5 Things Worth the Money: Postpartum Edition
After supporting so many families through the postpartum season, we’ve learned that sometimes the best investments aren’t necessarily things for your baby. They’re the things that allow YOU to rest, recover, feel nourished, and enjoy this precious time with your little one.
So, if you’re preparing for postpartum and wondering where it might be worth spending a little extra, here are five things we’ve found to be especially helpful!
And a little reminder before we dive in: this is OUR list, and your list might look completely different. And that is absolutely okay! Every mama, baby, family, and postpartum experience is unique. Our hope is simply to share a few things that have made a meaningful difference for the families we serve.
A Night Nurse
A Choose Joy Nursing, we believe caring for mama is just as important as caring for baby. Our goal is to help you feel supported, nurtured, and confident as you settle into life with your newest little love.
Imagine being able to lay your head down at night knowing your baby is in caring, capable hands while you have the opportunity to sleep, recover, and recharge. Instead of feeling like you have to do it all, you can wake up feeling more rested and ready to soak up those precious moments with your baby.
Because postpartum isn't just about caring for your newborn. It's about caring for YOU, too. Rest is an important part of recovery, mama, and having someone you trust there to help through the night can be such a gift during this season.
Postpartum Meals
Whether you choose a meal delivery service, have meals prepared ahead of time, or hire a postpartum chef, having nourishing food readily available can take one more thing off your plate (literally!).
Your body is doing important work as it recovers from birth, and consistent nourishment that supports healing matters. Having easy, satisfying meals and snacks within reach can help you care for yourself without having to think too hard about what to make next.
A couple of resources we love:
Restorative Roots: A wonderful option for nourishing meals delivered right to your doorstep. Use code CHOOSEJOY to get $20 off your first order of $200 or more.
Pour La Mère: A postpartum chef who can help make sure you have delicious, thoughtfully prepared meals during your recovery. Not in Nashville? They have an ebook of recipes, or search “postpartum chef” in your city!
Of course, you can also stock your freezer before baby arrives, ask loved ones to organize a meal train, or keep simple favorites on hand. The goal isn't to have the fanciest meals. It's to make sure YOU are being fed, too.
Because mama, you cannot pour from an empty cup. Let someone else take care of the cooking so you can spend a little more time resting, recovering, and enjoying your sweet baby.
Coterie Diapers and Wipes
As much as we hate to say it, all diapers are not created equal. When you're changing diapers around the clock, the little things can make a big difference, and we love products that make everyday newborn care a little easier.
Coterie has been a favorite of our owner, Lauren, for years. She's recommended them to families throughout her work with Choose Joy Nursing and has now used them with her own little ones, too!
Here's what we love about them:
Softness: Think cozy, cashmere-soft comfort for your baby's delicate skin.
Absorbency: Great for heavy wetters and long stretches of sleep (holds over 16oz of liquid)
Total Chlorine Free (TCF): Coterie's diapers are made without chlorine bleaching, which is an important consideration for families who prioritize baby products with clean ingredients.
The wipes: Coterie's wipes are up to 30% larger than many conventional wipes and are made with 99% water!
When you're changing your baby's diaper what feels like a million times a day, having products you love and trust can make those everyday moments just a little sweeter.
Are premium diapers a must-have for every family? Absolutely not! There are so many wonderful options, and every family's budget and priorities are different. But if you're looking for a place to invest in a product you'll use every single day, this is one we love. Get 20% off your first order of $40+ with code CJN!
A House Cleaner
Coming home with a newborn means your priorities shift in the sweetest, most unexpected ways. Your days may revolve around feeding, diaper changes, contact naps, and learning your baby's little personality. Even the simplest tasks can suddenly feel like a lot when you're recovering and running on broken sleep.
And the last thing we want you worrying about is a sink full of dishes, dusty floors, or a bathroom that needs attention.
Hiring a house cleaner, even just for a few weeks or a couple of visits during the early postpartum season, can be such a gift. It gives you permission to let go of one more responsibility while your body heals and your family settles into a new rhythm.
Imagine spending your baby's nap resting instead of trying to catch up on chores. Or waking up to a clean kitchen without having to spend your limited energy making it happen. Those little things can bring so much peace when everything else feels new.
And if hiring a cleaner isn't in the budget, there are still ways to lighten the load! Ask a loved one to help with laundry, let the dishes wait, use disposable plates for a little while if that makes life easier, or accept help when someone offers.
Your home does not need to be perfect for your baby to thrive. Your worth as a mama is not measured by how tidy your house is.
Give yourself permission to lower the expectations, accept the help, and spend those precious early days doing what matters most to you. A clean house is wonderful, but a supported mama is even better.
A Lactation Consultant
Feeding a newborn can come with so many questions. Is baby latching well? Are they getting enough milk? Why does feeding hurt? How do you navigate pumping, bottle introduction, or changes in your milk supply?
And sometimes, you simply need someone who will sit with you, listen to your concerns, and help you feel less alone in the process.
That's where a lactation consultant can be so valuable.
An experienced lactation professional can offer individualized guidance, help you work through feeding challenges, and provide practical support as your baby grows and your needs change. They can help you understand positioning and latch, discuss ways to support milk production, and work with you to develop a feeding plan that fits your family's goals.
At Choose Joy Nursing, we believe education and support can make such a difference in how confident a mama feels during this season. You deserve to have your questions answered, your concerns taken seriously, and your feeding journey supported with compassion.
Whether you nurse for two weeks, two years, or choose a different feeding path entirely, you deserve support that meets you where you are.
If feeding is something you anticipate needing extra guidance with, consider adding a lactation consultation to your postpartum plan. Having someone you can call when questions arise can be such a comfort.
A Little Reminder as You Prepare for Postpartum
If you're expecting a little one, we hope this list gives you a few ideas to consider as you prepare for the weeks after birth. But more than anything, we hope it reminds you that you deserve to be cared for, too.
These five things have been especially helpful in our experience, but they may not be the things you want to spend your time, energy, or money on. And that is completely okay!
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to preparing for life with a newborn.
We encourage you to think about the parts of postpartum that feel most overwhelming to you and consider what might make those things a little easier. Where could you use an extra set of hands? What would help you feel more rested? What would allow you to focus on healing and bonding with your baby instead of worrying about everything else?
And please remember that accepting help is not a sign that you're struggling to do it all. It's a beautiful way of recognizing that you were never meant to do it all alone.
Our prayer for you is that your postpartum experience is filled with the support, peace, and encouragement you need. May you feel free to slow down, savor the sweet moments, ask for help when you need it, and prioritize the things that make you feel cared for.
You are worthy of rest, mama. You are worthy of support. And you deserve a postpartum experience that feels right for YOU.
