a nursing cart for feeding supplies such as bottles, formula, nursing pads, and burp cloths, a portable baby station can include essentials like diapers, wipes, creams, and a changing mat.

Additionally, having a safe place to put down the baby, such as a pack and play or a portable bassinet, ensures they can be nearby when you’re cooking in the kitchen, hanging out in the living room, or attending to other tasks. This way, you can keep your baby close while managing your daily activities.

Items for preparing a Portable Baby Station: