5 Things I Wish I Had Done After Having My Baby đ
We spend so much time preparing for a new baby.
The shower. The crib. The bassinet. The diapers. The stroller. The tiny clothes.
But what most of us arenât prepared for?
The crying.
The breastfeeding struggles.
The sleepless nights.
The exhaustion.
And the very sore bottom (vaginal birth) or very sore belly (C-section).
All of that can hit hard â physically and emotionally.
Looking back, I can honestly say: I wasnât in a great place when we came home from the hospital. I was exhausted from labour, stressed about breastfeeding, sore everywhere (second-degree tear over here đââď¸), and my husband and I were completely on our own because our families lived far away.
One of my clearest memories?
Two days postpartum, panicking that my baby was starving, going to the grocery store to buy formula⌠riding one of those mobility scooters because I could barely walk. Quite the scene. (Spoiler: my milk came in and the formula stayed unopened.)
With hindsight â and a lot more compassion for my younger self â hereâs what I wish I had done to make postpartum life easier.
1ď¸âŁ Book a Lactation Consultant Immediately
I struggled hard with breastfeeding. First my milk wouldnât come in. Then when it did, it came in too strong. My baby couldnât manage the flow, her latch was off, and my nipples felt like they were being sliced every time she fed.
I suffered way longer than I needed to before seeing a lactation consultant â and wow, what a difference. She helped me find a comfortable position, improved my babyâs latch, and suddenly feeding wasnât painful anymore.
If I could go back?
This wouldâve been booked before we even left the hospital.
2ď¸âŁ Learn How to Soothe a Baby (Because Crying Is A LOT)
We had no idea how to calm a crying baby. None.
A few weeks in, we discovered âThe Happiest Baby on the Blockâ and learned about the 5 Sâs (swaddling, side/stomach position, shushing, swinging, and sucking).
I still remember my husband bouncing on a yoga ball, baby swaddled tight, shushing like his life depended on it â and it WORKED. Bliss. Peace. A much happier baby (and parents).
3ď¸âŁ Have a Plan for Sleep (Even a Tiny One)
The sleep deprivation in those first weeks hit me harder than I expected. I was running on fumes.
Eventually, my husband and I figured out a system: after the 9 p.m. feed, he took over so I could sleep until midnight or 1 a.m. It wasnât perfect, but those few solid hours made a huge difference.
If I could do it again, I would plan for sleep ahead of time â not as an afterthought.
4ď¸âŁ Arrange Help for Chores (Not Just Baby Care)
While the baby slept, I was cleaning, cooking, and grocery shopping. Looking back⌠I really shouldâve been resting instead.
A clean house is nice â but rest is better.
I wish we had arranged meal delivery for months, not just the first 2â3 weeks. We truly believed life would be âback to normalâ quickly. (It did not!)
Friends bringing meals, grocery delivery, meal kits â all of these are absolute lifesavers postpartum.
5ď¸âŁ Say Yes to More Support (Postpartum Doulas Are Gold)
I didnât even know postpartum doulas existed at the time. And now? I wish I had one.
Someone to help with breastfeeding, light housework, soothing the baby, and giving me space to shower or nap? That wouldâve changed everything.
For those with family nearby â what a gift.
For those of us far from family â a postpartum doula can be life-changing.
I thought I could do it all on my own. I did⌠but at a big cost to my mental and physical health.
A Gentle Wish for You đ
Even though my kids bring me so much joy now, I wish my husband and I had had more support in those early days. We went through more hardship than we needed to.
My wish for you?
That youâre surrounded by support.
That you accept help without guilt.
And that youâre cared for just as much as your baby is.
The postpartum period is precious â and you deserve care too.
Mia Dang, PT, is a pelvic physiotherapist with extensive supplementary training in pelvic floor physiotherapy and perinatal care