Some things can't be bought: prepare your support network

When we think about preparing for the postnatal period, it's easy to focus on what we still need to buy. But perhaps one of the most important preparations doesn't fit in a bag, a drawer or a shopping list: it's the people you can count on.

While you are still pregnant, think about your network. Not just 'who can help me?', but 'who can help and with what?' Some people are great at bringing a meal, others at doing the food shopping, taking older siblings to school or walking the dog. Perhaps there is someone you feel comfortable being at home with without tidying up first, without getting dressed to receive visitors, and without having to make conversation.

Talk about professional support as well. Who will you call if you have questions about breastfeeding? And what if you are worried about your recovery? Who will monitor the baby? Having a few contacts identified before the birth prevents you from having to start searching for answers at the very moment you are tired or worried.

A postnatal visit can also be a way of caring. Whether it is from a family member, a friend or a healthcare professional.

Preparing a support network doesn't mean you will need all of these people. It just means knowing you don't have to figure out who to call when you are already in need of help. In the postnatal period, caring for the mother is also a way of caring for the baby, and allowing others to care for you can be part of this new phase.