Labor and delivery are quite a challenge and so are the weeks following a baby's birth. It's easy
to forget about paperwork, budgets and other details when a new baby arrives, and it definitely
helps to be prepared. The primary focus of the postpartum period should be recovering from
birth and bonding with the new baby.

Immediately Post-Delivery

Not all deliveries are the same, and recovery is also different for every woman. Women who
had cesarean sections often take longer to recover than moms who gave birth vaginally.
Breastfeeding moms will also have a different experience than bottle-feeding moms, and may
experience soreness and discomfort for up to six weeks after delivery. Some moms may also
plan to utilize umbilical cord blood banking, where cord blood is collected and stored in a
private facility for possible use in a medical treatment, should the need arise in the future. This
procedure needs to be planned for in advance and done immediately following delivery.

In the Hospital

Most moms stay in the hospital for 2 to 5 days after birth. The stay may be longer for moms who
had a cesarean section or complications during delivery. During the hospital stay, the doctor will
check mom and baby at least once a day, and nurses will be available to help mom get started
with breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. Some hospitals also take care of practical details like social
security card applications and birth certificates during the hospital stay.

Going Home

New moms should be sure to have a good car seat in the car to drive baby home. In the first
few days at home, it's helpful to have a friend, partner or family member to help out around
the house so mom can get plenty of rest. Moms who don't have anyone to help might want to
consider finding a postpartum doula to cook, clean and help mom recover. Newborn babies can
be fussy, which is another reason that it's good to have someone hold the baby so mom can
have a break. Generally speaking, newborns sleep quite a bit, and mom can take advantage of
naptimes to get some well-deserved rest as well.

With a solid support team and plenty of rest and healthy food, the postpartum period can be one
of the most exciting times of a new mom's life, while also helping baby's life get off to a great
start.

"This article was written by Katie Moore. Katie is an active writer within the blogging community
who discusses maternity, motherhood, prenatal health, childbirth and other topics within this
niche. If you have any questions or would like to connect with Katie please contact by visiting
her blog, Moore From Katie or her twitter @moorekm26."