Just like when I was a new mom I was so busy PREPARING to give birth and learning how to take care of a baby that I never really thought about other details I might need to take care of AFTER Sarine was born! HA! I get asked so many questions from new moms (and dads) that I have kind of decided that I would add some helpful blog posts here with tips on helping families with their growing family. So below is a checklist of things to do postpartum! YAY!

1. BOND WITH YOUR BABY – I am putting this first because  ITS THE MOST IMPORTANT!! I think so many mammas and dads forget you JUST had a baby and right now is the time to adjust, get to know your little one and bond, bond, bond.”A fourth trimester (the first 3 months of a baby’s life) of cuddling is the birthday present your baby really wants! You may think your peaceful nursery offers your new baby the perfect environment, but from her point of view, your home feels like it’s part wild Las Vegas casino…and part dark closet!

I always tell my patients that babies are born too soon. I know what you’re thinking: Are you kidding? Too short?! For many moms, the last month of pregnancy seemed interminable. Heartburn, puffy ankles, stretch marks and peeing every 2 hours can take all the shine off that pregnancy glow.

But while you couldn’t wait to finally hold your baby in your arms, your baby would definitely have voted for a few extra months inside if you had given her the choice.

Remember—your baby’s brain was so big that you had to “evict” her after 9 months, even though she was still smushy, mushy and very immature. As a result, she isn’t quite ready for the big, bad outside world.

So, for the first months, it can help to think of her like a fetus…outside the womb.

In fact, grandmas, nurses and nannies who are gifted baby calmers all have one talent in common: they’re really good at mimicking a baby’s life in the womb.

To be a good womb impersonator, you first need to know: “What was it like in there?” Warm? Sure. Dark? Actually, fetuses see soft red light as the rays of the sun pass through your outer skin and muscle. Quiet and still? No way!

Before birth, fetuses are lavished with rhythmic sensations: the caress of velvet-soft walls, lots of jiggly motion and loud whooshing from blood pulsing through the uterine arteries (BTW, they don’t hear your heart beat). To give your little one “fourth trimester” care, you’ll want to give her plenty of snug wrapping/swaddling, shushing, swaying motion, holding in the side/stomach position and opportunities to suck. These techniques are what I call the 5 S’s They will make your baby feel back at home and trigger her calming reflex.” From Dr. Harvey Karp Happiest Baby Blog Click 👉 HERE 👈 for The Happiest Baby Blog.

Love Reading? Heres an amazing book on the fourth trimester and how to restore balance and emotions after baby is born.

2. 📸 SCHEDULE NEWBORN PHOTOS!! 📸 – You guys, Im putting this as the second most important thing because it is extremely time sensitive. Newborn pictures are typically scheduled for between 5 and 14 days of the baby’s birthdate. So there is no dilly dallying here if you want all of these cute snuggly poses that you see here on my website. You newborn will only be a be a “newborn” for one month y’all. ONE MONTH is all you get of this stage. So please schedule time to document this milestone in your families life. Every single mom who has just carried and delivered her baby DESERVES a portrait with her baby. And she should feel pampered and look amazing while having this portraits done. I really cannot stride how important it is to document this time in your families life. You are never going to get these moments back and promise you, you will never regret capturing these sweet special moments. Contact me right away if you are pregnant or just had a baby so we can talk about options for you!

3. ADD BABY TO YOUR INSURANCE PLAN – Call and add as soon as you can, if you haven’t done so already. Medical bills start adding up as soon as they are born and save yourself the headache of procrastinating this. I do also think insurance carries have a time limit on coverage. So the sooner the better.

4. APPLY FOR BABY’S BIRTH CERTIFICATE 📜 – If you had your little one in the hospital most of the hospitals will submit the birth certificate paperwork for you if you agree to it. You will receive baby’s Social Security card in the mail, and from there will be able to go online to order hard copies of your baby’s Birth Certificate. Be sure to request two copies when you do. Also, make sure that you do receive their Social Security card in the mail and when you do, store it somewhere safe. But y’all Im gonna be honest more often than not (myself included) you wont ever get the birth certificate or social security card in the mail and you will have to go to your local County Registrar-Recorder office. Just look up the the closest one to you and get it taken care of if it never comes in the mail.

If you have your baby at home or at a birth center your midwife will submit the paperwork instead of the hospital. You’ll then receive baby’s Social Security card in the mail and will be able to order a Birth Certificate online!

5. ADD BABY OT YOUR WILL AND OTHER LEGAL DOCUMENTS – I know this is emotional and trying but it is extremely important to make sure you have everything lined up JUST INCASE.

6. CONTACT WORK FOR FMLA/SHORT TERM DISABILITY – This will be different for everyone, so make sure you look into your benefits with you employer. Once you have given birth to your baby and have settled down a bit, it’s time to contact your office and make sure everything is set up for you to receive any maternity leave benefits that you’re entitled to.

7. ORDER, ADDRESS AND MAIL OUT BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS – Its time to spread the goos news and share the love!!! There are a ton of sites that offer predesigned templates for birth announcements. But I can do one better!!! I am a full service studio and one of the services I offer is to design, print, address and send out the announcements for you! What could be better than checking this off of your to do list at the same time as having your newborn portraits taken. DONE AND DONE! 🥰

8. WRITE THANK YOU NOTES – Lets be real here, you may have had time before that cute little munchkin was born to hand write things such as thank you notes from your baby shower….but your a mom now and no one expects a thank you card from a brand new parent! Enjoy snuggling with you newborn and let just give me the address for your doctor, favorite nurse, midwife or doula and Ill take care of sending them a birth announcement… Trust me, that will be thank you enough. ✅

9. START PUMPING – ONLY IF YOU WANT It’s nice to build up a freezer stash full of breastmilk especially if you plan on returning back to work. This isn’t something that’s mandatory, but pumping once a day (in the morning preferably–that’s when you produce the most amount of milk) after you’re finished feeding your baby can help increase our supply and give you some much needed backup stock.

10. GET OUTSIDE MAMMA – I cannot tell you enough how nice it is to get out of the house. Some fresh air really makes a difference and can give you the much needed energy boost to handle your day. Make it a point to get out of the house once a day, even if it’s just to walk around the block.

11. KEEP TAKING YOUR VITAMINS

12. TAKE A SHOWER AND GET READY – This is something I STILL struggle with and my daughter is 4 1/2. It is so hard to put yourself as a priority and take some time for yourself. But every time I take some time to myself, take a shower and get ready and you know, feel like a human and not a zombie I feel so much and my day goes so much better. I know its hard sometimes mamma, but just do the best you can.

13. WATER💧 WATER💧 WATER💧 – For recovery and for breastfeeding you need to be drinking lots of water. Your body is going through a lot of changes and water will help — it will keep your bowels regular and soft, and it can help with your milk production.

14. EAT HEALTHY GIRL – Your body is recovering from a MAJOR event that was incredibly taxing on your body. Treat your body like the temple it is and nourish it will all the healthy foods. If your craving a brownie though…EAT IT!!! Life’s all about balance right?! LOL

15. REST – This is part of the whole fourth trimester thing. The fourth trimester is not just for the baby, its for you too! You just gave birth to a baby. Don’t push yourself to do more than you must. This is the time that you need to rest. You don’t want your recovery to last longer than necessary.

16. USE YOUR VILLAGE 🏘 – If you need help, get it! There is NO shame in needing your mom, a friend, a neighbor, or anyone you can find to come over and help you do dishes, laundry, cook you a meal, or hold your baby while you take a nap or a shower. Hundreds of years ago, women lived together and were able to help each other – the so-called “village” was much more literal even 50 years ago. Don’t have a village yet? Neither did I…..I actually joined a baby wearing workout group to try to get some outside time, and I met a wonderful mamma named Kim there who then invited me to a mom’s group at the local Santa Clarita Birth Center. Every Wednesday a group of like minded mamma would meet up and voila, I found my self with some amazing mom friends and still 4 1/2 years later they are some of my best friends. We have laugh, cried and been so so so tired together. So if you dont have yourself a village yet I encourage you to call your local birth center to see if they have a moms group you can join!

17. GET HELP IF YOU NEED IT – If you’re really feeling down or blue, talk to your doctor. Getting help, talking to a counselor, or getting on medication to treat postpartum anxiety or depression ARE NOT things to be ashamed of. Postpartum mood disorders are a result of hormonal changes and don’t mean you’re weak, crazy, or a bad mom.

I hope these checklist helps a little and if you have any questions let me know! Im happy to help or direct you to my network of birth workers to help answer any questions you have!!!

xoxo – Corinna