How to prepare for after birth
- Cradle Care Carer
- 13 minutes ago
- 6 min read
Cradle Carer's guide to prepare yourself for after birth
As a cradle carer working with families through www.cradlecare.com.au, I’ve had the privilege of supporting parents after they bring home their newborn. And if there’s one truth I’ve learned, it’s this: no amount of reading, planning, or dreaming can fully prepare you for what life looks like after birth. What I have noticed over the last years working with families is every family will face their own unique challenges.
But this isn’t a message of discouragement. It’s one of empowerment.
While you can’t prepare for exactly what will happen, you can prepare for whatever happens. And the key to doing that? Building your village before you give birth.
Every family has their own journey
It’s a comforting myth that there’s a right way to transition into parenthood. The truth is, every baby is different, every recovery is different, and every household will feel the impact of those early weeks in its own way. Some parents face feeding difficulties. Others struggle with a reflux baby, physical recovery, or emotional overwhelm. Sometimes it's all of the above. And what all parents have in common; sleep deprivation, something you can absolutely not prepare for. Mentally or physically.
As a cradle carer, I’ve seen mums who felt fine physically but were challenged emotionally, and others who felt more in control mentally but managing complications from birth injuries. There’s no formula for how this will unfold for you. And that’s why preparing isn't about predicting.
The power of preparation before birth
Many new parents focus heavily on preparing the nursery, researching prams, or stockpiling nappies. These are all helpful, but they won’t get you through the 3am tears or the fourth day without a proper meal.
Real preparation means putting support in place so you’re not doing it all on your own.
Here’s how you can start building your postnatal village—your custom-built network that steps in when the unknown arrives.
Your Postnatal village: Who should be in it?
1. A food service
Even though cooking meals becomes a distant priority when you’re managing feeds, nappy changes, and healing. Eating is essential for healing—and sometimes simply for getting through the day. Having a ready-to-go food service—whether it's frozen meals from a local business, a subscription meal delivery, or a roster of friends dropping off dinners—will be a lifesaver.
I’ve seen the difference it makes when a new parent can sit down to a warm, homemade meal without lifting a finger. It fuels recovery, stabilises emotions, and prevents the hangry meltdowns no one warns you about.
2. A cleaning service for 4 to 6 Weeks
Nothing beats the relief of knowing your household is taken care of—especially when it’s one less thing you have to handle yourself. When the cleaning is not done, it is fine, nothing changes but when it is done, the sigh of relief and the joy felt is so worth it.
Hiring a cleaner—even just once a week for a month or two—can remove so much mental load. It’s not indulgent; it’s practical. You’re in recovery, adjusting to a new human, and likely not sleeping much. Let someone else handle the floors and showers.
3. A (breast)feeding specialist
Breastfeeding is natural, but that doesn’t make it easy. Many mothers struggle in the early days—pain, latch issues, oversupply, undersupply. This is not only for breastfeeding, bottle feeding can also have its challenges. A qualified lactation consultant can mean the difference between a stressful, painful experience and a confident, empowered one.
Don’t wait until you’re in a crisis. Have someone lined up before birth. Even one session can give you the guidance and reassurance you need to navigate the learning curve.
4. A (postnatal) psychologist
The emotional shift after birth with a hormone drop only days after you have given birth will have an impact on your mental health. Postnatal depression and anxiety are more common than most people realise, and even without a clinical diagnosis, the mental toll can be heavy.
Talking to a psychologist who specialises in the postnatal period can be incredibly grounding. They understand the hormonal chaos, identity shifts, and deep vulnerability of new parenthood. Whether it’s one session or a regular commitment, it’s a powerful tool to have in your village.
5. A pelvic floor Physiotherapist
Your body goes through an immense physical transformation during pregnancy and birth. Yet, many women push their recovery aside because they’re told it’s just part of the process.
Losing the connection with your muscles is very common after a caesarean. This feeling will come back gradually and your midwife or GP will keep an eye on it but sometimes it doesn’t stop there. Leaking when you laugh, pelvic pain, or feeling like your core is “gone” isn’t just something to tolerate—it’s something that can be treated. A physiotherapist trained in pelvic floor rehabilitation can support you in healing safely and thoroughly.
If you do your research before you give birth, it makes it much easier and quicker to contact him or her when you need them.
6. Make your own schedule with friends and family
Don’t be afraid to ask someone to commit to a weekly or fortnightly visit where they hold the baby while you shower, nap, or simply sit in silence. This kind of support isn’t only fantastic for you, your friends and family will be very excited to be able to help out too.
It could be a sibling, a friend, or a kind neighbour. The goal is consistent, low-effort help—someone you trust who’ll show up, no expectations, and take a load off your shoulders.
7. A washing service
Laundry piles up faster than you can imagine when there’s a newborn in the house. Add in spit-up cloths, breast pads, and so many onesies, and suddenly your laundry basket looks like a mountain range.
A local washing service—even just once a week—can keep things manageable. If that’s not possible, have a trusted friend take on a weekly laundry run. Clean clothes and sheets make a world of difference.
Why you can’t fully prepare—and why that’s OK
You can read all the baby books and attend every antenatal class. You can set up the nursery perfectly and still feel completely lost once the baby arrives.
That’s not a failure. That’s normal.
Parenthood, especially in those early weeks, is unpredictable. You don’t know if your baby will sleep well or cry for hours. You don’t know how your body will heal or how your heart will respond to the shift in identity. You don’t know what you don’t know.
But by creating a village around you—people, professionals, and services ready to step in—means that when the unexpected hits, you’re not alone.
It means when breastfeeding hurts, you already have someone to call. When your emotions spiral, you have a therapist on standby. When you’re too tired to cook, there’s a meal in the freezer.
Cradle Care: We’re here when you need us
At Cradle Care, we’ve built our entire model around this understanding. Our cradle carers provide hands-on, in-home care for families in the weeks following birth. Whether it’s settling a baby so you can rest, helping with light household tasks, offering emotional reassurance, or just being a calm presence in the chaos, we’re there.
We work alongside your village, not in place of it. We’re part of the network that holds you up.
And if you don’t have that village yet—we can help you build one.
Give yourself the best start
Expecting parents often put all their energy into the birth. But the birth is just one day. What follows is a season—often messy, often magical, and always full of unknowns.
The best thing you can do isn’t trying to control what’s coming. It’s making sure that, whatever comes, you’re not doing it alone.
Build your village. Book the services. Have conversations. Accept the help. The more you prepare now, the more space you’ll have later to adjust, recover, and enjoy those early days with your baby.
You deserve to be supported. You deserve care. And with the right village, you will get through the hard moments—and find joy in the small ones, too.
Ready to build your postnatal village?
Visit www.cradlecare.com.au to learn more about how we can support your family after birth.
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