Coming home from the hospital: the first-3-days checklist
Coming home is often more unsettling than expected: after the hospital's support, everything suddenly rests on you. A little preparation beforehand changes a lot.
Before leaving the hospital
- Car seat installed and tested, often a requirement to be discharged
- The crib set up, not something to assemble that same evening
- The fridge and cupboards stocked, so you don't have to go grocery shopping
The first 3 days at home
Limit visits in the first days if you can, the fatigue and adjustment are real, and wanting quiet is completely normal. Anyone who does come can help out: meals, laundry, errands, rather than just holding the baby.
Rest, a priority, not a luxury
Sleeping when the baby sleeps, even during the day, isn't a cliché tip to ignore, it's often the only realistic way to get any sleep at all in the first days.
The freezer, your best ally
Cooking and freezing meals in portions before giving birth means you don't have to think about food in the first days. Aim for about ten ready meals, that easily covers the first week.
Warning signs to watch for in the mother
- Fever, intense pain, or heavy bleeding call for prompt medical advice
- The baby blues (sadness, crying, irritability) affect a majority of new mothers around day 3-5 and usually clear up within a few days; beyond two weeks, it's worth talking to a professional
If you're still preparing for coming home, Kickoala helps make sure loved ones give you what you'll actually use, rather than duplicates.